Replacing an asphalt driveway on an established property is rarely as simple as removing the old surface and putting new material back in the same footprint. The driveway already meets a garage, sidewalk, curb, street, or concrete apron. Mature landscaping may limit where water can go. Years of settlement may have changed the grade since the original installation. Nance Pavement Solutions provides asphalt paving and repair for property owners searching for asphalt paving contractors Upper Arlington OH homeowners and businesses can call for driveway replacement, parking areas, and other paved surfaces. We work throughout Upper Arlington and surrounding Central Ohio communities, with particular attention to the conditions that come with older, fully developed properties.
Every property is different. The layout, traffic, drainage, and condition of the surface all affect how the work should be handled.
Some properties need new installation. Others need repair or surface protection to extend the life of the concrete.
Older driveways often carry the history of previous repairs. One area may have been patched years ago. Another may have settled near the garage. Edges may have broken down where vehicles repeatedly leave the pavement. Water may collect in a low section that did not exist when the driveway was first built.
Removing the old asphalt gives crews a better look at what caused those failures.
If the aggregate base remains stable, the replacement may be relatively straightforward. Soft spots, contaminated base, or sections that pump under load need more attention before new asphalt goes down. Replacing only the surface over unstable material can leave the new mat following the same movement.
Upper Arlington properties can also present tighter working conditions than open suburban or rural sites. Established homes, walks, landscaping, retaining elements, and neighboring improvements limit how much grade can change.
That makes preparation and elevation control more important.
Driveways often meet concrete at the garage, sidewalk, curb, or apron. Those elevations are usually fixed.
The asphalt has to meet them cleanly.
A poor transition can create a bump, a low spot, or a place where water sits against the edge. If the asphalt finishes too high, drainage can shift toward the garage or sidewalk. If it finishes too low, the transition can take extra impact from tires.
Crews need to establish the final grade before placing the asphalt. That includes accounting for compaction and finished mat thickness, not simply matching the loose material to the adjacent surface.
Existing concrete also needs a clean edge. Loose asphalt, failed material, and debris around the tie-in can weaken the joint between the two surfaces.
These details look small on the finished driveway, but they affect how the pavement drains and how smoothly vehicles move across it.
Established properties do not always give contractors many choices for moving water.
The driveway may sit between the house and a neighboring property. A sidewalk or curb may control the street-side elevation. Roof drainage, yard grades, and older landscaping can all influence where runoff travels.
A driveway still needs positive drainage, but contractors have to work within those fixed conditions.
That can require correcting low areas during removal and base work rather than simply adding asphalt on top. In some cases, removing material provides more room to re-establish grade. In others, surrounding elevations limit how much correction is practical.
Water that repeatedly sits in the same location deserves attention because ponding often exposes other pavement weaknesses. If the area has settled because of poor support below, changing only the surface profile may not solve the underlying issue.
The grade and the base have to be evaluated together.
Driveway edges often fail before the center of the pavement.
That happens because the edge has less lateral support. Vehicles that travel too close to the side can push against the asphalt. Water can wash out adjoining material. Landscaping changes can also leave the mat unsupported over time.
Once the edge starts breaking, the damage tends to move inward.
A replacement project gives contractors an opportunity to correct weak shoulders or base conditions along the sides of the driveway. The goal is to support the pavement where vehicle loads reach the edge rather than relying on the asphalt to hold itself together.
This becomes especially important on narrow driveways or properties where vehicles regularly turn near the pavement edge.
Overlaying existing asphalt can make sense under the right conditions, but established residential properties often have elevation constraints that make overlays less practical.
Adding another lift raises the pavement.
That can reduce the available height at a garage threshold, change the relationship to sidewalks or curbs, and alter drainage across the property. If the old driveway also contains active settlement or base failure, the overlay can inherit those problems.
In those situations, removal and replacement may give the contractor more control over final elevations and underlying repairs.
The existing condition should drive the decision.
A sound driveway with suitable grades may support a different approach than pavement with widespread cracking, multiple low areas, and poor transitions.
Residential paving involves lighter traffic than most commercial work, but the installation still depends on the same fundamentals.
Subgrade needs stability. Aggregate base needs density. Asphalt placement needs consistent thickness and compaction. The finished surface needs enough slope to move water without creating awkward transitions around the property.
Nance Pavement Solutions applies those same construction principles to residential driveways, private access areas, and smaller parking surfaces.
We also provide asphalt repair, sealcoating, and related pavement services when the existing surface remains a better candidate for maintenance than replacement.
When comparing asphalt paving contractors Upper Arlington OH property owners can hire, pay attention to how the contractor handles the fixed parts of the property. Garage elevations, concrete tie-ins, drainage, and edge support can determine the success of the replacement long after the fresh asphalt loses its new appearance.
It can be installed to meet the existing concrete elevation, but the contractor needs to account for final compaction and drainage before placing the asphalt.
That depends on the condition of the existing pavement, base, drainage, and available elevation. Removal often provides more control when the property has settlement or tight grade constraints.
Settlement, incorrect grade, or changes in surrounding elevations can create a low point near the garage. The cause should be identified before replacement.
Yes. Root growth can contribute to lifting or movement in pavement, especially when roots extend beneath a thin or already weakened section.
Vehicles often travel closer to the edge on narrow pavement. If the shoulder lacks support, repeated loading can break the asphalt down from the side.
Sometimes. The amount of correction depends on the existing elevations and what caused the settlement. Base repair and regrading may be necessary before the new asphalt goes down.
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“ Excellent service, impeccable work. Couldn’t be happier with the results. Very professional group of people. Highly recommend. ”
"Nance Seal Coating was great to deal with. They were very professional and cares greatly about customer service. I highly recommend them for your driveway needs."
