Asphalt Driveway Paving in Palmdale, CA

Asphalt driveway paving is the most common job we do in Palmdale, and it covers three situations. Some homeowners are replacing a driveway that has cracked into a web of small pieces, sunk at the edges or developed potholes. Some have a gravel or dirt drive, often on a larger lot east of town, and want a hard surface that does not rut or blow away. And some are building new, with a bare pad and a house that needs a way in. Each one starts the same way: with the ground.

Signs a driveway needs replacing, not patching

• Cracking that looks like alligator skin over a large area
• Edges that have broken off into the yard or gravel
• Low spots that hold water or sand after storms
• Potholes that keep coming back after they are patched
• A surface that has turned gray and loose, with stones coming free

HomeGuide's repair guide suggests repair or resurfacing when damage covers less than about 25 to 30 percent of the surface, and replacement when cracks cover 60 to 70 percent or more, there are multiple potholes, or the driveway is 20 to 30 years old.

How we build it

We remove the old surface and haul it away, then check the subgrade. Soft areas are dug out and replaced with compacted aggregate. The base goes down in lifts and is compacted, shaped so water runs toward the street or a landscaped area rather than toward the garage. Then hot-mix asphalt is placed and rolled while it is still hot enough to compact. A common residential section is 2 to 3 inches of asphalt over 6 to 8 inches of base. If you park a trailer, RV or work truck, we recommend 3 to 4 inches over a deeper base.

Heat and timing

Fresh asphalt stays soft for a while, and in a Palmdale summer it can stay soft for days. We plan the paving so the surface has time to cool before anyone drives on it, and we tell you how long to keep heavy vehicles, trailer jacks and kickstands off it. Turning the steering wheel while a car is parked is the most common cause of scuffs on a new driveway.

Gravel to asphalt

Many Antelope Valley lots have long gravel or decomposed granite drives. Existing rock can often be regraded and used as part of the base if it is clean and well compacted. Where it has thinned out or mixed with sand, we add new aggregate. Long drives get a crown or cross slope so the occasional heavy storm runs off the side instead of down the middle.

Where the driveway meets the street

The apron between your property line and the street is public right-of-way. If your project includes rebuilding or widening it, a permit from the city or county may be needed. We tell you at the estimate whether that applies to your address.