Asphalt Resurfacing in Union City, CA

Asphalt resurfacing puts a new layer of hot-mix asphalt over an existing surface. Done on the right pavement, it gives a driveway or lot a new face for much less than tearing it out. Done on the wrong pavement, it hides problems for a year or two before the old cracks come back through. The whole job turns on one question: is the base underneath still sound?

Good candidates

• Gray, oxidized asphalt that is dry and raveling at the surface
• Scattered cracks that are not connected into a pattern
• A surface that is rough but not sinking or rutted
• Pavement that drains properly

Poor candidates

• Widespread alligator cracking, which signals a failed base
• Soft, sinking or pumping areas
• Water that stands on the surface after rain
• Cracks caused by ongoing ground movement, which will return

How resurfacing is done

Failed spots are cut out and patched full depth first, because an overlay cannot bridge a hole in the base. Cracks are cleaned and filled. Along garage slabs, sidewalks, gutters and drains, the edges are milled or keyed so the new layer does not leave a lip or block water. The surface is swept and tack-coated so the new asphalt bonds, then the overlay is placed and rolled.

Will new asphalt bond to old?

Yes, when the old surface is clean and tack-coated. The bond between layers is rarely the problem. What shows through an overlay is movement below it: a weak base, or in parts of the East Bay, ground that moves near the Hayward Fault. Cracks driven by those causes tend to reflect up through new asphalt, and we tell you when we see them.

Get a Free Estimate

Cost and value

HomeGuide lists resurfacing of older surfaces at $3 to $7 per square foot and estimates that an overlay on a reasonable existing surface saves about 20 to 30 percent compared with full replacement. Angi's range for resurfacing is wider, $3 to $20 per square foot, because it covers everything from thin overlays to heavy repairs. Your quote separates the patching from the overlay so you can see where the money goes.

Height and drainage

Each overlay raises the surface, usually by an inch and a half to two inches. On a driveway, that matters at the garage door, the walk and the apron. On a lot, it matters at curbs and inlets. Milling the edges keeps the finished surface at the right height so water still drains where it should.