Can your client's driveway take the heat?We'd like to share some insights with you about residential construction that might help you serve your clients better. Our plan is to send you one suggestion each month, based on knowledge we've gained from building and renovating upscale homes in New England. These suggestions are intended for architects only. We hope you find them valuable. If you have comments or questions, please send them to me and I'll do my best to answer right away. Your client's Harley Davidson just tipped over in their driveway. The kickstand went through the black asphalt. It's the dog days of summer and their driveway is melting. How can you help them? One short term solution would be to put a piece of plywood under the kickstand. That'll keep the Harley upright, but it won't eliminate all the tire scuffs. A longer term and more attractive solution would be to suggest rolling a light colored aggregate into the existing surface of the asphalt... and your client can do that without tearing up their existing driveway. Different color aggregate stones are available so homeowners can match the driveway color to their landscaping scheme. And there are also variations in texture for them to choose from. A rounded washed stone will provide a smoother surface. That's better for the kids' basketball games, but slick on steep grades during New England winters. Sharp crushed stone is tougher on the feet and not as good for recreational purposes, but it provides good traction in winter. Smooth or sharp, rolling an aggregate into the existing driveway will provide protection from the summer sun and keep those Harleys standing.
Chris Maggliozzi If you have comments or questions about our monthly tips, please send those directly to me by clicking here or by calling me at 617-614-0595. |
