When Should You Resurface Your Driveway or Parking Lot?

As a homeowner or business owner, you use your driveway or parking lot almost every day. However, you probably don’t put much thought into your driveway or parking lot unless it shows signs of wear and starts causing problems. When your paving surface starts to show cracks, crumbling, potholes, fading, or extensive wear, it is time to consider resurfacing your lot.

You can also keep track of when it is time to resurface based on the age of your driveway or parking lot. Asphalt pavement will last 15 to 25 years without any additional maintenance. If you properly maintain the asphalt using different products and procedures, it can last up to 35-50 years. Concrete pavement lasts longer without additional maintenance, usually around 20-40 years. If properly maintained, you can prolong the life of concrete pavement over 50 years.

Resurfacing asphalt or concrete is an involved process that requires specialized skills, large machinery, and experience. Partnering with an experienced company or technician ensures your project is done correctly and lasts longer, saving you time, money, and hassle in the long run.

When resurfacing asphalt, technicians tear off the top few inches and apply fresh asphalt on top, leaving your asphalt driveway looking fresh and new without rebuilding the entire driveway.

When resurfacing concrete, technicians fill any minor cracks or damages then apply an updated concrete finish to freshen and strengthen your concrete driveway.

You can only resurface asphalt or concrete driveways in reasonably good condition. If the asphalt has significant damage, like alligator cracks or edge cracks, the foundation may have problems, and the entire area may need to be replaced. Likewise, if the concrete has significant damage, like large cracks, sinking, or missing pieces, it cannot be resurfaced and must be replaced.

Private driveways generally see less use than public areas and can last longer. However, as your driveway ages, you may notice cracks, fading, and other signs of wear. If you see these signs, or if your asphalt driveway is over 15 years old, it may be time for driveway resurfacing.

Because parking lots see a lot more traffic, they experience more wear and tear and often need to be resurfaced more frequently than driveways. Like driveways, however, you can prolong the life of your parking lot through proper maintenance, sealing, and repair. Resurfacing your parking lot will prolong its life and save you money and time because it decreases the possibility of replacing it sooner than necessary.

Resurfacing asphalt, also called overlaying, requires ripping up the driveway a few inches down and applying new asphalt paving on top. Asphalt paving is a composite material of oil, aggregate, and recycled asphalt. Applying a new layer on top is not only cost-effective, but it also makes the driveway or parking lot look new without having to dig up the whole lot. However, you can only resurface asphalt that was correctly installed at the outset. Otherwise, the same structural damage and problems will occur, like alligator cracking or edge cracking.

You can lengthen the life of your driveway and the need to resurface with proper maintenance. Make sure you apply a high-quality sealant or sealcoat to both concrete and asphalt paving jobs. Repair it quickly and correctly when cracks, holes, or other damage occurs. Letting damaged concrete or asphalt sit often exacerbates the problem because it allows moisture to seep in and cause further damage. Timely asphalt repairs in places like Idaho, Utah, and Montana are critical because the freeze-thaw cycles cause a lot of damage to cracked and unpatched concrete and asphalt.

Concrete only requires a little maintenance. Your concrete driveway will last longer when you:

You can repair concrete driveways as long as it was installed correctly and there is no significant structural damage to the slab. Concrete repairs can involve:

You can patch or fill concrete on your own. Other concrete repairs are best managed by a professional.

Like concrete, asphalt maintenance is simple and minimal if the initial asphalt paving job is done correctly. In order to maintain the quality of your asphalt driveway, you should:

Asphalt repairs can be messy and expensive when done incorrectly and are best done by professionals using the proper equipment and polymer sealants. Asphalt repairs include:

Whether you have a concrete or asphalt driveway or parking lot, resurfacing is a cost-effective way to prolong your driveway and make it look like new. Trust the experts at Morgan Pavement for concrete and asphalt resurfacing. We are committed to quality and service and are the leaders in the asphalt paving and maintenance industry. From driveways and parking lots to large corporate and state projects, we have the experience and resources necessary to resurface at a price you can afford.

Morgan Pavement serves residents across seven states in the Intermountain West. We do asphalt repair in Arizona, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, and Wyoming. Request a bid or contact us with your asphalt and paving questions. We look forward to helping you.