Asphalt Resurfacing in Dallas, TX
A new surface over a base that's still good. We mill off the worn top, fix what has failed underneath, and lay 1.5 to 2 inches of fresh hot mix.
When an overlay works, and when it doesn't
Resurfacing replaces the top layer and keeps the base. It works when the base is still solid. It fails, quickly, when it isn't.
Here's the test we use. If the cracks run in long lines and form blocks bigger than a dinner plate, the base is probably fine and an overlay will last 10 to 15 years. If the cracks form small squares like alligator skin, the base has failed in that spot. Overlay it and the same pattern comes back through in two or three years.
Most lots are a mix. We mark the alligator areas, dig those out to full depth and rebuild them, then overlay everything. As long as the full-depth repairs stay under about a quarter of the area, resurfacing is still the cheaper route.
Old cracks also work their way up through new asphalt, at roughly an inch a year. So we seal cracks wider than a quarter inch before paving. On badly cracked lots we lay a paving fabric between the old surface and the new one to slow them down.
And we mill first. Adding 2 inches on top raises the whole surface. Then the pavement sits above your garage slab, the curbs lose height, and water runs toward the building. Milling keeps the finished height where it started.
How we resurface
- Inspect and mark. We walk the surface, spray paint the areas that need full-depth repair, and measure them so the quote shows that work as its own line.
- Mill. The milling machine takes off 1.5 to 2 inches across the area, or along the curbs and entrances only if the middle has height to spare.
- Repair the base. Marked areas are dug out to firm ground, refilled with compacted base and patched with hot mix up to the milled level.
- Tack and pave. A tack coat goes on so the new layer bonds. Then 1.5 to 2 inches of Type D surface mix is laid and rolled.
What we look for on Dallas lots
On Dallas lots the first cracks usually show along the edges, two or three feet in from the grass. That's where the clay dries and shrinks in summer and pulls support out from under the pavement. An overlay alone won't stop it, so we widen the base repair along those edges and seal the joint where asphalt meets curb.
Timing matters with thin lifts. A 1.5 inch layer cools fast, and under about 50 degrees there isn't enough time to compact it. Dallas gives us workable days most of the year, but we won't overlay during a cold snap to hit a date.
What it costs
Mill and overlay typically runs $2 to $4 per square foot. Full-depth repairs inside the job run $4 to $7 per square foot of patch. For a 10,000 square foot lot that's $20,000 to $40,000, against $30,000 to $60,000 for a rebuild. Driveways cost a little more per foot because the equipment still has to come out for a small area.
Resurfacing questions
How long does asphalt resurfacing last?
10 to 15 years on a sound base with sealcoating every 2 to 3 years. Over a failed base it lasts 2 to 3 years, which is why we test and repair the base first.
Can you resurface a driveway?
Yes, if it has no alligator cracking and the new height works at the garage and the street. We need at least 1.5 inches of new asphalt. Thinner layers peel.
How soon can we use it after resurfacing?
24 hours for cars in mild weather and 48 in summer heat. You can walk on it the same evening.
Related pages
Resurface or rebuild?
We'll check the base and tell you which one your pavement needs, with both prices if it's close.