This is a follow-up to my earlier question re cratering on my new asphalt driveway. Thanks for your previous responses. The contractor came over and was totally baffled-but agreed to re-do the whole job in May or June when it is warmer. But here is my new question: following a recent snowfall and warmer weather, the cratering has almost levelled out! Still a little bumpy but nothing as pronounced as before. Is the problem moisture that froze anf melted? Would this indicate a poorly compacted base? I still feel the job should be re-done. Big question is-and the contractor agrees-how to prevent the problem from re-ocurring. If he had seen it as it is now, he might not have offered to do it over-the difference is that dramatic. Thanks for any comments!

As before I expressed that any wavy in asphalt that developes later is almost always because of a bad stone base. To resurface that drive won't solve that problem. The dips are coming out because of thaws and the stone base or lack of is thawing out.

I grade, stone driveways, Cut in (dig) new driveways for a living along with everything else. Unless this asphalt separated itself then its either a bad bond between the base asphalt and the top asphalt. If the drive was re surfaced and the bond is between old and new then a wavy effect can happen. Resurfacing that won't change it. I really feel you have a crappy stone base if this was put in knew.

I would call some other paver's and get them to look at it before anything.

I feel your paver is not all honest here or just doesn't know what's he maybe should know.

Signed 21 Boat

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I would have to agree. The wavy parts is likely temporally disappearing because soft , damp soil under the poor base has frozen and swelled. In my area the building department requires 2 inspections because so many contractors have been cutting corners with compacting and base thickness. Now they even return to the finished job and drive a nail into the asphalt to test the true compacted thickness of the asphalt.