Asphalt Resurfacing and Overlay in Pittsburgh
When asphalt is worn, faded, and showing surface cracks but the base underneath is still solid, full replacement isn't always the right answer. Resurfacing, which involves applying a new layer of asphalt over the existing surface, gives worn pavement a new top course without the cost of removing and rebuilding from the base. The result is a surface that looks and performs like new pavement at a fraction of the replacement cost, as long as the existing base is sound enough to support it.
The key word is sound. Resurfacing works when the underlying structure of the pavement is intact. If the base has failed, if there are areas of heaving, if drainage problems have compromised the sub-base, or if alligator cracking covers a significant portion of the surface, an overlay isn't going to fix those problems. It will follow the contours of whatever is underneath it, and the same failures will reappear. We assess the condition of the existing pavement honestly before recommending an overlay, because resurfacing pavement that needs replacement wastes money.
Asphalt milling is sometimes required before an overlay to remove the existing surface layer and create a consistent depth for the new material. Milling is necessary when the existing pavement has been patched multiple times and the surface is uneven, when clearance under a garage door or at a curb transition doesn't allow for adding a full new layer on top, or when the surface damage is deep enough that an overlay alone won't create a stable finished surface. Milled material gets recycled into new asphalt, so the process is less wasteful than it might seem.
Pittsburgh properties with asphalt driveways or parking lots that have been in service for ten or more years are often good candidates for resurfacing. The surface looks rough, the color has faded, and small cracks are visible, but the base is holding and the pavement is draining correctly. That's exactly the condition resurfacing is designed for.
Call us to have your Pittsburgh pavement assessed and find out whether resurfacing is the right investment for your property.