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By properly preparing and grading for standard asphalt paving on a road or driveway, cracking and heaving can be further minimized. Road building and driveway projects require four basic steps:
Stripping away top soil, roots, or any other vegetation.
Preparing the sub-base soil. If sub-base soil is an unacceptable type with high clay or shale content, it must be replaced with usable soil before preparation. Preparation involves grading to the desired elevation, then compacting before adding road base material.
Adding, grading, and compacting road-base material. Thickness should be at least 6-inches for small, light vehicle traffic; up to 10-inches for large, heavy vehicle traffic.
Paving the surface with a “crown” or slightly higher elevation in the center; gently sloping away to the edges at a rate of at least ¼-inch per foot, to insure proper drainage.