Crossing asphalt driveway with wire

[cabranch47]

I am a longtime follower on this website and have gleaned a lot of varied information from it. I now have a question. I have to replace my underground dog fence where a portion of it crosses an asphalt driveway. Looking for the best (and cheapest) way to do this. The last time I rented a gas powered concrete saw, but trying to avoid that if possible. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Half-fast eddie]

Diamond blade in a cheap 7” circular saw.

 

[nh_yota]

I am a longtime follower on this website and have gleaned a lot of varied information from it. I now have a question. I have to replace my underground dog fence where a portion of it crosses an asphalt driveway. Looking for the best (and cheapest) way to do this. The last time I rented a gas powered concrete saw, but trying to avoid that if possible. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Can you rip the old wire out of the driveway? When you installed it years ago did you fill the crack with sealer?

 

[jack stand]

^^^ especially if you think the wire would survive and work at about an inch down into the asphalt.
Then just simply caulk the slot closed, maybe with roofing cement sprinkled with some sand-ash? on the top to sort of seal it.

 

[jack stand]

 

[rlmartinson]

Diamond blade in a cheap 7” circular saw.

Exactly what I did a couple months ago.

 

[Kaizen]

diamond wheel on a grinder. just did it on mine. stupid conduit i used initially pinched. I snapped a chalk line then crawled backwards so the debris was coming toward me. obvious face shield needed. this will keep all the little pebbles out of the thin cut. wire just fit in. I put two in stacked on top of eachother to future proof then used black caulk gun stuff.
If this is near the street see if there is an existing crack you might be able to blow out and use.

 

[FMB4]

How about pulling the new wire(s) across using the old?

 

[Showkey]

Do not be surprised if the typical circular saw dies mid cut. Typical failure point smoked armature or stripped gears. Go sloooow……….. multiple passes shallow cut helps on the cheap saw‘s happiness .

If it does die………. tool rental gas saw or electric saw some with water cooled blade for $37-60 for 4 hours or full day.

 

[goingtoarizona]

Will it work UNDER the driveway? Home Depot sells a dirt cutting nozzle that you glue to the end of a PVC pipe, the other end attached to your hose. The water pressure will cut a hole under the driveway, attach the wires to the "tool" before you pull it back and and it's done. I did this to run sprinklers under a brick walkway, worked much faster and easier than I ever thought possible.

 

[kaymccampbell]

I just drove a piece of iron pipe under the driveway, then used it to pull a piece of PVC conduit after it. But, honestly, the hose nozzle sounds easier.

 

[bucolic]

I have an upper and lower driveway and had to cut across the upper once and the lower twice for my dog fence. I used about 3 inexpensive diamond blades from home depot in the circular saw. On the driveway I had to make two cuts on one of them was for the twisted wire pair to run it back in the garage to hook to the control unit. That cut used two blades as I had to go over it a couple of times to make it wide enough for the twisted wire pair. Wasn't that big a job you just may need a few blades depending on how wide your driveway is and how deep you want to go. I made a few passes lowering the blade each time to get the proper depth.

 

[danfromsyr]

I'd do the saw bit, but I wanted to look up this for another project.

I'd add a lever ball valve to the mix for ease of on/off water control

Irrigation Helps & Tutorials - How to Dig & Run Pipe Under Driveway or Sidewalk for Irrigation System Installation

Irrigation Helps/Tutorials - To dig and run pipe under driveway or sidewalk, the most efficient and cost effective way to bore under an obstacle is to create a hole using the power of water.

www.irrigationrepair.com

 

[mcj115]

I picked up a diamond wheel for my 4.5" electric grinder to cut holes in my asphalt driveway. I think I paid $5 for the wheel at a swap meet. It is effective and cheap, not not quick but for how often I need to cut asphalt the blade does its job well for the price.

 

[Max]

For those folks that are cutting their asphalt, what do you put over the wires to protect them? It seems like ‘asphalt in a tube” at the orange store is not likely to last...

 

[Sumboodie]

How about pulling the new wire(s) across using the old?

Yup. It's in conduit I'd imagine?

 

[mrobins297aaa]

I think the hose method works great as long as you have a sand base under your asphalt.
on the other hand that hose is not going to wash away a crushed concrete base or gravel.

 

[bucolic]

For those folks that are cutting their asphalt, what do you put over the wires to protect them? It seems like ‘asphalt in a tube” at the orange store is not likely to last...

I used this. 3 years and 3 NY winters later and still in place with no issues.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/BLACK-JACK-Speed-Patch-10-lb-Asphalt-Patch/3027299

 

[Max]

Thank you bucolic.