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Driveway Paving
New asphalt, tear-outs and full replacements. We grade for drainage first — that is what decides whether a driveway lasts five years or fifteen.
What's involved
How we do it
Anyone can lay asphalt. What separates a driveway that lasts fifteen years from one that cracks in five is everything underneath it — and that is the part you cannot see once it is done.
- We tear out the old surface and haul it off, no burying it under the new layer.
- The base gets graded so water runs off instead of sitting and freezing.
- Aggregate is compacted in lifts, not dumped and rolled once.
- Hot mix laid at temperature and rolled while it is still workable.
- Edges cut clean and shouldered so they do not crumble under a turning tire.
- Typical job
- One day
- Drive on it
- 24–72 hours
- First sealcoat
- After 6–12 months
Recent driveway paving jobs
Driveway Paving questions
Do you tear the old driveway out, or pave over it?
We tear it out. Paving a thin layer over failing asphalt hides the problem for a season or two, then the old cracks telegraph straight through the new surface. If the existing base is genuinely sound we will say so and quote a resurface instead, which is cheaper — but we will not sell you one over a base that has gone.
How long before I can drive and park on it?
Keep off it for 24 to 72 hours depending on the temperature. For the first few weeks avoid turning the wheel while stopped, and keep trailer jacks, ladder feet and motorcycle kickstands off it — fresh asphalt dents under anything with a small footprint. We will tell you exactly when you can pull in before we leave.
Why does the base matter more than the asphalt?
Almost every failed driveway we replace failed underneath, not on top. Water that sits in a poorly graded base freezes, lifts the slab and cracks it from below. We grade for drainage and compact the aggregate in lifts before any hot mix goes down, because that is the part that decides whether you get five years or fifteen.
What time of year can you pave in Michigan?
Roughly late April through October, once temperatures hold above 50°F and are rising. Hot mix laid in the cold stiffens before it can be compacted properly, and asphalt that was not compacted properly fails early no matter how good the material was. The season books up, so earlier calls get better dates.
How thick should a residential driveway be?
For a normal car-and-light-truck driveway in this climate, plan on two to three inches of compacted asphalt over six to eight inches of compacted aggregate. If you park an RV, a dump trailer or anything on outriggers, tell us up front and we will build it heavier in those areas rather than have you find out the hard way.
Can you widen a driveway or add a turnaround?
Yes, and it is one of the more common jobs we do. The new section gets its own base built to the same spec, and we cut a clean joint into the existing asphalt rather than butting new against a crumbling edge. The two will not match in color at first — the new work is darker until it weathers.
Why is my new driveway soft in the first hot spell?
That is normal. Fresh asphalt keeps curing for several months and stays softer in direct sun through its first summer. Avoid parking in the same spot every day, keep kickstands and trailer jacks on a board, and it will firm up. It does not mean the mix was wrong.
Do I need a permit?
Sometimes, and it depends on your township — most commonly for the apron where the driveway meets the public road. We will tell you when we quote whether your job needs one.
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