Driveway Paving in Waterbury, CT

Driveway paving is the full job: removing the old surface, preparing the ground, building a compacted base and placing new hot-mix asphalt on top. In Waterbury and the surrounding valley towns, it also usually means dealing with a slope, rocky soil left by glaciers, and a lot of winter water. The parts you will not see when the job is done decide whether the driveway lasts five years or twenty-five.

Signs it is time for a new driveway

• Interconnected cracking across large areas
• Ruts or sunken wheel paths
• Washouts along the edges or at the bottom of the slope
• Potholes that come back every spring
• A surface that sits higher than the garage floor after repeated overlays

If the problems are limited to the surface, an overlay may do. If the base has failed, the driveway needs to be rebuilt.

Excavation and base

We dig out the old surface and any soft material. Rocky glacial soil is common in the hill towns, and large stones near the surface are removed so they do not heave or create hard spots. The base is built from processed stone, graded to the finished slope and compacted in layers. HomeGuide describes a typical residential section as 6 to 8 inches of compacted gravel under 2 to 3 inches of asphalt, with 8 to 10 inches of base and 3 to 4 inches of asphalt for heavier vehicles. Many Connecticut driveways get a binder course and a finer top course.

Slopes and water

On a hillside lot, water is the main design problem. We shape the surface so runoff leaves the driveway in a controlled way, often to one side, and protect that edge with an asphalt berm or wedge curb. At the bottom, a trench drain or catch basin stops water from flowing into a garage. At the top, we look for runoff coming from the street or uphill neighbors.

The apron and the road

The apron is where your driveway meets the street. It has to blend into the road without a hump that scrapes cars or a dip that holds water and ice. On a state route, Connecticut DOT regulates work in the highway right-of-way, including driveways, through encroachment permits from its district offices. On a city or town road, local rules apply. We confirm which before scheduling any apron work.

Widening and turnarounds

Narrow driveways on older lots often need more width for a second car, and steep driveways benefit from a flat turnaround so you never back down a hill onto the street. Both can usually be added during a replacement.

After paving

Keep traffic off for a few days, longer when it is hot. Vary where you park during the first summer, avoid turning the wheels in place, and keep plow blades raised slightly over new asphalt the first winter. Seal three to six months after paving, then every few years.