About Sarah Leech Expertise Our family asphalt business has been proudly installing and sealcoating driveways and commercial parking lots for over 40 years. I welcome any and all questions about the asphalt sealcoating and/or asphalt paving of your driveway and/or parking lot. How to's for do it yourself sealcoaters, professional advice for your commercial parking lots, what products and tools to use; and what not to use. Tips, tricks and general useful knowledge in an area where most people don't know where to look for help!
Experience I grew up in the family business of asphalt paving. For 11 years I was the VP of the family asphalt business and now at 34, I own my own company, ASAP Asphalt Sealing And Paving Co. Currently, ASAP Asphalt is one of the largest asphalt sealcoating companies in Western PA!
Organizations Peters Township Chamber of Commerce
Building Trades Association
Education/Credentials Graduated from Peters Township High School 1992
BA in Psychology from Slippery Rock University 1997
National Pavement Expo Convention 2006
Awards and Honors Member of Manchester Who's Who
Past/Present Clients Babies-R-Us
The Home Depot,
Liberty Mutual,
Consol Development,
PNC Bank,
Kohl's,
Sheraton,
Red Roof Inn,
Michael's,
Question we have had a pit gravel driveway for about 14 years now. Over the years it has washed away, been scraped down repeatedly until now we need to do something a little more permanent. We looked at putting in just a normal cresh and run gravel drive and could easily afford that. Out of curiosity, we had a paving contractor come out. He gave us what I feel is a really good price ($6500 for a .2 mile drive plus parking pad.), but that is using something called "millings". This leads to my question, how well does this type of material hold up. Is it even comparable to asphalt? Would you recommend it for a residential driveway? I am worried about consistency and would it wash away like the pitgravel. Thanks for any help/info you can provide.
Answer Hi Johnnie,
Millings are old asphalt pieces that are removed from a parking lot/driveway. They are called millings because there is a machine called an asphalt planer/milling machine in which 'mills' the asphalt out.
So, there is no comparison to asphalt, because it IS asphalt and will hold up fine.
BUT, did he say what was going to hold the millings together? For example: when a driveway is 'tar and chipped', there is a mixture of tar and stone and the tar will bind the stone together, creating a permanent coat.
If he is using something to bind the millings together, I wouldn't see why the millings wouldn't be a good solution for you.
We use our asphalt millings sometimes instead of stone base when repairing or installing new asphalt. I have never used them as a 'finish coat' on the driveway, but that doesn't mean they don't work--as long as there is something binding them together.
If you were in our area, I would recommend the good old method of tar and chip. But, if he is reputable and you feel that that using the millings is the best decision for you, then go for it!
Good luck!
Sarah Leech
ASAP Asphalt Sealing And Paving Co.
"We're Kickin' Asphalt!"
