How to Deep Asphalt Finish a Driveway

Outline the course and edges of the driveway with stakes and string. Use measuring tape to verify that the width is at least 10 feet in straight sections and 14 feet at curves so vehicles can comfortably pull in and out. To add years of service to your driveway, make the base 1 foot wider that the finished surface will be.

Dig out the top layer of growth and topsoil from the site with a shovel. The exact depth of the expanse is determined by the amount of topsoil over the hard dirt underneath. The site will be about 8 to 12 inches deep. Slope the bottom down by an inch with every 8 feet of length so water drains properly toward the curb. Compact the dirt with a compactor machine to force out any air pockets and moisture.

Mix large aggregate with hot, loose asphalt and lay it over the compacted dirt in small piles. Spread it evenly with a squeegee. Continue to pour the thick base until it is 4 inches thick and wait four days for the base to harden.

Pour a 6-inch-deep layer of asphalt concrete over the hardened base. Spread it with a rake. This base course should be 5 inches thick or 1 inch thicker than the aggregate base underneath.

Spread a 2-inch-thick layer of semi-solid asphalt on top once the asphalt concrete hardens. Go over the surface with a roller machine so the layer has uniform thickness.

Pour a 1-inch-thick layer of hot, loose asphalt as the fourth and final layer of pavement. Compact the asphalt with a roller machine.

Give the asphalt six to nine months to cure before finishing it with penetrating sealant. Apply the clear sealant with a spray pump or painter's roller brush, and plan to reapply it every two or three years based on the weather and traffic your driveway is exposed to.