Your driveway should be something you don’t think about. No cracks spreading across the surface. No water pooling near your garage. No wondering if it’ll hold up through another winter.
When the work is done correctly, you get smooth asphalt that drains properly, stands up to temperature swings, and keeps your property looking sharp. You get a surface built on a solid foundation that won’t sink or shift when the ground freezes and thaws.
And you get the kind of paving installation that doesn’t need constant repairs. The right base preparation, proper grading for drainage, and quality materials mean your driveway does its job without becoming another thing on your to-do list. That’s what matters.
We bring decades of hands-on experience to every driveway in Mercerville. With roots in the paving industry going back to 1948, we combine family tradition with modern expertise to deliver residential and commercial paving that holds up.
Here’s what sets us apart: one job at a time. Our crew devotes full attention to your project, whether it’s a residential driveway or a larger commercial installation. No juggling multiple sites. No rushing to the next job. Just focused work that meets high standards.
Mercerville homeowners know what matters in this area. Properties here are well-maintained, and residents expect quality work that protects their investment. We treat every client with the same level of care, finding custom solutions for each property’s unique drainage and layout needs. Seniors, military, and first-time customers receive special discounts.
First, the old surface comes out. Heavy equipment removes existing asphalt or concrete, and debris gets hauled away. You start with a clean slate, which matters for what comes next.
Then comes the most important part: base preparation and grading. We shape the ground to ensure water runs off instead of pooling. Laser-guided equipment helps create the right slope so drainage works correctly. A solid base of compacted stone goes down, typically four to six inches deep, creating the foundation that prevents future cracking and settling.
After the base is set and inspected for soft spots, fresh asphalt gets applied. This top layer is a mix of aggregate, oil, and sand that creates that smooth, dark surface. A roller compacts everything into place, ensuring no bumps or weak spots.
The whole process usually takes a couple of days for a typical residential driveway. One day for base prep, one day for asphalt paving. Then you wait about 24 hours before driving on it, giving the surface time to cure properly. The result is a driveway built to handle New Jersey’s weather and your daily use.
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A proper driveway installation in Mercerville starts with addressing your property’s specific needs. That means evaluating drainage patterns, checking the existing surface condition, and planning for how water will move across your property. Every driveway is different.
You get complete removal of old materials when needed, proper excavation, and a compacted stone base that won’t shift under pressure. The grading is set up to direct water away from your home and garage, preventing the pooling that leads to ice patches in winter and erosion over time.
In Mercerville, where properties average two cars per household and homeownership sits above 80%, your driveway takes daily wear. The asphalt thickness is matched to your usage—typically three inches for residential driveways that handle regular vehicle traffic. For properties with heavier use or challenging soil conditions, we make adjustments to ensure long-term performance.
The paving installation includes smooth transitions where your new driveway meets existing surfaces like the street or garage apron. These butt joints are carefully graded so you don’t feel a bump when driving over them. Clear communication throughout the project means you know what’s happening and when. No surprises on timeline or cost.
Driveway paving costs in Mercerville typically range from $5,500 to $12,000 for a standard residential driveway, though your actual cost depends on several factors. Size is the biggest variable—a small single-car driveway costs less than a large two-car driveway with extra parking space.
The condition of your existing surface matters too. If the old driveway needs complete removal, or if there are drainage issues to fix, that adds to the project scope. Accessibility also plays a role—tight spaces or properties that require special equipment handling can increase labor costs.
Most asphalt contractors in the area charge between $5 and $12 per square foot, including materials and installation. That price covers removal of old materials, proper base preparation with compacted stone, grading for drainage, and the asphalt surface itself. The key is getting a detailed estimate that breaks down exactly what’s included, so you’re comparing apples to apples when you look at different quotes.
An asphalt driveway in New Jersey typically lasts 25 to 30 years when it’s installed correctly and maintained properly. The key word there is “properly”—both in installation and maintenance. New Jersey’s climate is tough on driveways, with freezing winters and hot summers that cause expansion and contraction.
The lifespan depends heavily on the quality of the base preparation. A solid, well-compacted base prevents the settling and cracking that shorten driveway life. Proper drainage is equally important—water is the enemy of asphalt, and if it pools or seeps underneath, you’ll see deterioration much faster.
Maintenance extends that lifespan significantly. Sealcoating every two to three years protects the surface from UV damage and water infiltration. Filling small cracks before they spread prevents bigger problems. Homeowners who stay on top of maintenance often get 30 years or more from their driveways, while those who neglect it might need replacement in 15 years.
The best time to pave a driveway in Mercerville is between late spring and early fall, typically from April through October. Asphalt needs warm temperatures to properly compact and cure, and New Jersey’s weather during these months provides ideal conditions.
Temperature matters because asphalt is applied hot and needs to stay workable long enough for proper compaction. When it’s too cold, the material cools too quickly, making it difficult to achieve the smooth, dense surface you need. Most paving contractors won’t install when temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, and for good reason—the results won’t hold up.
Summer and early fall are particularly popular because you get consistent warm weather and less chance of rain interrupting the work. That said, contractors book up during peak season, so planning ahead helps. If you’re looking at a spring installation, reach out in late winter to get on the schedule. The timing also gives your new driveway several months to cure and settle before facing its first winter.
It depends on the condition of your existing driveway. If your current asphalt is in relatively good shape—meaning it’s structurally sound with only minor surface wear—you might be able to install a new layer over it, called an overlay. This approach saves money because you’re not paying for demolition and removal.
However, if your driveway has significant cracking, potholes, drainage problems, or base failure, complete removal is necessary. Paving over a damaged surface doesn’t fix underlying issues; it just covers them temporarily. Within a year or two, those same problems will show through your new asphalt.
An experienced asphalt contractor can assess whether an overlay will work or if you need full removal and replacement. Signs that point toward removal include large cracks, areas where the driveway has sunk or settled, water pooling, and extensive deterioration. When the base has failed or drainage is poor, starting fresh with proper excavation and a new compacted stone base is the only way to get a driveway that lasts.
A residential asphalt driveway in New Jersey should be at least three inches thick over a compacted gravel base. That’s the minimum for a driveway that handles regular passenger vehicle traffic. The base itself should be four to six inches of compacted stone, providing the stable foundation that prevents settling and cracking.
For driveways that see heavier use—like properties with large trucks, RVs, or commercial vehicles—you’ll want four inches of asphalt or more. The extra thickness provides additional strength and durability. Areas with poor drainage or challenging soil conditions may also require a thicker base layer to maintain stability.
The base is actually more important than the asphalt thickness in many cases. A thick layer of asphalt over a weak base will still fail. That’s why proper base preparation with well-compacted stone is critical. The combination of a solid four-to-six-inch stone base and three inches of properly compacted asphalt gives you a driveway that handles New Jersey’s freeze-thaw cycles and daily wear without breaking down prematurely.
Drainage is critical because water is the primary cause of driveway damage, especially in New Jersey’s climate. When water pools on your driveway or seeps underneath the surface, it creates serious problems. In winter, that water freezes and expands, causing cracks and potholes. Over time, water infiltration weakens the base and leads to settling.
Proper drainage means grading your driveway with a slope that directs water away from your home and garage. Industry standards call for a minimum slope of one to two percent—that’s about a quarter inch of drop per foot. This seemingly small angle is enough to keep water moving off the surface instead of sitting in low spots.
In Mercerville, where properties are well-maintained and homeowners care about their investments, drainage issues can also affect your foundation and landscaping. Water running toward your house instead of away from it can cause basement moisture problems and erosion around your foundation. A properly graded driveway protects not just the asphalt itself, but your entire property. That’s why we spend significant time on grading and drainage during installation.
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