Why Remove a Concrete Driveway Before Paving Asphalt

If you have an old concrete driveway that is cracked, heaved or sinking, and you have decided you want asphalt instead, the next question is what to do with the old surface. Some homeowners hope to keep it as a base and pave right on top. We explain the problems with that approach in why it is better to avoid paving asphalt over concrete. This post looks at the other side of the coin: what you gain by taking it out first.

A quick clarification: Dan The Paver is an asphalt-only company. We do not install or repair concrete. We are talking about removal here because it is the first step in replacing an old concrete driveway with a new asphalt one, and we can talk through how that removal fits into your project during the estimate.

You get to see what went wrong

Concrete driveways rarely fail for no reason. Cracking, heaving and sinking usually trace back to something underneath: soft or poorly compacted soil, water collecting under the surface, tree roots, or a base that was too thin from the start. As long as the old concrete surface is in place, you cannot see any of that.

Once it is gone, the ground is exposed. Soft spots can be found and dug out. Wet areas can be investigated. Roots can be dealt with. You are building your new driveway on known conditions instead of guesses.

You can build a proper base

A long-lasting asphalt driveway depends on a well-built foundation: firm subgrade, the right depth of compacted aggregate base and correct pitch. With the old surface removed, that base can be built to suit your property. Clay-heavy soils common in parts of Middlesex and western Monmouth County may need more base material. Sandy soils closer to the shore drain well but still need to be compacted properly so they do not shift.

That is something you simply cannot do if the old surface stays in place as an improvised base.

Drainage can be corrected

Many older concrete driveways were installed with little attention to where water would go. Some pitch toward the garage. Some hold water in the middle. Some dump runoff onto a walkway or the neighbor’s property.

Removal gives you a clean slate to re-grade. The new base can be shaped so water drains away from the house and garage and toward the lawn, a swale or the street. Downspouts can be extended or rerouted at the same time. Getting drainage right is one of the most important things you can do for any driveway in a state with as much rain and freeze-thaw as New Jersey.

The finished height comes out right

Paving on top of an existing surface raises the driveway. Removing the old one keeps the finished asphalt at the correct elevation:

• It meets the garage floor without creating a step or sending water inside.
• It ties smoothly into walkways and the street apron.
• It does not sit higher than the lawn in a way that leaves the edges exposed and unsupported.

Clean transitions are a big part of what makes a new driveway look professional.

You can change the layout

A driveway replacement is the ideal time to rethink the shape. Maybe you want it wider, want a turnaround, or want parking beside the garage. Once the old surface is out, the new layout is not limited by where the old edges were. If you are widening or adding parking, check with your town’s construction or zoning office about apron, curb cut and impervious coverage rules first.

The result lasts longer

All of these advantages lead to the same place: an asphalt driveway that performs the way it should. It flexes with Jersey’s seasonal ground movement instead of mirroring cracks from below, it sheds water properly and it rests on a base designed for it.

What comes next

After removal, the process follows the same path as any new asphalt installation: grading, base preparation, compaction, paving and rolling. Our practical guide to installing an asphalt driveway walks through each stage.

If you are ready to replace your old concrete driveway with asphalt, learn more about our asphalt driveway replacement and paving service and schedule a free estimate.