What You Should Do Before Installing a New Driveway

A new driveway is one of those projects you only want to do once. The paving itself usually happens quickly, but the decisions you make in the weeks before the crew arrives shape how the driveway looks, drains and holds up for years. Here is what we suggest every homeowner think through before installation day.

Decide how you actually use the driveway

Start with how your household lives, not just what is there now. Ask yourself:

• How many cars park here today, and how many might in a few years when the kids start driving?
• Do you need room to turn around so nobody has to back onto a busy street?
• Will a boat, camper or work truck be parked on it?
• Do guests regularly park on the lawn or the street because there is not enough space?

This is the best moment to change the layout. Widening a driveway, adding a parking pad beside the garage or creating a turnaround is much simpler as part of a new installation than as a separate project later.

Mark it out on the ground

Plans on paper can be misleading. Use stakes and string, spray paint or garden hoses to outline the new edges. Then pull your cars in and out. Try opening doors fully. Walk from the driveway to the front door. Sometimes an extra foot or two of width makes all the difference, and sometimes you discover a curve feels better than a straight line.

Think about where the water will go

Drainage is the single biggest factor in how long a driveway lasts. Before installation, notice where water goes today during a heavy rain:

• Does it run toward the garage or the house?
• Does a neighbor’s yard drain onto your property?
• Do your downspouts empty onto the driveway?
• Are there low areas where puddles sit for hours?

Share what you have seen with your contractor. The base can be graded to pitch water away from the house and toward the lawn, a swale or the street. Downspouts can be extended or redirected before paving. Our article on the factors that affect asphalt paving on your driveway covers how soil and slope play into this.

Check with your town

Many New Jersey municipalities have rules about driveway width, aprons, curb cuts and how much of a lot can be covered with impervious surface. If you are widening, adding parking or changing where the driveway meets the road, call your town’s construction or zoning office before work begins. HOA communities may also have their own approval process, so check your association’s guidelines.

Locate what is underground

Before any digging, utility lines need to be marked. New Jersey requires a call to 811 before excavation so underground utilities can be located. Also think about private lines a utility will not mark: sprinkler pipes, landscape lighting wires, invisible pet fencing and drainage pipes. Let your contractor know where those are so they can be protected or relocated.

Deal with trees and roots

Tree roots near a driveway can lift and crack asphalt over time. If a large tree sits right at the edge, talk about it during the estimate. Sometimes roots need to be trimmed or the layout shifted slightly to give them room.

Plan the logistics

Installation day goes more smoothly when the site is ready:

• Move all vehicles off the driveway and out of the way of trucks.
• Clear basketball hoops, planters, bins and anything else from the work area.
• Arrange where you will park for a few days while the new asphalt firms up.
• Let neighbors know trucks will be in and out.
• Keep kids and pets away from the work zone.

Get a clear proposal

Before you sign, make sure you understand what is included: removal of the old surface if needed, base preparation and compaction, the thickness of asphalt, how the edges will be finished and how the driveway ties into the garage and road. Confirm the contractor holds a New Jersey HIC registration and carries insurance.

For a full look at the process itself, read our practical guide to installing an asphalt driveway. When you are ready, learn more about our new asphalt driveway installation service and book a free estimate.