Asphalt Resurfacing in Athens, GA

Asphalt resurfacing, also called an overlay, puts a new layer of hot-mix asphalt over the existing pavement. For a driveway or lot that is gray, rough and covered in fine cracks but still firmly supported, it is often the most economical way to get a like-new surface. HomeGuide puts resurfacing at about $3 to $7 per square foot and says an overlay typically saves 20 to 30 percent compared with full replacement. The catch is that an overlay is only as good as what is under it.

The test: is the base still sound?

An overlay bonds to the old surface and moves with it. If the old asphalt is firmly supported, the new layer gets a solid platform. If the base has failed, cracks in the old surface reflect up through the new one, often within a year or two. Before recommending an overlay, we walk the surface looking for:

• Alligator cracking, which signals base failure
• Ruts or depressions where water stands
• Soft areas that move under foot or under a vehicle
• Edges that are broken or undercut

Isolated failures can be cut out and rebuilt before the overlay. If failures are widespread, we will tell you that replacement is the better investment.

How an overlay is done

We clean the surface, cut out and patch failed areas, and seal larger cracks. Where the new layer has to meet a garage slab, a sidewalk or the road without leaving a lip, we mill or cut a keyed joint so the overlay feathers in at the right height. A tack coat goes down so the layers bond, then the new asphalt is placed and compacted. A typical driveway overlay is about 1.5 to 2 inches thick once compacted.

Heights, doors and drainage

Every overlay raises the surface. On a flat driveway that may mean water now flows toward a garage door, or the asphalt ends up level with a threshold. On Athens' sloped lots, it can change where runoff crosses into a yard. We check those points at the estimate and plan joints and slopes so the finished surface still drains the right way.

Timing

Overlays are placed hot and need warm, dry ground for good compaction and bonding, so they are best scheduled from spring through fall in the Athens area.

Parking lots

For commercial lots, resurfacing is usually done in sections so the business can stay open. Lots are often resealed and restriped right after, and any striping work has to follow the 2010 ADA Standards for accessible spaces.