Liquid asphalt requires an average of 6-12 weeks to harden. During this time, your driveway will remain soft and pliable. 

You may walk on your driveway immediately, but you must keep automobiles OFF new asphalt for at least three full days and even longer in hotter temperatures.

Watering your driveway will cool and temporarily harden the blacktop. This is helpful but not required.

Don't be alarmed if soap suds appear. Suds appear as part of a reaction between the liquid found in the blacktop and the high chlorine content in water, which occurs in some city water.

The compaction procedure may occasionally cause stains on the driveway surface due to the oxidation from the steel drums on the rollers. These stains or streak marks are superficial and will fade as the surface wears. 

Although Bouchard Construction makes every effort to avoid puddles in your driveway installation, some small pools are inevitable depending on your ground's natural slope and drainage. Any areas with less than a 2% slope can develop small puddles. If your driveway is in one of these areas, we recommend considering grade changes or drainage work.

DO NOT TURN YOUR WHEELS BACK AND FORTH WHEN YOUR CAR IS NOT MOVING. Avoid using jack stands or car ramps unless a piece of plywood is placed beneath it to help distribute the weight. Excess weight from large, heavy vehicles can cause depressions in your blacktop. Keep oil trucks, concrete trucks, and other heavy trucks or vehicles off your new driveway. When storing campers for long periods, place a piece of plywood under the tongue jack and the tires. Gasoline, solvents, and oils will soften, stain, and dissolve asphalt.

Lawn chairs, bicycle or motorcycle kickstands, and ladders exert weight on concentrated areas and will create holes and depressions in your new driveway. Be cautious about wearing pointed high-heels on any new blacktop during summer.