A properly installed driveway changes how your property looks and functions. The cracks disappear. Water drains away from your foundation instead of pooling near your garage. Your car stops bouncing over uneven patches every time you pull in.
You get a smooth, black surface that makes the whole property look cleaner and more maintained. Neighbors notice. Potential buyers notice. More importantly, you stop worrying about whether your driveway will hold up through another winter.
When the base is compacted correctly and the asphalt is laid at the right thickness, you’re looking at 20 to 30 years of use. That’s not marketing talk—that’s what happens when an experienced asphalt contractor does the job without cutting corners.
We bring decades of hands-on paving experience to every driveway in East Amwell and throughout Hunterdon County. With family roots in the asphalt industry dating back to 1948, we combine old-school craftsmanship with modern techniques to handle residential driveways, commercial parking lots, and everything in between.
What sets us apart is simple: we work on one job at a time. Your driveway gets our full attention from start to finish. No crew bouncing between three properties in one day. No shortcuts to squeeze in another job before dark.
We treat every client the same way—like they’re the most important project on the schedule. That approach has earned us five-star reviews on Angie’s List and a reputation built on doing what we say we’ll do, when we say we’ll do it.
First, the old surface comes out if it needs to go. That means excavating damaged asphalt or concrete and hauling it away. If the existing base is solid, it might stay—but only if it’s actually solid.
Next comes grading and base preparation. This step determines whether your driveway lasts 10 years or 30. A compacted gravel base at least several inches thick creates the foundation. Proper grading ensures water runs off instead of sitting in puddles or flowing toward your house.
Then the asphalt goes down. Hot mix asphalt gets spread evenly across the prepared base, typically 2 to 3 inches thick for residential driveways. Heavy equipment compacts it into a smooth, dense surface. We pay attention to edges, transitions, and any areas that need extra care.
After installation, you wait about 24 to 48 hours before driving on it. The asphalt needs time to cool and set. Within a few days, it’s ready for full use. Six months to a year later, sealcoating goes on to protect the surface from water, UV rays, and everyday wear.
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Every driveway paving project in East Amwell starts with an honest assessment of what your property needs. Some driveways need complete removal and replacement. Others can be resurfaced if the base is still good. We walk you through the options without pushing you toward the most expensive one.
The work includes site preparation, proper drainage solutions if needed, and careful attention to how the new driveway connects to the street and your garage. In Hunterdon County, drainage matters. New Jersey gets its share of rain, and freeze-thaw cycles during winter can destroy a driveway that doesn’t drain properly.
You also get transparent communication throughout the process. No disappearing for days. No surprise costs halfway through. We show up when scheduled, do the work, clean up the site, and make sure you’re satisfied before we leave. Seniors, military members, and first-time customers receive specialized discounts as a thank-you for their trust.
A properly installed asphalt driveway in East Amwell typically lasts 20 to 30 years with regular maintenance. The lifespan depends on several factors: how well the base was prepared, the thickness of the asphalt layer, local weather conditions, and how much traffic the driveway sees.
New Jersey’s freeze-thaw cycles put stress on any paved surface. Water seeps into small cracks, freezes, expands, and makes those cracks bigger. That’s why proper installation and maintenance matter so much. A driveway with a solid compacted base, adequate thickness, and good drainage will outlast one that was rushed or built on the cheap.
Regular sealcoating every 2 to 3 years protects the asphalt from water penetration, UV damage, and chemicals. Fixing small cracks before they spread also extends the life of your driveway significantly. With the right care, you’re looking at decades of use before replacement becomes necessary.
Asphalt makes more sense for most driveways in East Amwell and throughout New Jersey. The material handles freeze-thaw cycles better than concrete because it’s flexible. When temperatures drop and the ground shifts, asphalt expands and contracts without cracking as easily as rigid concrete.
Asphalt also costs less upfront—typically $5 to $12 per square foot installed compared to $10 to $15 or more for concrete. You can drive on it within a couple of days instead of waiting a week for concrete to cure. Repairs are simpler and cheaper when they’re eventually needed.
Concrete does last longer if properly maintained, and it offers more design options with stamping and coloring. But in New Jersey’s climate, asphalt’s flexibility and lower maintenance costs make it the practical choice for residential driveways. It looks clean, performs well, and doesn’t break the budget.
Driveway paving costs in East Amwell typically range from $5,500 to $12,000 for a standard residential driveway, depending on size and site conditions. The price per square foot usually falls between $7 and $13 for asphalt installation, including labor and materials.
Several factors affect the final cost. Larger driveways obviously require more material and labor. If your old driveway needs to be removed and hauled away, that adds to the expense. Properties with drainage issues or grading problems cost more because those issues need to be fixed before paving begins. Curves, slopes, and unusual shapes also increase labor time and material waste.
The best way to know what your specific project will cost is to get a detailed estimate from an experienced paving contractor. A good estimate breaks down the work: excavation, base preparation, asphalt thickness, grading, and any extras like drainage solutions. That transparency helps you understand exactly what you’re paying for.
Late spring through early fall offers the best conditions for driveway paving in New Jersey. Asphalt needs warm, dry weather to be installed properly. The material is heated to high temperatures, spread, and compacted while hot. Cold or wet conditions interfere with that process and can compromise the quality of the finished surface.
Most paving contractors in East Amwell stay busy from April through October. Summer is peak season, which sometimes means higher demand and longer wait times. Scheduling your project in late spring or early fall might give you more flexibility and potentially better availability.
Winter paving is possible during mild stretches, but it’s not ideal. Temperatures need to stay above freezing, and the ground can’t be frozen. Rain delays projects regardless of the season. If you’re planning a driveway project, reach out to contractors in early spring to get on the schedule before the busiest months hit.
Yes, sealcoating your asphalt driveway protects it and extends its lifespan significantly. You should wait 6 to 12 months after installation before applying the first sealcoat. The asphalt needs time to cure fully before sealing. After that, reapply sealcoating every 2 to 3 years.
Sealcoating creates a protective barrier against water, UV rays, oil, gasoline, and chemicals that break down asphalt over time. It also gives your driveway that fresh, dark black appearance that makes it look new again. The cost is minimal compared to the protection it provides.
Without regular sealcoating, asphalt oxidizes and becomes brittle. Small cracks form, water gets in, and those cracks grow into bigger problems. In New Jersey’s climate with freeze-thaw cycles, that deterioration happens faster. Sealcoating is simple preventive maintenance that saves you from expensive repairs or early replacement down the road.
If more than 30% of your driveway surface shows damage, replacement usually makes more sense than patching. Large areas of cracking, multiple potholes, significant settling, or widespread surface deterioration indicate the base has failed. At that point, repairs become a temporary fix that won’t last.
Other signs you need replacement include water pooling in multiple spots, deep ruts from heavy vehicles, or an alligator-cracking pattern where the surface looks like reptile skin. If your driveway is already 20 years old or older and showing these issues, the base and asphalt have reached the end of their useful life.
For minor problems—a few small cracks, isolated potholes, or surface wear in one area—repairs work fine. An experienced asphalt contractor can assess your driveway and give you an honest recommendation. Sometimes resurfacing (adding a new layer over the existing asphalt) splits the difference, giving you a fresh surface without the cost of full replacement.
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