Overlay or Full-Depth Hot-Mix Asphalt Paving

Did you know that you can overlay hot-mix asphalt over your existing driveway?

Read on, though, to find out why full-depth is preferable to the overlay method.

Overlay Asphalt Paving

If you have an existing asphalt or concrete driveway, but it’s in poor repair, you can overlay another layer of asphalt paving on top.

Still, the existing surface needs to be in a minimally good condition to support the new asphalt paving. If more than 75% of the existing driveway is cracked, you’re better off pulling off the driveway and starting anew.

The asphalt contractor will first patch minor holes and cracks with hot mix. Then a surface of up to 2 inches of hot mix will be laid on top of the patched driveway.

Full-Depth Asphalt Paving

Full-depth is the better option. There are two ways to define full-depth asphalt paving.

Actual Full-Depth.

Nothing between the hot-mix and the soil. Four to six inches of hot-mix asphalt laid directly on soil. This is the most preferable type of full-depth paving.

Full-Depth With Partial Aggregate Replacement

Three inches of compacted aggregate base is equal to one inch of hot-mix asphalt paving. A typical arrangement is to lay down 6-8 inches of compacted aggregate under 3 inches of hot-mix asphalt paving.