You’re not looking for the cheapest quote. You’re looking for a parking lot that doesn’t crack apart in three years because someone skipped the base work or used thin asphalt.
When the job’s done right, your lot drains properly. No standing water eating away at the pavement. No potholes forming every spring. No liability from uneven surfaces that could trip customers or damage vehicles.
Your property looks professional. Customers pull in and see smooth pavement, clean lines, and a business that clearly takes care of details. That first impression matters more than most people realize.
Productive Asphalt has been in the paving business since 1948. That’s not a typo. Three generations of hands-on experience, from residential driveways to complex commercial projects across Trenton and Mercer County.
Here’s what actually sets us apart: we work on one project at a time. Our full crew focuses on your job until it’s finished right. No rushing off to the next site. No splitting attention between three lots at once.
We’ve built our reputation in Trenton on straightforward work and honest communication. Five-star reviews on Angie’s List. Industry recognition. But more importantly, repeat clients who call back because the lot we paved ten years ago is still holding up.
Parking lot paving starts with a site evaluation. We check your drainage, test the soil, and identify any issues that could cause failure down the road. We’re looking for soft spots, water pooling, and grade problems.
Next comes proper base preparation. This is where cheap contractors cut corners, and it’s why their lots fail early. We excavate to the right depth, install a solid crushed stone base, and compact it correctly. If your property has drainage issues, we address them now, not after the asphalt goes down.
Then comes the asphalt installation. We use the right thickness for your traffic load—whether you’re parking sedans or delivery trucks. A hot binder layer goes down first for strength, then a smooth top coat. Everything gets compacted properly while it’s still hot.
After the asphalt cures for 24-48 hours, we handle striping, ADA-compliant markings, and any final details. You get clear communication at every step, so you know exactly when your lot will be ready for traffic.
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Parking lot paving in Trenton means dealing with freeze-thaw cycles, heavy rain, and the reality that water is asphalt’s biggest enemy. We design every lot with proper slope—typically 2% grade—so water moves off the surface instead of sitting there and seeping into the base.
Trenton’s clay-heavy soils in some areas mean extra attention to subgrade preparation. If the ground beneath your pavement isn’t stable and well-drained, the best asphalt in the world won’t save you. That’s why we emphasize foundation work that other contractors rush through.
You also get solutions sized to your actual needs. A small retail lot with light car traffic doesn’t need the same specifications as a loading dock handling semi-trucks daily. We customize thickness, base depth, and materials based on your property’s real-world use.
For commercial properties in Trenton, ADA compliance isn’t optional. Proper accessible spaces, correct slopes, clear signage, and smooth surfaces for wheelchairs and walkers. Getting this wrong means fines and expensive rework. Getting it right from the start means one less thing to worry about.
A typical commercial parking lot takes three to seven days from start to finish, depending on size and site conditions. Smaller lots might wrap up faster. Larger or more complex projects with significant drainage work could take longer.
Weather plays a role. Asphalt needs warm temperatures to install properly, so spring through early fall is ideal. Rain delays things because you can’t pave wet surfaces. Once the asphalt is down, you’ll need to stay off it for 24 to 48 hours while it cures.
If keeping your lot fully accessible is critical, we can phase the work. We’ll pave one section while keeping another open for parking, then switch. It takes a bit longer but keeps your business running.
Resurfacing means adding a new layer of asphalt over your existing lot. It works when the base underneath is still solid but the surface has minor cracking or wear. You’re basically giving the lot a fresh top coat. Resurfacing costs $1 to $3 per square foot and extends the life by 8 to 12 years.
Replacement means tearing out the old pavement down to the base, fixing any drainage or foundation issues, and building the lot from scratch. You need replacement when you have deep cracks, potholes, severe drainage problems, or when the base has failed. It costs more upfront—$2 to $4.50 per square foot—but you’re getting a lot that should last 15 to 20 years with proper maintenance.
We evaluate your lot honestly and tell you which option makes sense. Sometimes spending more now saves you from doing the job twice.
Poor drainage is the number one killer of parking lots. Water that sits on the surface or seeps into the base weakens everything. It penetrates cracks, freezes in winter, expands, and breaks the pavement apart. A lot without proper slope and drainage won’t make it ten years no matter how good the asphalt is.
Inadequate base preparation is the second biggest problem. Some contractors put down a thin gravel base or skip it entirely to save money. When heavy vehicles drive over pavement with a weak foundation, it flexes, cracks, and fails. You need at least six inches of compacted aggregate base for light traffic, more for heavy use.
Using cheap asphalt mix or applying it too thin also causes early failure. There’s a reason the lowest bid is often the lowest bid. They’re cutting costs somewhere, and it’s usually the materials or the process. Proper asphalt thickness for a commercial lot is at least four inches, often more depending on your traffic.
Parking lot paving in Trenton typically runs $2 to $4.50 per square foot for asphalt, which includes materials and labor. A 10,000 square foot lot—enough for about 30 cars—would cost $20,000 to $45,000. Larger lots or sites with complicated drainage can push costs higher.
That price covers proper base preparation, asphalt installation, compaction, and basic striping. Add-ons like curbing, ADA-compliant ramps, specialty drainage systems, or extensive site work increase the total. Concrete costs more upfront but lasts longer, running $4 to $7 per square foot.
The real question isn’t just the upfront cost. It’s what you’re getting for that money. A cheap job with thin asphalt and poor base prep might save you $5,000 now but cost you $20,000 in repairs and early replacement later. We price projects based on doing the job right, not just doing it cheap.
Sealcoating is your first line of defense. Apply it every two to four years to protect the asphalt from UV rays, water, and oil spills. Sealcoating fills small surface cracks and keeps the pavement flexible. It costs $0.14 to $0.25 per square foot and can double your lot’s lifespan.
Crack filling should happen annually. Small cracks turn into big cracks, which turn into potholes. Filling them early costs $0.50 to $3 per linear foot and prevents water from getting into the base. It’s cheap insurance against expensive repairs.
After 10 to 15 years, you’ll likely need resurfacing. That means adding a fresh layer of asphalt over the existing surface to restore smoothness and extend the lot’s life another decade. If you skip maintenance, you’re looking at full replacement in 10 years instead of 20 to 30.
Yes, and it’s common for businesses that can’t afford to lose parking access. We can section off part of the lot, pave it, let it cure, then move to the next section while reopening the finished area. You always have some parking available.
Phased paving works best when your lot has multiple entrances or natural divisions. We coordinate timing so each section is down for the shortest possible period. It adds a few days to the overall project timeline but keeps your customers and employees from hunting for street parking.
The key is planning it right from the start. During the site evaluation, we map out which sections to pave in what order based on your traffic patterns and business needs. Clear communication and scheduling make phased projects run smoothly without surprises.
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