Asphalt Paving in Plum, PA

Asphalt paving in Plum covers a lot of ground, literally. The borough spans about 28.94 square miles, and Wikipedia says it is the second-largest borough by area in Pennsylvania. It was one of Allegheny County's original seven townships, founded December 18, 1788, and became a borough in 1956. In 2020 it had 27,144 residents and 11,869 housing units, which works out to fewer than a thousand people per square mile. That spread shows up in the driveways: long runs to homes set back from the road, gravel drives that owners want paved, and suburban two-car drives in the newer plans.

When Plum filled in

The borough had 10,241 people in 1960 and 21,932 by 1970, more than doubling in a decade, then grew more slowly to 25,390 in 1980 and about 27,000 since 2000. So a large share of the subdivisions date from the 1960s and 1970s, with more added in later decades. A driveway from 1970 has had more than fifty winters. If yours is rutted, broken at the edges or sinking near the garage, replacement with a new stone base usually makes more sense than another round of patches.

Long driveways and gravel conversions

Paving a long driveway is a different job from paving a short one. The base has to be consistent the whole way, the edges need support so they do not break off where the shoulder is soft, and water has to be moved off the pavement in several places, not just at the end. When we convert a gravel driveway to asphalt, we regrade and compact the existing stone, add new stone where it has thinned, fix the crown and drainage, and then pave. A good gravel base saves work; a muddy one needs to be dug out.

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Creeks, valleys and soft ground

Plum Creek rises in the borough and gives it its name. Abers Creek, Little Plum Creek and Pucketa Creek also drain the area, with Pucketa Creek forming the border with Lower Burrell at the Allegheny River. Homes in the valleys can have wet ground, and homes on the hillsides have sloped drives. We adjust the base and drainage to the lot rather than paving every driveway the same way.

Golf, parks and the Turnpike

Oakmont Country Club, which has hosted a record ten U.S. Opens, lies mostly within Plum, and Boyce Park is also here. The Pennsylvania Turnpike crosses the borough between mile markers 49 and 55. We also pave and maintain lots for churches, small businesses and clubs. For entrances on state roads, PennDOT may require a Highway Occupancy Permit for changes in its right-of-way, and we check before work at the road.

What we do in Plum

• New driveways and gravel-to-asphalt conversions
• Full replacement of 1960s and 1970s driveways
• Resurfacing overlays on sound bases
• Patching, crack sealing and sealcoating
• Small lot paving and striping

Call (412) 796-9361 to set up a visit.