A paved surface is only as good as what is under it. Most failures people call “bad asphalt” are really failures of the base, the drainage or the edges.

Water is the main cause. It gets into a crack, freezes, expands and opens it wider. Then it thaws and does the same again. New England winters repeat that cycle many times, which is why edges crumble and small cracks turn into large ones. A base that drains well survives that cycle. A base that holds water does not.

The ground matters as much as the surface. Sandy soil drains and holds a base steady. Wet clay does not, and a surface laid over it will move however well it was paved. Mature oaks and maples send roots under the drive and lift it from below. A long drive that falls toward the garage has a drainage problem before it has a paving problem.

So when we come out to look at a job, we look at the ground, the grade and the trees before we talk about the surface. We would rather tell you the base needs work than lay new material over a problem that will bring the old failure back. Sometimes the honest answer is that a repair will do. Sometimes it is that the drive needs to come up and be rebuilt. We will tell you which, and why.
Access matters too. A paver, a roller and a delivery truck all have to get in, turn and get out. On a tight street that is most of the planning. We check it first, so there are no surprises on the day.