Frequently Asked Questions

National cost guides put new asphalt driveways at about $5 to $12 or more per square foot (HomeGuide) and $7 to $15 per square foot (Angi). HomeGuide lists a 600-square-foot driveway at roughly $3,000 to $7,200. Removal, steep grades, tight access and base repair change the total, so we price your driveway in writing after the site visit.

Mostly freeze-thaw. Water gets into cracks and the stone base, freezes, expands and loosens the pavement, and Pittsburgh winters repeat that cycle many times. A thin section over a weak base fails first. Sealing cracks before winter and building a draining stone base prevent most early failures.

In the City of Pittsburgh, a new or changed curb cut needs a Building and Development Application through OneStopPGH and a DOMI curb cut sub-permit before work starts. Outside the city, your borough or township handles driveway approvals. Driveways connecting to a state highway need a PennDOT highway occupancy permit to be built or altered. We confirm what applies to your address before scheduling.

If the old driveway is firmly supported and the cracking is on the surface, an overlay can work and costs less than full replacement. HomeGuide notes overlays typically save 20 to 30 percent. If there are heaved or sunken areas, ruts or broken edges, the base has failed and new asphalt on top will crack in the same places.

Roughly spring through late fall, when the ground is thawed and dry and temperatures let hot mix be compacted before it cools. Asphalt plants and paving crews slow down or stop in the coldest months. Winter is a good time to get an estimate and a spot on the spring schedule.

Cost guides say to wait three to six months so the asphalt can cure, and to seal in dry weather between about 50 and 95 degrees. A driveway paved in late summer is often sealed the following spring. After that, resealing every few years helps protect it from water, salt and sun.

Yes. Asphalt gives good traction and is easier to repair than concrete on a slope. Steep driveways need careful rolling so the mat compacts and does not shove, a smooth transition at the street, and a plan for where the water goes at the bottom.

Look past the total. A sound quote states the stone base depth, the compacted asphalt thickness, whether soft base will be dug out, how the street transition and drainage will be handled, and who takes care of the curb cut or PennDOT permit. Two bids that look close on price can differ on every one of those points.

National guides list about $5 to $12 or more per square foot (HomeGuide) and $7 to $15 per square foot (Angi). A 600-square-foot driveway falls around $3,000 to $7,200 in HomeGuide figures. Tear-out, base repair, grade and access change the total; we price your driveway in writing after seeing it.

A common residential section is 2 to 3 inches of compacted asphalt over 6 to 8 inches of stone. If you park trucks, trailers or an RV, plan on 3 to 4 inches over 8 to 10 inches. In a freeze-thaw climate, a base that drains matters as much as the asphalt.

Both work. Asphalt usually costs less up front, gives good traction and patches cleanly, but needs sealing every few years. Concrete costs more and lasts longer but is harder to repair and can be damaged by de-icing salt. Budget, grade and how long you plan to stay all factor in.

Usually a few days for cars, longer in hot weather. Heavy vehicles should wait longer. We give you timing for your job when we finish.

HomeGuide puts typical pothole repair at about $100 to $400, with saw-cut patching at $4 to $12 per square foot. Size, depth and how much wet base has to come out set the price. We measure and quote each area in writing.

Usually because the patch went on top of wet or broken base, or cold patch was used as a permanent fix. Frost lifts it out the next winter. A lasting repair removes the bad base, rebuilds with compacted stone and uses compacted hot mix.

Only temporarily. Cold patch can fill a dangerous hole in winter, but permanent hot-mix repairs need dry, unfrozen ground. We schedule those for the paving season.

If most of the surface is firm and the failures are in a few spots, yes. If failures cover most of the driveway, replacement usually costs less over time. We tell you honestly which it is.

HomeGuide lists crack filling and sealing at about $0.50 to $3.00 per linear foot, and many contractors have a minimum charge of $100 to $250. The total depends on how many feet of crack there are and how wide they are.

Late summer through fall is ideal, before the first hard freeze, on dry pavement. Spring works too, once the driveway is dry, to close cracks the winter opened.

Pourable fillers can help on narrow cracks, but they often shrink, harden or pull away in cold weather. Hot-applied rubberized sealant stays flexible as the pavement moves, which is what matters through a Pittsburgh winter.

Yes. Sealcoat does not fill cracks. Seal the cracks first, then apply the sealcoat over the whole surface.

On a sound base with regular maintenance, an overlay can last many years. On a failing base, cracks reflect through quickly. The condition of what is underneath matters more than the thickness of the new layer.

HomeGuide puts driveway resurfacing at $3 to $7 per square foot and notes overlays typically save 20 to 30 percent compared with replacement. Repairs and milling add to the total.

Yes, by the thickness of the new layer. Where that would create a step at the garage or street, we mill the old surface down first.

Sometimes, but each overlay adds height. After several, milling or full replacement is usually the better choice.

HomeGuide lists driveway sealing at about $1 to $2 per square foot, with a 400-square-foot driveway around $400 to $800 and a national average near $600. Parking lots run lower per square foot. We price yours in writing.

Every few years, depending on the product, traffic and exposure. Faded grey color, rough texture and water soaking in are signs it is time.

It adds a protective layer against water, salt and wear, which helps the asphalt last. It will wear faster where plows and shovels scrape, so high-wear areas may need it more often.

Typically 12 to 72 hours, depending on temperature, humidity and the sealer. Foot traffic is usually fine sooner.

HomeAdvisor lists asphalt lots at about $2 to $4.50 per square foot, or roughly $400 to $1,130 per space, with a 10-space lot near $10,000. Base condition, drainage and milling change the total. We price yours in writing.

Usually, yes. We phase the work in sections and schedule around your hours so customers and deliveries can still get in.

If the base is mostly sound, repairs and an overlay are the better value. If alligator cracking and potholes cover large areas, those sections need full-depth repair or reconstruction first.

Crack sealing every year or two, sealcoating every two to five years per HomeAdvisor, and resurfacing every 15 to 20 years is a common pattern.