Had a new asphalt driveway installed last September by a reputable local paving firm to the tune of $5500. Just within the past couple of weeks we noticed "low spots" along both sides of the driveway. By low spots I mean areas that have dropped and creating fairly sizable low depth craters. The best way to describe driving along the driveway is like a washboard with the car bouncing along the craters. The contractor will be taking a look at it but claims he never heard of this before. We have a 1 year warranty on workmanship. I would appreciate any comments, suggestions.

If there were no problems after the intitial installation I'd say he did not compact his base properly. The blacktop hasn't really compressed but the gravel under it has settled. This is a workmanship issue and it should be covered but you may have to argue for it. They will not rip out the entire drive so you end up with a patch.

Just to add here. ballengerb1 is correct.

I don't see your geo area but the frezze and thaw can cause the situation you have, especially if the old crushed stone base was iffy.

In my Geo a standard driveway new is 8" min. of 2a modified stone compacted. ( I go 10" when we cut in a new lane or driveway prep.)

2a modified stone has quarry dust mix in with it and it compacts like concrete.

A asphalt driveway is only as good as its crushed stone base no if ands or butts. Now if the driveway was spread over and existing driveway and it already had some bad soft spots in it then those areas should have been cut out and a new base of crushed stone filled back in before re-surfacing.

From what you described it sounds like you had water get in the sides and freeze and also soften the edges. If it was a new driveway from scratch then the edges either don't have enough stone for a base/ or the dirt below the stone wasn't compacted properly/ or the re-surface didn't stick and water got between the old and new and lifted the two layers. So pick one. Asphalt is fairly cut and dried and really controlled at the batch plant.

So there are some possibles as what could have gone wrong


Signed 21 Boat

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I agree with Ballenger and 21Boat. It's the rock base not being properly tamped or compacted down when the driveway was made. The asphalt had nothing to do with this. If the contractor wants to fix this problem with a patch, let him do this as this is the only fix available for that type of sinking.