I’m going to get my gravel driveway paved with asphalt in about a month. It’s 250 feet long with a steep hill and parking for about 6 cars at the top. I’m also going to get a 200 square foot pole barn bay paved with asphalt where I store my tractor.
What’s there now is gravel – and I mean real gravel, not crushed stone. Also called “bank gravel” or “river gravel”. It’s the natural soil here, and I’m surrounded by gravel pits.
The paving company came recommended by multiple general contractors (including one in the family) and has been in business locally for 60 years. All the online reviews praise them.
They’re quoting me a price of $2.50 per square foot for 4000 square feet, so, $10,000. I think this is a very good price. The founder and owner of the business was very grateful to me the day before yesterday because a big tree fell across the road and power lines in front of our house (with a big fireworks show), and I went down there to investigate/help. The road is fast and the tree fell at the edge of shadow where it was hard to see, and I waved him down because he didn’t see it. He insists he would have run into the tree if I hadn’t stopped him (very possibly true), and he loaned me orange traffic cones he had in the truck, and I called him back the next day to get his cones and look at my driveway. So, I think they’re a trustworthy firm and I happened to get lucky hitting it off with him this way.
I’ve wanted this driveway paved for 35 years now and it seems this is a great opportunity to get the job done.
After it’s paved, they won’t want vehicles on it for several days. Get your shopping and any other errands done beforehand, as 250 feet and uphill is a long way to carry things.
Wow, there is a huge variety of information out there regarding how long to wait before driving on it, and before parking on it (which is sometimes longer). Asphalt company web sites say anything from “as soon as it cools” to “7 days”. Some say you can accelerate the cooling process by watering the driveway, but one says getting the brand new driveway wet can ruin it. Some say you should seal coat the driveway when it is brand new, or within a month, or every year or two or three, or never.
Our paver said they’d probably bring in equipment and do the gravel work over one day, then the next day they’d do the actual paving and then depart by probably around 2:00 PM. I think he was saying we needed to plan on being off of it while they were there working on it, but I realize I didn’t actually get clear on how long we have to avoid driving, or parking, or anything else specific. So this is something to pin down.
The thickness will be 3". They will also bring in a significant amount of crushed stone to make up the grade properly, though he says there’s no need to do so for firmness. This soil is extremely hard. I’ve posted in another thread about how hard it is to get an auger or a railroad pick to penetrate.
I do think the price is quite low. But they’re pretty much as solid and reputable a paving company as there is in this county, both based on online and personal references, and how long they’ve been in business here. I’ve driven by their home base many times over the years and it certainly looks like they’re doing something right.
Like I say, he seemed truly appreciative that I may have saved him from having an accident. He even spoke about the possible role providence played in bringing us together and how he hoped he could do for me something good like I did for him. I’m not going to speak for the almighty, but, personally, he seemed very appreciative.
Remember that on a “steep hill”, asphalt will provide quite a bit less traction than a gravel driveway.
If you live where ice or snow comes in winter, you might want to consider this. Some re-grading now, if possible, may be very helpful. Sometimes adding a couple of flat spots along the length of th driveway is useful.
Do you have any drainage issues? If storm water currently drains across your driveway, are there plans for redirecting this flow or providing a way for it to pass across the driveway without causing damage?
Here is the follow up to this story. He paved my driveway, and it looks beautiful. He graded and brought in a lot of crushed stone first. He leveled things a bit so the steepest spot is not as steep. He created a bit of a barrier along one edge where water might be inclined to form a channel on the more nearly uphill side, to send it across the driveway to the side where it would drain away. He also did my pole barn bay. It all looks perfect. He even extended the shoulder in front of my mailbox for about 30 feet, no charge. When my spouse returned home less than a half hour after they finished and while they were cleaning up and loading up, I met her on the road and drove the car up and off the new driveway without stopping, and there are no marks. We stayed off it for about 3 days before parking, and then only parked for a half hour or so. He also gave me the advice to spread a little sand in areas where delivery trucks might turn their steering wheels while not moving, which otherwise might tear up patches where the tire just ground against the pavement. All happy now. Yep, 4000 square feet for $10,000, in a day and a half.