Driveway Inspection – Concrete and Asphalt Driveways
Concrete and asphalt driveway inspections should include checking for cracked, broken or settled areas in need of rehabilitation. Alligator cracks or some other type of extensive cracks usually indicate poor drainage of the subbase or poor construction. In this case, unfortunately, the cracks cannot be sealed effectively, so the entire area should be patched. If a large portion of the driveway is affected by this type of cracking, resurfacing is required.
The base below a paving block driveway must be prepared properly, otherwise sections will settle, causing water to pond during a rain. The water will drain into the joints between the blocks, but this should be recorded on your worksheet for later correction.
If the driveway is on an incline, subsurface water will flow below the driveway, undermining the subbase. In this case, adequate provision for drainage of the subbase should be made prior to resurfacing.
At the front of the driveway, look to see if it pitches directly down toward the house, because if it does, the garage as well as any other portion of the lower level are susceptible to flooding. A large operational drain at the base of the driveway would intercept the surface water. Generally, to control such water runoff a channel drain that runs across the width of the driveway is needed. However, the drain should have a free-flowing outlet. Moreover, if the drain is connected to a dry well, during months with a high water table it might be ineffective. In his case, a corrective procedure would be to connect the drain to a sump pit and remove the water with a sump pump.
If the house is located on a street that is inclined, the curb cut for the driveway should not be feathered into the street, but there should be a small ridge on the driveway, at the joint between the joint and the street. This will prevent water that normally accumulates around the curb from flowing onto the driveway. In newer houses this is normally not a problem, but in older ones the ridge tends to deteriorate, allowing water to overflow.
In some northern areas, you may find raised and inclined driveways with scratch marks caused by studded snow tires. During some winter months, such driveways will be difficult to clear, so 100 pounds of salt and sand should be stored in the garage or near the driveway.
When it comes to width, the minimum for a driveway is eight feet, but nine feet is preferred. However, if the driveway is used both as an areaway for the car and a walkway in place of a path, it should have at least ten feet in width. Anything less would make walking difficult when a car is parked.
Also, during the driveway inspection note whether the driveway discharges into a heavily traficked street. If it does, an area in the driveway should serve as a turnaround in order to allow a driver to head onto the street. In addition, check for overgrown trees and shrubs at the end of the driveway and make sure they do not obstruct the driver’s view when entering the street.