Asphalt driveway paving:
built to still look great after the winter, not just the day it’s laid
A new driveway, black and smooth, built up from the foundation, because that’s where driveways are won or lost.
The problem
You’ve seen a new driveway crack by its second spring. It’s almost never the asphalt: it’s a base that was too thin, poorly compacted or laid without a slope, and that shifted with the frost. On installation day, the two driveways look the same. Three winters later, not at all.
Your driveway is the first thing people see of your home, and the first thing to suffer from freezing, thawing and snow removal. We build asphalt driveways that stay good-looking and solid because the work starts below the surface: excavation, a crushed stone foundation compacted in layers, then hot-mix asphalt laid with a paver and compacted with a roller.
Whether you’re starting from scratch, from a gravel driveway or from old cracked asphalt, we propose the right solution at the right price: never one more layer over a base that won’t hold.
Ideal for
- New home or gravel driveway
- Old cracked or sunken asphalt
- Driveway extension (2nd car)
- Selling your property: value and curb appeal
What changes the price
No price per square foot here: it depends on what we find during the visit. Here is what really moves your quote.
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The area measured on site: a single driveway and a double driveway with a turnaround don’t need the same amount of asphalt or the same machine time.
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The condition of the existing base: if it’s sound, resurfacing is enough; if it’s sunken or too thin, the foundation has to be excavated and rebuilt.
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The thickness of compacted asphalt and the thickness of stone, chosen for your soil and the expected traffic.
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Access to the property: slope, a narrow driveway between two buildings, distance for the trucks and the paver.
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The extras: edging, tying into paving stones, removing concrete or roots, correcting drainage.
Everything that affects the price of paving
The mistakes we often see
- Paving over a base that moves: the surface looks great in June and is cracked by the next spring.
- One thick layer of stone instead of several layers compacted separately: voids remain, and the ground settles.
- A driveway with no slope, or sloped toward the garage: water pools, freezes and lifts the asphalt.
- Comparing two quotes without checking the thickness of compacted asphalt each one promises.
The concrete benefits.
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A driveway that gets through the winters
Crushed stone compacted in layers and calculated slopes: the ground doesn’t move in spring, water doesn’t pool, the asphalt doesn’t heave.
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A surface you’ll be proud of
Hot-mix asphalt laid with a paver and compacted with a roller: a uniform black, with no waves or visible seams, that changes the look of the house from the very first evening.
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No surprises on the invoice
Excavation, foundation, thickness, finish: everything is written in the quote. The price agreed is the price you pay.
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Clean finish
Crisp edges and neat transitions to the sidewalk, the street and the garage.
How we proceed, step by step.
- 1
On-site visit and measurements, detailed written quote
- 2
Excavation and removal of the old surface if needed
- 3
Crushed stone foundation, graded and compacted
- 4
Hot-mix asphalt laid with a paver, compacted with a roller
- 5
Full site cleanup and maintenance tips
Repair, resurface or rebuild?
It is not a matter of preference, it is a matter of how the base is holding up. Here is how we decide during the site visit.
| Criteria | Repair | Resurface | Rebuild |
|---|---|---|---|
| Condition of the base | Sound, localized damage | Sound, surface worn everywhere | Sunken, too thin or unstable |
| Typical symptoms | A few cracks, a pothole, a broken edge | Grey surface, widespread surface cracks, no sinking | Networked cracks, waves, puddles, multiple sunken spots |
| What it fixes | Stops the deterioration where it is | Gives a new surface over what still holds | Fixes the cause: foundation, drainage, thickness |
| What it does not fix | A base that moves elsewhere | Sinking and a weak base | Nothing: it is the complete solution |
| Length of the work | One visit, most of the time | One day, most of the time | One day of preparation, then paving in the following days |
| Relative budget | $ | $$ | $$$ |
"$ / $$ / $$$" = the relative cost of one option compared to the others, not an amount. The firm price is written in your quote, after the site visit.
Asphalt driveway paving: in your city.
Same method, same written quote, same crew, from the island of Montreal to the North Shore and the South Shore.
Montreal
Laval
North Shore
Your city is not on the list? See all our service areas or describe your project: we will quickly tell you if we come to your area.
About this service.
How long before I can park on my new driveway?
We recommend waiting 3 to 5 days in hot weather before parking a car on it, and avoiding turning the wheels while stopped for the first few weeks.
How long does an asphalt driveway last in Quebec?
It depends first on the foundation, the drainage and the maintenance. A driveway built on a base compacted in layers, with proper slopes and sealer applied at the right time, gets through many winters; a driveway laid on a thin base cracks within the first few. During the visit, we explain what your base allows.
Does the old asphalt need to be removed, or can you pave over it?
If the base is sound, resurfacing over it is possible and more economical. If the driveway is sunken or badly cracked, we rebuild the foundation. We tell you honestly which of the two options is right for you.
Can you pave over a gravel driveway?
Not directly. The gravel of a temporary driveway is rarely thick enough or compacted enough to serve as a foundation. We check what’s in place, top up or rebuild the base with compacted crushed stone, then pave. That’s what keeps you from redoing the work a few years later.
Do I need a permit to widen my driveway?
It depends on the city and the project. Many cities require a permit or a certificate to build or modify a parking area, and to create a curb cut or touch the sidewalk or curb. Rules vary from one municipality to the next (and from one borough to the next in Montreal): your city page summarizes what its City says, and we tell you where to check before you start.
Read this before you decide.
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How to Read a Paving Quote and Compare Two Prices
What an asphalt paving quote must include: surface area, foundation, compacted thickness, drainage, warranty. How to compare two prices.
Read the article → -
How Long Does an Asphalt Driveway Last in Quebec (and How to Extend Its Life)
Foundation, thickness, drainage, sealer: what determines the lifespan of an asphalt driveway in Quebec, the end-of-life signs, the mistakes to avoid.
Read the article → -
Permits for redoing your driveway: what Montreal, Laval and Terrebonne require
When a permit is generally required for a driveway, what cities say about redoing it as is, and where to check city by city.
Read the article →
Other services
Let’s talk about your project.
Describe your project in two minutes. The owner calls you back to set up a visit, measure, assess the base, and hand you a detailed quote, free and with no obligation.
- Free visit and measurement
- Firm price, itemized step by step
- Written warranty in the quote
- Quick callback, on business days
What your quote includes
- Area measured on site
- Excavation and removal of the old surface
- Crushed stone base compacted in layers
- Asphalt thickness and compaction method
- Drainage, slopes and transitions
- Finishing and site cleanup
- Written warranty and its terms
Line by line, comparable with any other quote.