Short answer: Arizona sun dries out asphalt and turns it gray and brittle. Keep a driveway healthy by going easy on it while it's new, sealing cracks before monsoon rains get into the base, and seal coating it every few years to block the sun and bring back the black color.
What the sun does to asphalt
The binder that holds asphalt together dries out under strong sun. That's why older driveways go gray, get rough and start to crack. Cracks then let water into the base, and that's when real damage starts.
The first weeks on a new driveway
- Stay off it until you're told it's ready, usually a few days for cars.
- Don't turn your steering wheel while the car is parked; it scuffs soft asphalt.
- Keep kickstands, trailer jacks and ladder feet off it in the heat, or set them on a board.
- Park in different spots so tires don't press ruts in one place.
- The edges are the weakest part, so keep heavy wheels off them.
Before monsoon season
Fill cracks before the summer storms. Water that gets under the surface softens the base, and that's how small cracks turn into potholes.
Seal coating
A seal coat puts a protective layer over the asphalt that blocks the sun and water and brings back the deep black look. Many owners reseal every few years. Ask Justin when yours is due.
When it's past saving
If the driveway is breaking up, sinking or full of potholes, sealing won't fix it. That's when an overlay or a new driveway is the answer. See overlay or new driveway.