Frequently Asked Questions

Usually, up front. Angi lists asphalt driveways at $7 to $15 per square foot and concrete at $8 to $18. Asphalt is easier to patch but needs sealing every few years in strong sun; concrete costs more but needs less upkeep. On heavy clay, either one depends on a good base.

National guides list new asphalt driveways at roughly $5 to $12 or more per square foot (HomeGuide) and parking lots at $2 to $4.50 per square foot (HomeAdvisor). A 400 square foot driveway runs about $2,000 to $4,800 on HomeGuide's table. Clay excavation, extra base and approach work add cost. Your written estimate is the price.

Cars: six to eight inches of compacted base under two to three inches of asphalt. Pickups with trailers, work trucks or RVs: eight to ten inches of base under three to four of asphalt. On soft Harlingen clay we often add base beyond those numbers.

The city's permit guide lists driveway approaches and curb cuts as work that requires a permit, and curb-cut contractors must register with the city. Paving entirely on your side of the property line, tied into an existing approach, is a different situation. We confirm what applies at the estimate.

No. The biggest difference is what goes under the asphalt. On Cameron County clay, ask how much soft soil will be removed, how deep the compacted base will be and how the slope will carry water off a lot that sits only 39 feet above sea level. If your driveway is mostly sound, ask whether asphalt repair and crack sealing would carry it a few more years. A paving company that only quotes full replacement may not be looking at the whole picture.

Clay soil shrinks as it dries and swells when it gets wet, and the USDA describes local clays that crack open for months each year. A thin base cannot bridge that movement. Filling cracks before the rains and, on replacement, building a deeper base are the fixes.

In cool weather, often after a day or two. In Harlingen summer heat, HomeGuide recommends 3 to 5 days before parking. Avoid turning the wheels in place and keep kickstands and trailer jacks off it for the first few weeks.

Cost guides put asphalt driveway life at 15 to 30 years with proper installation and maintenance. Base quality, drainage and how often it is sealed decide where yours lands.

Only if the base is still sound. If the driveway has alligator cracks, ruts or soft spots, a new layer on top will crack in the same places. We check before recommending it.

Tear-out and base work usually take a day or two, and paving a residential driveway is typically done in one day. Then plan a few days before parking in hot weather.

Clay shrinks when dry and swells when wet. Local clay series are described by the USDA as cracking open for much of the year. A deeper compacted base spreads the load and bridges that movement.

Yes. We can coordinate with your builder on timing so the driveway goes in after heavy construction traffic is done.

A small lot can be done in a few days. Larger lots are phased over a week or more, depending on how much base repair is needed and how many sections we can close at once.

For many properties, yes. We plan noisy work with neighbors in mind.

If the lot is restriped, the 2010 ADA Standards apply. For example, a 76 to 100 space lot needs 4 accessible spaces, at least one van-accessible.

Yes, and we schedule around services and events.

Mill and overlay replaces only the top layer and keeps the base. Full repaving or reconstruction removes everything down to the subgrade and rebuilds it.

On a sound base with regular sealing, many years. On a failing base, cracks can reflect through quickly, which is why we check first.

Yes, though for most driveways we mill only at the garage, sidewalk and street so the new surface meets them flush.

Only the section being worked on. We phase the job to keep parking and an entrance open.

Most likely the base underneath stayed wet and soft, or the patch was cold mix that never bonded. We rebuild the base and use hot-mix.

Yes, before it grows. Since most repairs carry a minimum charge, fixing several spots at once gets more for the money.

Yes. We recompact the backfill and cap it with asphalt so it does not settle.

Usually the same day once the asphalt cools. In peak heat, keep heavy trucks off a bit longer.

Yes. Crack sealing fills individual cracks with a thick flexible material. Sealcoat is a thin coating over the whole surface. Sealcoat alone does not fill cracks.

Spring and late fall offer the most dry, mild days. Summer works in the mornings. Crack sealing is best done before the September rains.

HomeGuide says every 2 to 10 years. In strong sun, closer to the short end. Reseal when it fades, not on a fixed schedule.

Usually 12 to 72 hours depending on heat, humidity and shade. Foot traffic is generally fine after a few hours.

HomeGuide puts typical life at 2 to 5 years. Busy lots and full sun wear it faster.

Yes. Restriping triggers the 2010 ADA Standards for accessible parking under Justice Department guidance.

Often, yes, so the lot is ready in the morning.

Yes, along with arrows, crosswalks and stencils.