Asphalt Paving in Alexandria, VA

Asphalt paving in Alexandria rarely looks like paving a long suburban driveway. Most of the city's 80,000 or so homes sit on compact lots, many of them on slopes, with the curb, gutter and sidewalk a few feet from the garage. The ground under them is often clay from the Potomac Formation, which the City's geologic atlas maps across most of Alexandria, including areas of unstable clay and expandable soil. A driveway here has to be built for that ground and fitted between the house and the public right-of-way. We plan both before the first truck shows up.

What goes under the asphalt

Clay that stays wet loses strength, and clay that swells and shrinks pushes on anything built on top of it. The answer is a well-compacted stone base, deep enough for the soil and the traffic. HomeGuide's cost guide describes a typical residential section as 2 to 3 inches of compacted asphalt over 6 to 8 inches of compacted gravel, with 8 to 10 inches of base and 3 to 4 inches of asphalt under heavier vehicles. We dig test spots, remove soft material and set the base so water drains away from the house and off the surface.

Weather on the Potomac

Across the river in Washington, a typical year brings 64 nights at or below freezing, usually from mid-November to late March, and about 37 days at or above 90 degrees. That is enough freeze-thaw to widen any crack that holds water, and enough heat to soften new asphalt and scuff it under turning tires. Sealing cracks before winter, waiting before sealcoating new asphalt and telling you when it is safe to park on the surface are all part of the job.

Curb cuts and the right-of-way

In Alexandria, work in the public right-of-way needs a permit from Transportation and Environmental Services. The City's guidelines say a new curb cut, or widening an existing one by 4 feet or more, goes through a separate application to T&ES Construction Permitting and Inspections, and smaller widenings have their own form. Applications are due at least five business days before work starts. If your project stays behind the sidewalk, none of this may apply. If it reaches the curb, we tell you at the estimate.

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Replace, resurface or repair?

Not every worn driveway needs to come out. If the base is firm and the problems are on the surface, an overlay can save 20 to 30 percent compared with full replacement, according to HomeGuide. If you see a web of small cracks in the tire paths, a dip that holds water or potholes that keep coming back, the base has failed, and new asphalt on top will crack along the same lines. We show you what we find, and we put each option in writing.

Watch out for the $99 driveway

Searches for cheap asphalt in Alexandria turn up offers like a "$99 driveway special." A very low advertised price usually covers a thin layer of asphalt laid straight over whatever is already there, with base work, removal and extra thickness added once the job starts. A written quote with base depth and asphalt thickness stated is the best protection.

Where we work

Alexandria is home base, from Old Town and Del Ray to Seminary Hill and the West End. We also work in Arlington, Falls Church, the City of Fairfax, and the Fairfax County communities along Route 1, Telegraph Road and the I-95 corridor.

We work across Alexandria and the communities around it: Arlington and Falls Church to the north; the City of Fairfax, Annandale and Lincolnia to the west; Springfield, West Springfield, Burke, Franconia, Kingstowne and Rose Hill along the Beltway and I-95; and Huntington, Belle Haven, Groveton, Hybla Valley, Fort Hunt, Mount Vernon, Woodlawn and Lorton down the Route 1 corridor. Who controls the street in front of your house changes from place to place. Alexandria, Arlington and the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church run their own streets, while VDOT maintains most roads in Fairfax County. Each town page explains what is specific to that area.