Asphalt resurfacing:
a new driveway on your existing base, with no excavation and no reconstruction bill
When the foundation still holds, we don’t tear it out: we lay a new layer of hot-mix asphalt over it. The brand-new look, at a fraction of the cost.
The problem
Your driveway is worn, faded and cracked on the surface, but it hasn’t sunk. Two contractors want to rip the whole thing out. Is that really necessary? Often, no. But resurfacing is only a good idea if the base is sound: laid over a foundation that moves, it cracks exactly like the old surface did. You need someone who checks before they sell.
When the foundation is still solid but the surface is worn, cracked or faded, resurfacing is the smartest solution: we clean, repair the defects, then lay a new layer of hot-mix asphalt directly over the existing surface.
The result is indistinguishable from a new driveway, for a fraction of the cost of a reconstruction and often in a single day.
Ideal for
- Worn surface but stable base
- Widespread surface cracks
- Limited budget, professional result
- Getting a property ready for sale
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 to overlay, measured on site.
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The prep repairs: cracks to fill, minor sunken spots to correct before the new layer.
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The thickness of the layer laid, chosen for the condition of the surface and the traffic.
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The transitions (garage, sidewalk, street, paving stones): each one needs a finish adapted to the new level.
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Access for the paver and the hot-mix asphalt trucks.
Everything that affects the price of paving
The mistakes we often see
- Resurfacing a sunken base: the dips and cracks come back in the same spots, under the new surface.
- Skipping the tack coat: the new layer separates from the old one instead of bonding with it.
- Forgetting the transitions: a step at the garage threshold or the sidewalk that catches the snow shovel.
- Being sold a resurfacing job without anyone having looked at the base.
The concrete benefits.
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You pay for the surface, not what’s underneath
With no excavation and no new foundation, the cost drops significantly compared to a reconstruction, and you keep what already holds.
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Indistinguishable from a new driveway
Tack coat, hot-mix asphalt laid with a paver, clean edges: a smooth black surface, with no trace of the old one.
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We tell you if it’s not the right fit
Resurfacing is only proposed after the base has been assessed. If it won’t hold, we tell you, rather than selling you a new surface over a problem.
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Fast
Most residential driveways are resurfaced in one day.
How we proceed, step by step.
- 1
Base assessment: resurfacing is only proposed if it’s sound
- 2
Cleaning and repair of cracks and minor sunken spots
- 3
Tack coat application
- 4
Hot-mix asphalt laid with a paver and compacted
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 resurfacing: 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.
Does resurfacing last as long as a new driveway?
On a sound base, a resurfacing done right (tack coat, hot-mix asphalt, roller compaction) performs like a new surface. On a sunken base, it won’t last: that’s why we always assess the base before proposing it.
Does it raise the level of my driveway?
Yes, by about 1.5 to 2 inches. We handle the transitions with the garage, the sidewalk and the street for a smooth result.
Does resurfacing fix sunken spots?
No. A sunken spot comes from the base, and a new layer on top doesn’t repair it: the dip comes back. A minor sunken spot can be corrected locally before resurfacing; multiple sunken spots mean the foundation has to be rebuilt. We tell you clearly during the visit.
What do you do at the transition with the garage?
The new layer is gradually tapered as it approaches the threshold to avoid a step, or the old surface is milled across the width of the transition. Same thing at the sidewalk and the street. The result: a smooth transition, with no lip to catch the shovel or hold water.
Read this before you decide.
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Asphalt Resurfacing or Rebuilding: How to Know What Your Driveway Needs
Asphalt resurfacing or rebuild? The foundation test, the symptoms that rule out resurfacing, typical cases around Montreal and a checklist before signing.
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 → -
Asphalt driveways and Quebec winters: snow removal, salt and freeze-thaw
What freeze-thaw cycles do to your asphalt driveway, which de-icer does the least damage, the right snow removal habits and what to repair in spring.
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.