The Benefits of Paving

Plenty of New Jersey homes still have a gravel, crushed shell or packed dirt driveway. Some came that way from the builder, some were never upgraded, and some started paved but wore back down to bare ground. If that describes your property, you may be wondering whether paving is worth it. For most homeowners the answer comes down to everyday life: how the driveway handles rain, how it looks, how much work it takes and how it feels to use every single day.

Here is what you gain when an unpaved driveway becomes a properly built asphalt one.

No more ruts, washouts and mud

Loose surfaces move. Tires push gravel to the sides, rain carries it toward the street, and low spots turn into puddles and then into ruts. After a heavy storm or a nor’easter you may find part of your driveway in the gutter or on the lawn. Every spring the cycle starts again with another delivery of material to rake out.

A paved surface stays where it is put. When the base is graded with the right pitch, rainwater sheets off toward the lawn, a swale or the road instead of carving channels through the driveway.

A cleaner house

Gravel and dirt travel. They get stuck in shoe treads, tracked into the mudroom, carried into the garage and kicked onto the walkway. Kids and pets bring in even more. Paving cuts down on that daily mess in a way most people do not appreciate until they have lived with it for a few weeks.

Easier winter mornings

Clearing snow from gravel is frustrating. The shovel catches, the snowblower throws gravel, and by spring a good chunk of the driveway has been tossed onto the lawn. A paved driveway can be cleared quickly and evenly, and the dark surface absorbs sunlight, which helps the last thin layer of snow and ice melt off faster on a clear day.

Better curb appeal and resale

The driveway is one of the first things anyone notices about a house. A crisp, smooth asphalt driveway with clean edges makes the whole property look finished and well kept. If you plan to sell someday, buyers and their agents notice that too. An unpaved or deteriorating driveway can read as one more project the next owner will have to take on.

Safer footing and smoother rolling

Loose gravel shifts underfoot, which is no fun for anyone carrying groceries, walking with a cane or pushing a stroller. Bikes, scooters, wheelchairs and rolling trash bins all work better on pavement. A paved surface also gives kids a place to draw with chalk and shoot hoops without a ball bouncing off in random directions.

Less ongoing upkeep

Unpaved driveways need frequent topping off, raking and weed pulling. Weeds and grass love to grow through gravel. A well-built asphalt driveway still needs some attention: keep water draining away, clean up oil drips, and repair damage early. But the routine is much lighter than constantly rebuilding a loose surface.

It starts with the base

All of these benefits depend on what is underneath. In many cases the old gravel can be regraded and incorporated into a new base, but soft or contaminated material needs to come out. We check the soil, establish the right pitch, add and compact aggregate where it is needed, and then pave at a proper thickness. Sandy shore lots and heavier clay soils inland each call for a slightly different approach, which is something we sort out during the estimate.

Is asphalt the right material for you?

If you are deciding what to pave with, our post on why an asphalt driveway is a good choice covers how it holds up through Jersey freeze-thaw cycles, and the list of reasons asphalt pavement is a great paving choice adds more detail.

Ready to leave the gravel behind? Learn more about our asphalt driveway paving and schedule a free estimate. We serve homeowners across Monmouth County, Ocean County from Toms River north and southern Middlesex County.