When the top layer of your driveway is completely worn down, but the base underneath feels as solid as the volcanic rock found all over Central Oregon, Asphalt Milling is often the right solution. Instead of tearing out the whole paved area from scratch, Asphalt Milling allows our team to grind off the damaged top surface while keeping the stable foundation intact. Near the Cascade foothills, the local freeze-thaw cycles brutalize pavement, and Asphalt Milling is often the most practical way to reset the surface.
Before the Project Starts
Homeowners should take a close look at the condition of their pavement before any heavy machinery rolls onto the property. Walk the driveway and check for deep structural rutting or soft spots where the subbase has given way. Asphalt Milling fixes surface damage, raveling, and poor drainage slopes, but Asphalt Milling will not save a base that is completely washed out. Mighty Asphalt Solutions always advises homeowners to check their property lines and make sure irrigation heads near the edges are flagged. Homeowners can handle the prep work by clearing vehicles, patio furniture, and debris out of the way, but leave the structural assessment to a professional contractor who knows local soil conditions in Sisters, Oregon.
During the Milling Process
Unless you happen to own a commercial cold-planer, this is entirely a job for an asphalt contractor. A rotating drum with carbide teeth chews up the old pavement, spitting the reclaimed material up a conveyor belt and straight into a dump truck. The process is loud and dusty, and it moves very fast. What homeowners can do during this phase is stay out of the way, keep pets inside, and make sure neighbors know why there is a large machine operating on the street. Mighty Asphalt Solutions typically sees a standard residential driveway milled down in just a few hours, leaving behind a rough, textured surface that is ready for the next phase of Asphalt Milling work.
After the Milling is Complete
Once the machine leaves, you are left with a gray, gravel-like surface made of crushed asphalt pieces. Now you have a choice to make regarding your Asphalt Milling project. Some homeowners like to spread and compact loose millings themselves to create a rustic, budget-friendly aggregate driveway. If you go that route, you will need a heavy plate compactor, a good eye for grading, and a willingness to rake loose edges back into place after traffic shifts them. On the other hand, if you are planning to lay down a fresh hot-mix asphalt overlay, you will want Mighty Asphalt Solutions to sweep the milled base clean immediately so the new layer bonds properly. Either way, do not let the loose surface sit too long without proper drainage management, or a heavy seasonal downpour will start carving ruts right through your driveway.