With every issue, it’s our goal to get our readers’ attention. And even though our subject matter isn't as sensational as Sports Illustrated or Time, we try our best to come up with editorial that resonates with our audience. One feature seems to garner more feedback than any other and that is our annual Renters’ Review.
Our most recent installment, featured in our recent June/July issue, told the story of my driveway repair project and the effort to resurface it using a cut-off saw, some cold patch asphalt, and a plate compactor. We had decided to use a premium new product, Aqualphalt, because Consumer Reports had rated it so highly.
As always, it was an odyssey of DIY lessons. One of the most noteworthy aspects of this project was the unexpected quantity of cold patch needed to fill the roughly 4- by 8-ft. by 3 in. hole we cut in my driveway. Long story short, we needed a whole lot more cold patch than we thought.
Renters’ Review 2018: Beware the 'YouTube Effect' – A Cautionary Tale
[VIDEO] Renters' Review 2018: Done With Driveway Depressions
[VIDEO] Renters' Review 2018 Epilogue - Promoting the Value of Rental Expertise
The Aqualphalt package said (we thought) one bucket would cover a 5- by 5-ft. area to a 1-in. depth. This was so far off what the Aqualphalt actually covered that we called the company out in a short sidebar article in our Renters’ Review feature.
Once the issue came out in print, it wasn’t long before the letters started coming in, correcting our measurement error. It turns out we were figuring for area, not volume, and in fact, Aquaphalt was correct in its claims.
We regret this error and apologize to Aquaphalt for the bad press. As stated in our last issue, there’s no question over the performance of Aquaphalt. It provides high-quality results and does what it says it will do. Do not hesitate to give it a try.
That being said, the area/volume question is one that could trip up many DIYers, and this is yet one more lesson to take away from Renters’ Review. We hope you all can learn from our mistakes and help your customers to make better choices going forward.
Meanwhile, we absolutely love the feedback. Keep it coming!
