How to Lay Dry Asphalt

Clear vegetation, dig up and turn the dirt in the area where the asphalt will be laid. Rent a backhoe if it is a large project. Measure the total square foot area where the asphalt will be applied. Create your new driveway design using the 2-by-4-inch framing wood. Check the measurement all the way through the laid out form so it remains the same.

Pour the asphalt within the inner frame in sections. After each section has been laid, even out the mixture with a flat edge tool by dragging it across the width of the layout. Use the roller tool for a final smoothing. If you are going to do a pattern design in the asphalt, then go ahead and press that in after you have evened out the surface. You can also provide traction by adding a thin layer of rocks and gravel over the top and then use the roller to press the layer down.

Let the asphalt dry for 48 hours after completing the texture and before removing the frames and driving over the driveway. You can test the dryness by sticking a toothpick into the asphalt. If it does go in and comes out sticky, then give it more time to dry. Apply an asphalt sealer after six months to protect your driveway from cracks and weather damage. Do a reseal project every one to three years to avoid protection loss.