What is an Asphalt Berm?
Diverting water isn’t anything new. Our ancestors have been diverting and controlling water’s flow for thousands of years – but it’s still important today. Imagine an asphalt driveway where the water can’t flow away from your home. You’ll have puddles, miniature streams in your driveway, and your asphalt will quickly deteriorate.
Luckily, we still know how to control the flow of water and much of that control on your asphalt comes from berms. Asphalt berms, also known as curbs, are small hills or curved walls of asphalt that establish a boundary to your asphalt and provide a direction for runoff, so rain and ice don’t accumulate all-around your property. An asphalt berm is normally 6 to 8 inches tall and normally shaped like a loaf of bread.
The Purpose of Berms
Asphalt curbs have many different purposes, but all are constructed to make your asphalt installation more efficient and less prone to damage.
- Divert Runoff – Without berms, rain and other runoff would simply fall off your asphalt wherever gravity directed it. That might be the natural way of things, but you don’t water runoff all over your property. Berms help direct runoff and overflow exactly where you need them to go like into a drainage ditch. Berms will keep your property clean and free of damage-causing water. This is especially helpful during the winter to keep dangerous ice slicks from forming.
- Provide Border – Asphalt berms provide an established boundary for your asphalt and make the project look more cohesive. The berm can keep you from driving off your driveway, can hold onto errant basketballs during some one-on-one on the driveway, and help keep everything contained. With a berm, you don’t have to worry about a tire cracking the edge of the asphalt or other common border damage.
Can You Install an Asphalt Berm Yourself?
It’s recommended to let an asphalt professional install your berm. A berm isn’t just a mound of asphalt but an engineered boundary that needs to stand the test of time. Berms don’t require a formal foundation, but the area behind the berm must be properly dug out and reinforced to keep the berm in place.
The slope of the berm also takes a skilled hand. The berm must be sloped correctly to keep everything in but must also be properly curved to allow you to push out snow or leaves off without damaging the berm or your equipment. For these reasons and more, it’s recommended you use an asphalt professional to install a berm.
Finding an Asphalt Professional for Your Berm
If you need a berm installation on your driveway, you’ll need a great asphalt professional. Look for local contractors with many years of service in the community, get personal referrals from your friends and family, and use consumer review sites like Angie’s List to help you make the best hire. Always get at least three quotes before starting an asphalt berm installation.
Berm it Up
The asphalt curb directs water flow, keeps puddles and ice from forming on your blacktop, and provides a natural border to keep everything where it needs to be. If your asphalt needs a berm, talk to Colorado Pavement Solutions to berm it up and get the best possible asphalt driveway.
