Asphalt Paving in Mt. Lebanon, PA

Asphalt paving in Mt. Lebanon usually means working around houses that were built before the car took over. The first streetcar line to Pittsburgh opened on July 1, 1901, and the first real estate subdivision was laid out that November. A second streetcar line and the Liberty Tubes both opened in 1924, and the population jumped from 2,258 in 1920 to 13,403 in 1930 and 26,604 by 1950. Driveways on many of these lots were added or widened later, squeezed beside the house or run back to a detached garage, and they are often narrow, sloped and bordered by stone walls or mature trees.

The historic district

The Mt. Lebanon Historic District, listed on the National Register, holds 3,341 contributing buildings in areas developed between 1874 and about 1945. That is most of the township. On these homes we keep the driveway in proportion to the house, protect existing walls, steps and curbing, and keep the edge of the new asphalt clean and straight. If an old drive has a brick or stone border, we form the new pavement inside it rather than tearing it out.

Streets that follow the hills

Wikipedia notes that Virginia Manor's streets were designed to follow the natural contours of the land, and that neighborhoods like Hoodridge, Mission Hills and Seminole Hills have homes by well-known Pittsburgh architects. Contoured streets mean driveways that curve, climb or drop toward the garage. On a sloped driveway, the base matters more than the top. We dig out to firm ground, place and compact enough stone that the pavement will not creep downhill, and plan where the water goes at the low end.

Narrow drives and detached garages

A lot of Mt. Lebanon driveways are a single car wide and run the full depth of the lot. They take the same wheel path for decades, so ruts and edge cracking are common. When we replace one, we look at whether the edges need support, whether a small turnaround or parking pad would help, and how close we can work to the foundation without disturbing it. Equipment size matters on these lots, and we bring machines that fit.

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A walkable township

The township is only about 6.08 square miles, with 15 parks covering more than 200 acres, a busy Uptown along Washington Road and the Beverly Road business district. Sidewalks run along most streets, and driveways cross them. Where a new driveway meets a public walk, we keep the asphalt off the concrete and taper the transition so there is no trip edge. Washington Road also carries U.S. Route 19 Truck. Work that reaches the right-of-way may need municipal approval, and we check what applies before scheduling.

Resurfacing versus replacement

Plenty of Mt. Lebanon driveways have a solid base that was well built decades ago. If the surface is worn but flat and firm, a resurfacing overlay can make sense, with the edges cut back at the garage and street so the height stays right. If the driveway has sunk, heaved near tree roots or broken up at the apron, replacement is the better choice. Call (412) 796-9361 and we will walk the driveway with you and explain which applies.