FAQs

FAQs

Joe's Asphalt Paving

Have an asphalt-related question? We have the answer. Check out these FAQs and give us a call today for more information!

  • What is the difference between driveway resurfacing and sealcoating?

    The main difference is that asphalt resurfacing/rehabilitation is a structural repair that extends the useful life of asphalt surfaces. It entails the patching and resurfacing of the entire surface with a new overlay of 1.5" to 3" of hot bituminous asphalt, based on our experience. On the other hand, sealcoating is not a structural repair. It’s comparable to repainting your house. Sealcoating protects and extends the life of asphalt but doesn’t fix structural flaws. Sealcoating is much less expensive than resurfacing. Call our driveway paving company for more information on these processes!

  • Can you create asphalt in colors other than black?

    Basically, all asphalt is black. When the aggregates (stone) are mixed together with hot asphalt cement, the material is rendered black. As time passes and the asphalt oxidizes, the aggregate’s coating breaks down and the color begins to show through. This can lead to a “grayish’ color if the asphalt plant uses a lighter aggregate color. To learn more about asphalt driveway paving, give Joe's Asphalt Paving a call today!


  • When can I use my new driveway?

    We've found that it can take more than 30 days for your new asphalt to cure depending on temperature variations from night to day. If you’re careful, our experts agree that you should be able to drive on the surface after two or three days. Did you know that, according to IBISWorld, there are 123,000 paving contractors in the United States? Call us today to work with one of the top asphalt companies around!

  • My car left tire scuff marks on the asphalt. Are they permanent?

    Tire scuff marks are created when you turn your car’s steering wheel while the car is stationary. If it’s a hot day and the asphalt hasn’t completely cured, the surface will get a blemish. Over time, the majority of the mark will fade and become less noticeable. For driveway paving you can depend on, reach out today!


  • Why do I see roller marks on the surface of my asphalt?

    A critical aspect of producing a long-lasting asphalt surface is proper compaction. As one of the top paving companies in the area, our team strives for an ideal compaction of 90%. At times, the rollers leave “streaks” or marks on the driveway. These marks are temporary and will become less noticeable over a period of months.


  • My driveway is deteriorating in places. Should I wait one to two years to get the entire driveway resurfaced or address the issue now?

    Like fixing a piece of rotting wood in your home’s exterior, it’s much less expensive to fix deteriorating asphalt patches now than redoing the entire driveway later. In general, we've found that $1 spent on repairs in the first half of a driveway’s life will cost $4 to $5 to repair later. Don't wait to fix simple issues! Call us for asphalt driveway paving services ASAP.

  • When should I sealcoat my new driveway?

    This depends on the amount of direct sunlight and traffic that an area gets. In general, a surface shouldn’t need to be sealcoated more than every three to four years, according to the Capital Gazette, a reputable news source. When a driveway has been sealcoated too many times, it becomes smooth and slick when it rains. When you're looking for dependable asphalt companies in your area, call us today.

  • What are the pros and cons of using asphalt versus concrete for driveways?

    Aside from the color, when it comes to driveway paving, this is primarily a question of personal taste. However, there are two primary differences. Asphalt is flexible. It flexes with use and slight movements of the base. Concrete relies on its internal strength to absorb loads and bridge weaknesses in the sub-base. Concrete also costs much more than an asphalt surface of comparable strength. 

  • Can I put an asphalt surface over my old concrete driveway?

    Yes, we can do this if the content hasn’t broken down too much. There is one caveat, though. Concrete possesses expansion joints. When the concrete “moves,” it reflects up through the asphalt and cracks. We can put a paving fabric over the joints to slow down cracking. Sooner or later, however, it will show through. The alternative is to excavate the whole concrete driveway and build a new asphalt or concrete driveway from the base up. This, however, is an expensive undertaking. To figure out what will work best for your situation, call one of the top paving companies to give you a quote!

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