Asphalt Driveway Paving in Kansas City, MO

Asphalt driveway paving covers a brand-new drive, a full replacement of a worn-out one, or a conversion from gravel or broken concrete. If your driveway has spreading alligator cracks, potholes that return every spring, sunken tire paths or edges crumbling into the lawn, the base below has usually given out, and new asphalt on top will not last. A replacement fixes the layers you cannot see.

Layers of a residential driveway

Per HomeGuide, most home driveways use a 2 to 3 inch asphalt layer on a 6 to 8 inch compacted stone base; where a pickup with a trailer or an RV parks, it suggests 3 to 4 inches on 8 to 10 inches of stone. On clay-heavy ground, the base does most of the work: it spreads the load and keeps water from sitting directly under the asphalt. If the soil pumps or flexes when we test it, that area is dug out and rebuilt before base stone goes in.

Steep drives and older lots

Plenty of Kansas City homes sit above or below the street on hilly lots, especially in older neighborhoods. A steep drive needs a smooth transition at the top and bottom so cars do not scrape, a surface that drains without water racing down the edges, and a clean tie-in at the garage slab so runoff does not sit against the door. HomeGuide notes that curves, slopes and unusual shapes can add 15 to 30 percent to the price because grading and hand work take longer.

The drive approach

In Kansas City, Missouri, the strip from the curb to your property line is called the drive approach. The city's code questions page says that piece needs a permit and inspection, while the driveway behind it does not, though it must meet zoning rules. If yours is cracked or the wrong width, we tell you whether replacing it is part of the job and what that involves before you approve anything.

Replace or resurface?

A driveway with surface wear and a solid base can often take a new 1.5 to 2 inch layer over the top. HomeGuide's guidance points to replacement when cracks cover most of the surface, run deep, or the driveway is past roughly 20 to 30 years and drains poorly. We look at both options and quote the one that fits what we find.

After the paving crew leaves

New pavement is still pliable for days, more so in July heat. Give it a few days before driving on it, and for several weeks after that, do not crank the wheel while stopped or set kickstands, trailer jacks or ramps on it. Sealcoating comes later, after the surface has had several months to cure.