Asphalt Driveway Installation in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh winters are hard on pavement. The freeze-thaw cycle the region goes through from November into March, ground freezing, expanding, thawing, and contracting, does more damage to a poorly built driveway than years of normal use would. The difference between a driveway that holds up for twenty years and one that's cracking and heaving in five comes down almost entirely to what's under the asphalt, not what's on top of it.
A quality driveway installation starts with the base. We excavate to the right depth for the site, grade for positive drainage away from the structure, and compact a crushed stone base that gives the asphalt a stable, well-draining foundation. Pittsburgh's clay-heavy soil in many neighborhoods retains water rather than draining it, which makes proper grading and base depth more important here than in markets with sandy or loamy soil. Water that has nowhere to go sits under the pavement, freezes in winter, and causes the surface to crack and shift from below.
The asphalt itself goes down in a compacted layer with the right thickness for the application. Residential driveways in Pittsburgh typically call for a minimum of two inches of compacted asphalt over a properly prepared base. Driveways that handle heavier vehicles, delivery trucks, or RVs should be thicker. We spec the thickness based on the use and the site, not a one-size-fits-all standard.
Driveway paving in Pittsburgh also has to account for the grade of the lot. Pittsburgh is a hilly city, and a lot of residential driveways have meaningful slope. We grade and pave to ensure water runs off the surface and doesn't pond anywhere that allows it to work its way into cracks and freeze. The edges of the driveway get compacted properly so the asphalt doesn't crumble at the margins over time.
If you're replacing an old driveway or paving a new one, the investment is worth doing right. Call us to schedule an assessment and get an accurate driveway paving cost for your Pittsburgh property.
Learn about our commercial asphalt paving services in Pittsburgh.