Asphalt Resurfacing in Allentown, PA

Asphalt resurfacing, often called an overlay, puts a new layer of hot mix on top of an existing driveway or lot. Around Allentown it is one of the most common ways to renew pavement that has gone gray, rough and cracked but has not lost its footing. "What can I put on top of asphalt?" is one of the questions people search most about paving, and the honest answer is: new asphalt, if the old asphalt is still well supported.

When an overlay works

An overlay fixes the surface. It does not fix the base. It is a good fit when the cracks are mostly at the surface, there are few or no potholes, the edges are intact and water drains off. HomeGuide puts resurfacing at $3 to $7 per square foot for driveways and estimates that an overlay typically saves 20 to 30 percent compared with full replacement. Its repair guide lists overlays on larger areas at $1 to $3 per square foot.

When it does not

If the driveway has alligator cracking over large areas, sunken tire paths, soft spots that flex under a car or potholes that reopen after every winter, the base has failed. New asphalt over that will crack in the same places, often within a year or two. This is called reflective cracking. In those cases we recommend removing the old pavement and rebuilding the base, and we show you what we see so you can decide.

How we prepare the old surface

Preparation is most of the job. Failed sections are cut out and patched full depth. Cracks are cleaned and filled. Where the overlay meets the garage slab, the sidewalk or a curb, the old asphalt is milled or cut back so the new surface ends flush instead of leaving a raised lip. The surface is swept clean and sprayed with a tack coat, a thin asphalt emulsion that bonds the new layer to the old one. Then the new mix is placed and rolled, commonly 1.5 to 2 inches thick.

Height matters on older lots

Every overlay raises the surface. On older Allentown streets where the driveway meets a sidewalk, a garage door or an alley, an extra 2 inches can create a step or push water toward the house. We check those transitions before quoting and mill where needed. Commercial lots get the same check at curbs, drains and building entrances.

After resurfacing

Treat a resurfaced driveway like a new one: keep heavy loads off for the first days, avoid turning the wheels in place, wait several months before sealcoating, and fill cracks before winter.