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Residential Asphalt Paving in Pittsburgh
Residential asphalt paving is asphalt work at homes: new driveways, full driveway replacements, resurfacing and the repairs in between. A good job starts below the surface. It needs a compacted stone base and a grade that sends water away from the house. B&M Paving has done residential paving in and all around Pittsburgh for about 50 years. We pave driveways across Allegheny County and in Westmoreland, Washington, Butler, Indiana and Fayette Counties. Every job starts with a free on-site estimate.
A driveway lasts as long as the base under it.
Why Homeowners Choose Asphalt Driveways
Asphalt bends slightly as the ground freezes and thaws, so it handles Pittsburgh winters better than a rigid slab.
You can usually park on a new asphalt driveway within a few days.
Cracks and worn spots can be filled, patched or resurfaced instead of torn out.
Upkeep is a seal coat every 2 to 3 years to keep out water and road salt.
How We Pave a Residential Driveway
Walk the Site
We measure the driveway, check the ground for soft spots and look at where the water runs.
Tear Out and Add Drainage
We remove the old driveway, or clear the ground for a new one. Where water collects, drain pipe or a catch basin goes in before any stone.
Grade and Build the Base
We slope the ground so water runs off the edges and away from the garage. Then we compact a stone base in layers and roll over it to find any soft spots.
Pave, Roll and Walk Through
A base layer of hot asphalt goes down first, then a smoother top layer, each rolled tight. We finish the edges at the street and the garage, then walk the driveway with you.
What Does Residential Asphalt Paving Include?
Residential paving covers most of the asphalt work around a home. We pave new driveways, including gravel drives getting asphalt for the first time. We replace driveways when the base has failed. Worn driveways that are still solid underneath get resurfaced instead.
We also widen driveways and add parking pads. For upkeep, we handle crack filling, patching and driveway sealing. Grading and drainage fixes keep water off the new pavement.
Have a long country driveway? Tar and chip is a lower-cost surface we also install.
New Driveway, Replacement or Resurfacing?
The condition of the base decides which job you need. Resurfacing only works on a solid base. A failed base needs a full replacement.
New driveway
For a new home, or a gravel drive you're ready to pave. We build it from the dirt up.
Replacement
For cracks that keep spreading, sunken spots and potholes. We tear out the old asphalt, rebuild the base and pave fresh.
Resurfacing
For a driveway that's faded or lightly cracked but still firm. After repairs, a new layer of asphalt goes over the old one.
We check the base during your free estimate, so you'll know which one your driveway needs. Our guide on when to replace an asphalt driveway covers the warning signs.
How Thick Should an Asphalt Driveway Be?
Drawn to scale. About 10 to 11.5 inches from soil to surface.
A durable residential driveway gets two layers of hot asphalt: a 2-inch base layer and a 1.5-inch top layer. Compacted, that's about 3.5 inches of asphalt over 6 to 8 inches of crushed stone. The whole driveway runs about 10 to 11.5 inches deep from soil to surface.
Most of that depth is stone you never see. It sits below ground level and carries the weight, so the asphalt on top doesn't sink or crack early. Two inches of asphalt is the bare minimum, and it wears out faster through Pittsburgh freeze-thaw. A work truck, an RV or soft soil calls for more stone and more asphalt.
Ask any contractor to put the compacted thickness in writing. Loose asphalt loses about a quarter of its depth when it's rolled. A loose measurement overstates what you're paying for.
Not sure what your driveway needs?
We'll check the base during a free on-site estimate.
Get a Free EstimateHow Long Does It Take to Pave a Driveway?
Most residential driveways take at least two days. The first day goes to tearing out the old driveway, or clearing the ground, and building the stone base. Paving starts once the base is ready. Job size and weather can stretch it.
Give new asphalt a few days before you park on it. In summer heat, wait a little longer.
What Changes the Cost of an Asphalt Driveway?
Five things set the price of an asphalt driveway: its size, any tear-out, the base, the slope and the access. We don't publish prices, because two driveways with the same square footage can be very different jobs.
Size sets how much asphalt and crew time the job takes. Tearing out old asphalt adds removal and hauling. Soft spots in the base get dug out and rebuilt with new stone. Steep slopes and water problems add grading or drain work. Tight lots and narrow streets can call for smaller equipment.
Asphalt and fuel prices also shift through the year. Your free estimate gives you a written price for your driveway.
Asphalt or Concrete Driveway?
For most Pittsburgh homes, asphalt is the practical choice. Here's how the two compare.
Asphalt
Usually costs less to install
You can drive on it sooner
Cracks get filled and worn areas resurfaced
Flexes as the ground freezes and thaws
Concrete
Lasts a long time
Road salt can pit the surface
Patches tend to show
Takes longer to cure before you park on it
Paving Steep Driveways on Pittsburgh Hills
Hillside driveways usually fail at the low end first, where storm water collects. We grade the driveway so water runs to the yard or a drain instead of toward the garage. On steep drives, the base and edges get extra compaction. Where water keeps pooling, we add a trench drain or a catch basin.
When Is the Best Time to Pave a Driveway?
Late spring through fall is the main paving season around Pittsburgh. Asphalt needs dry ground and mild days to compact well. Our crews keep paving into November while the weather stays mild and there's no snow on the ground.
Planning a driveway for next year? Booking over the winter gets you an early spot on the spring schedule.
How to Care for a New Asphalt Driveway
New asphalt stays soft for its first several months, especially in hot weather. A few habits keep it smooth:
Avoid turning the steering wheel while the car is standing still.
Kickstands, trailer jacks and ladder feet can punch holes, so set a board under them.
Change where you park now and then so tires don't press ruts.
Wait 6 to 12 months for the first seal coat. After that, reseal every 2 to 3 years.
Before winter, mark the edges with stakes so the plow driver can see them.
How to Choose a Driveway Paving Contractor
A good contractor puts the details in writing and comes back if something needs fixing.
Before you sign, check the estimate for a Pennsylvania Home Improvement Contractor registration number. The estimate should also list the dig depth, the stone base and the compacted asphalt thickness.
Ask to see photos of their own driveway jobs, and read reviews from homeowners near you. A local crew can get back to your house fast if a problem comes up.
B&M Paving PA HIC #PA017643
Driveway Paving Questions
How much does residential asphalt paving cost in Pittsburgh?
Price depends mostly on the driveway's size and whether old asphalt has to come out. The base and the slope matter too. We measure and price every driveway on site, and the estimate is free.
How long does an asphalt driveway last?
A well-built asphalt driveway often lasts 20 years or more when it's sealed on schedule. A weak base or plow damage shortens that.
Can you pave over a gravel driveway?
Often, yes. Firm gravel can become part of the new base. We regrade it, add and compact stone where it's thin, then pave.
Can you widen my driveway or add a parking pad?
Yes. We dig out the new area and build its base to match the existing driveway. Then we pave it so the seam stays tight.
Will a snow plow damage a new asphalt driveway?
It can. A blade set too low gouges the surface and breaks off the edges. Ask your plow driver to raise the blade slightly, and stake the edges before the first snow.
What areas do you serve for driveway paving?
We pave driveways in and all around Pittsburgh, throughout Allegheny County. That includes the North Hills and the South Hills. Westmoreland, Washington, Butler, Indiana and Fayette Counties are in our service area too.
Where We Pave Driveways
We do residential asphalt paving in Allegheny County, in and all around Pittsburgh. Our crews also cover Westmoreland, Washington, Butler, Indiana and Fayette Counties. Here are some of the towns where we work.
