Asphalt Paving in San Lorenzo, CA

Asphalt paving in San Lorenzo often means replacing the driveways of a historic housing experiment. Starting in 1944, the David D. Bohannon Company built San Lorenzo Village under contract to the U.S. Navy. It is described as one of the nation's first planned communities and the largest privately financed housing project on the West Coast during World War II. Those homes are now about eighty years old, and many driveways have been resurfaced or patched several times.

Small lots, short driveways

San Lorenzo packs about 29,581 people into roughly three square miles, close to 9,700 per square mile. Lots are compact and driveways are short, so the transitions matter: the garage, the walk and the apron are all close together. When layers of old asphalt have built up, we remove them and pave back at the right height so water drains to the street.

County, not city

San Lorenzo is unincorporated, governed directly by Alameda County and policed by the Sheriff's Office. Work in the road right-of-way, such as an apron or curb cut, goes through Alameda County Public Works and needs its encroachment permit. Most driveway jobs stop at the property line and do not need one; we tell you which yours is.

Creekside ground

San Lorenzo Creek runs along the northern edge of the community, and the elevation is only about 36 feet. Low, flat neighborhoods near a creek drain slowly after storms. Slope, edge support and sealed cracks keep that water out of the base.

Common San Lorenzo jobs

• Tear-out of multi-layer driveways and repaving at the right height
• Base rebuilds where original driveways have settled
• Sealcoating and crack sealing
• Small commercial lot repairs and striping

Why the original driveways are wearing out

Wartime construction moved fast, and pavement was built to the standards of the day. Eighty years of traffic, roots from mature street trees and repeated overlays leave many Village driveways uneven, lifted near trees and too high at the garage. Removing the old layers lets us cut back problem roots where it is safe to do so, rebuild the base and set the surface back at the right height.

Trees and driveways

Mature trees along San Lorenzo's streets are part of the neighborhood's character, but their roots lift asphalt. We note root damage at the estimate and talk through options, from thicker base in the root zone to rerouting the edge of the driveway.

Cost on a typical Village driveway

Many Village driveways are short and narrow, often a few hundred square feet. Published guides put a 300-square-foot asphalt driveway at roughly $1,500 to $3,600 (HomeGuide), but removal of several old layers and base repair add to that, and some contractors set minimum charges. Your written estimate is the price.

Book a visit

Call (510) 998-2728 or

Get a Free Estimate

for a free look and an itemized quote.