Asphalt Driveway Installation in Dalton, GA

Who needs a new drive

Not everybody who calls us needs a full new driveway. Some drives are worn on top but still sound underneath. For those, an asphalt overlay is often the smarter spend, and we'll tell you so. A full installation makes sense when there's no paved drive at all, or when you're reshaping the layout entirely.

Taking off the old and getting clean

If there's an existing surface that has to come up, we use a cold planer. This milling machine grinds the worn layer off in a controlled way, so we're not tearing the drive apart by hand and can keep the edges and grade you already have.

Once the milling is done, the surface gets swept with a mechanical broom. New mix laid over dust and loose debris doesn't bond, leading to early peeling and raveling. We spend the extra time sweeping so the new mat sticks.

Laying the mat

The mix goes down through a paver. We maintain a uniform speed, because stopping and lurching leaves marks in the mat that you'll see for years. We also hold a uniform mat thickness across the whole drive. A thin patch is where cracks start, while a thick one can hold uneven weight and settle differently. Hand work happens at the tight spots, like the apron and around obstacles, where the paver can't reach.

Rolling it while it's hot

Compaction is where the driveway gets its strength. We begin breakdown rolling close behind the paver while the mat is hot. Waiting lets the mix cool, and cooled asphalt won't compact properly. After breakdown comes intermediate compaction, then finish rolling to leave a smooth, tight surface. Each pass has its own job to set the mat, bring it to density, and take out roller marks.

What it costs

An asphalt driveway overlay runs $3 to $7 per square foot. A 600-square-foot drive lands between $1,800 and $4,200 at those rates. A full installation involves more material and labor than an overlay, so we price it after we've seen the site. Ask us to put every line in writing, and you'll know exactly what you're paying for.

Drainage on the finished drive

Dalton gets periodic heavy-rain events that test drainage and grading. A drive can look perfect on a dry day and still hold water after a downpour if the grading is off. Pooled water shortens an asphalt surface's life. We build the finished surface with the proper pitch so water runs toward the street or existing drainage, keeping it away from your garage and foundation.