Frequently Asked Questions

National cost guides list new asphalt driveways at about $5 to $12 or more per square foot (HomeGuide) and $7 to $15 per square foot (Angi). HomeGuide puts a 400-square-foot driveway at roughly $2,000 to $4,800. Removal, base repair on clay and any approach work add to that, so we price your job in writing after seeing it.

HomeGuide lists resurfacing at about $3 to $7 per square foot and says an overlay can save around 20 to 30 percent compared with full replacement. It only works when the base underneath is still sound. If the driveway has potholes, sunken areas or broken edges, the cracks come back through, and replacement is the better money.

For most driveways it is an asphalt emulsion sealcoat applied in dry weather between about 50 and 95 degrees. Coal tar sealers are tougher against fuel spills but are banned in many areas over health and runoff concerns. New asphalt should cure for three to six months before the first coat.

Not usually for work that stays on your property. Work in the public right-of-way, such as a new or widened driveway approach, needs a City of Antioch encroachment permit, which is only issued to the owner or a State-licensed contractor and requires a deposit and insurance. We confirm what applies to your address at the estimate.

Spring through fall, when the ground is dry. Antioch gets most of its rain from November through March, and a wet base cannot be compacted properly. In midsummer we pave in the morning so the new surface can cool before it is driven on.

Cost guides put asphalt driveway life at 15 to 30 years. In Antioch the base and drainage decide where in that range a driveway lands, and regular sealcoating slows the sun damage that makes asphalt brittle.

It is the tracked or wheeled machine that receives hot mix from a truck, spreads it to an even width and depth, and gives it a first compaction with a heated screed. A roller follows to finish compaction. On narrow or tight driveways some of the placing is done by hand.

HomeGuide lists about $5 to $12 or more per square foot and Angi lists $7 to $15. A 400-square-foot driveway falls around $2,000 to $4,800 in HomeGuide's figures. Removal, clay subgrade repair and access change the total, and you get a written price after the visit.

Asphalt usually costs less up front and is easier to patch, but it needs sealing every few years and softens in extreme heat. Angi puts concrete at roughly $8 to $18 per square foot with a longer service life. Budget, slope and how long you plan to stay are the deciding factors.

Yes, on your property. If widening also means a wider curb cut, that is work in the public right-of-way and needs a City of Antioch encroachment permit. We explain what is involved before the job is scheduled.

Usually after a few days for cars, longer during a heat wave. Heavy trucks, RVs and trailers should stay off for longer. We give you timing for your job when paving is finished.

Usually because the base was too thin, soft clay was left in place, or water collects along an edge. Those are the parts of the job we spend the most time on.

HomeAdvisor lists new asphalt lots at about $2 to $4.50 per square foot, or roughly $400 to $1,130 per space. A 10-space lot runs about $10,000 in its examples. Reconstruction depth, drainage work and striping change the total.

Often, if the base is sound. Areas with alligator cracking or potholes are cut out and patched first, then the overlay goes over the whole lot. Overlaying a failed base just copies the old cracks into the new surface.

The Department of Justice says a lot that is restriped must provide accessible spaces under the 2010 ADA Standards. We lay out the counts, van spaces and aisles as part of the striping plan.

In most cases, yes. We split the lot into phases, keep at least one entrance open where the layout allows, and schedule around your peak hours.

HomeAdvisor suggests every two to five years. Lots with heavy turning traffic or full sun all day sit at the shorter end.

HomeGuide gives about $3 to $7 per square foot for resurfacing an older driveway and $1 to $3 per square foot for overlay work in its repair guide. Angi's range is wider, $3 to $20. Prep work such as patching and milling is the main variable.

If the pavement is worn and cracked but not sunken, rutted or full of potholes, the base is probably sound enough. We confirm it on site before recommending an overlay.

It can if nothing is done about it. We mill or taper the edges so the new surface meets the garage slab, walks and gutter without a step.

Wait until the new asphalt has cured, usually three to six months. Sealing too early can trap oils and leave the surface soft.

Every few years is typical. HomeGuide gives a range of 2 to 10 years depending on the sealer and climate, and Antioch's long dry summers push toward the shorter end.

Not right away. New asphalt should cure three to six months before sealcoat goes on.

No. Cracks are filled first; sealcoat is a protective layer, not a repair.

Usually 12 to 72 hours depending on heat and humidity. Foot traffic is generally fine after one to three hours.

HomeGuide puts the average at about $100 to $400, and many contractors have a minimum of $100 to $250. Full-depth repairs of larger failed areas are priced by the square foot, typically $4 to $12 for saw-cut patching.

Because the base under them is wet or soft. Filling the hole without fixing the base just puts new asphalt on the same weak spot. A saw-cut, full-depth patch removes the problem.

Late summer to early fall, before the rainy season. Dry cracks bond better and water is kept out of the subgrade through the winter.

A patch will look darker than older asphalt at first. A sealcoat over the whole surface a few months later evens out the color.

HomeGuide says 2 to 5 years for a well-done job. Lots in full sun and with heavy traffic fade faster, and any time the lot is sealcoated it needs restriping.

It depends on total spaces in the lot: 1 for up to 25, 2 for 26 to 50, 3 for 51 to 75 and 4 for 76 to 100, with at least one van-accessible space. Larger lots have higher counts.

Yes. The Department of Justice says a lot that is restriped must provide accessible spaces under the 2010 ADA Standards.

Yes. Most lots are striped in off-hours to keep the business open.