Asphalt paving in Little Rock, starting with what's under it
New asphalt for driveways, parking lots, and private roads in Little Rock and every town in Arkansas. The ground and the water get worked out first, and your quote states the thickness in inches, compacted.
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- The surface slopes so water runs off the crown, not into the base.
- Soft ground dug out and refilled with stone.
- Stone base spread and compacted.
- Hot mix laid over the base.
- Rolled while hot, down to the thickness written on your quote.
When new asphalt is the right call, and when it isn't
Paving means building a new surface from the ground up. It's the right project when there's nothing worth keeping underneath: a gravel drive you're tired of grading, a lot where the potholes come back every spring, or new construction where there's only dirt.
It's also the answer when an old surface has failed all the way down. Cracks that look like a web (people call it alligator cracking), sunken wheel tracks, and water that stands in the same low spots after every rain all point below the asphalt. A new coat on top won't hold, because the problem isn't on top.
Plenty of surfaces don't need new asphalt at all. If the base is sound and the damage is at the surface, an overlay, a repair, or crack sealing costs far less. We'll tell you which one your pavement actually needs, and put it in writing.
Not sure what you've got? Describe it on the phone. (501) 506-6799
How a paving project runs, start to finish
The first five steps match the numbers on the drawing at the top of the page. Every step below the surface is one you'll never see again once the hot mix goes down, which is exactly why it's the part to ask about.
The ground and the water, worked out first
Where does rain go now, and where should it go? The grade is set so the finished surface sheds water to its edges and away from the house or building. On a lot, that means the water heads to a drain or ditch instead of pooling in a parking row.
Soft ground comes out
Old asphalt, topsoil, and any ground that gives underfoot are dug out. Soft spots get refilled with stone. Paving over mud is how a driveway cracks in its first winter.
The stone base goes down and gets compacted
Crushed stone is spread, shaped to the same slope as the finished surface, and compacted until it's firm. The base carries much of the load, and the asphalt spreads that load and keeps water out of it.
Hot mix is laid
The paver spreads the hot mix in an even mat. Where new asphalt meets a street, a garage slab, or older pavement, the edge is prepared so the two bond and water can't slip in along the seam.
Rolled while it's hot
The roller compacts the mat while it's still workable. That's where the mat reaches the thickness on your quote: the finished, compacted thickness, not the loose layer behind the paver.
Cleanup, and when you can use it
Leftover material and debris are hauled off, and the street is swept before the crew leaves. Keep cars off it until you're told it's ready.
The thickness is the number to hold anyone to
Thickness is the difference between a surface that lasts fifteen years and one that lasts three. It's also the one thing you can't see once the job is done.
Hot mix sits higher behind the paver than it will after the roller is finished with it. So a quote that gives a thickness without the word "compacted" might be measuring the loose mat, which rolls down to less. Ask which number you're being quoted. Ours is always the compacted one, in inches, on paper.
We won't put a number on this page, and you should be wary of any asphalt paving contractor who names one over the phone. The right thickness depends on your ground, what's going to drive on it, and where the water goes. A pickup on a home driveway and a loaded garbage truck in a lot need different answers.
What a paving quote should spell out
- Thickness
- The asphalt, in inches, compacted. Ours states it.
- Base
- What goes under the asphalt, and how it's compacted.
- Ground
- What happens to soft spots and old pavement before the base goes down.
- Water
- Which way the surface slopes, and where the water ends up.
- Edges
- How the new asphalt meets the street, the slab, or older pavement.
- Cleanup
- What gets hauled off and cleaned up before the crew leaves.
Ask us for every line on that list. (501) 506-6799
What asphalt paving costs in Arkansas
These are general market ranges for Arkansas, not a quote. They're here so the number on a written estimate doesn't come as a surprise.
| Work | General range |
|---|---|
| New asphalt paving or driveway | $5–$15 per sq ft |
| Parking lot, new or full replacement | $3–$10 per sq ft |
The final price depends on the job: its size, the condition of what's there, how easy it is to get equipment to, what has to come out first, and how much work the ground needs. The estimate is free and written. (501) 506-6799
What moves the number
- Size. Bigger areas spread the fixed costs of getting a crew and a plant load to your property.
- What comes out first. Tearing out old asphalt or concrete, and hauling it away, is its own line.
- The ground. Soft spots and a thin or missing base add stone and time.
- Drainage. A drainage improvement now is cheaper than fixing a failed base later.
- Distance and access. Tight entries, steep grades, and long hauls from the plant all add up.
What customers say about the work
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★★★★★
We put in a new driveway for a house we just bought in Marion. Alec explained every step, showed up on the day he promised, and the crew was respectful of our property. It looks great and I'd recommend them to anyone in the area.
Derrick M.
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★★★★★
Alec came out quickly to quote the job. Within a few days, his crew had our old cracked driveway torn out and a brand new one poured. They completed the job exactly as described and left the yard spotless.
Mark T.
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★★★★★
We needed the private road into our subdivision repaved. Alec came out to look at it, gave us an honest price, and the crew finished in two days with minimal disruption to the neighbors. The road is smooth and drains properly now.
Steve A.
Paving for homes, businesses, and back roads
The same order of work applies whether it's a two-car driveway or a church lot, and whether you're a homeowner or a general contractor on new construction. What changes is the traffic the surface has to carry, and that changes the design.
Residential driveways
New drives, gravel-to-asphalt conversions, and full replacements. The details that matter at a house are the apron where the drive meets the street, the slope away from the garage, and the edges along the lawn. More on driveways
Parking lots
New lots and replacements for businesses, churches, and municipalities, including city public works departments, laid out for how cars and delivery trucks actually move through them. Striping comes after. More on parking lots
Private roads and farm lanes
Long drives and shared roads out in the county, where the base and the ditches do most of the work. On a long rural run, tar and chip is worth pricing alongside hot mix.
A certificate of insurance is available on request for commercial and municipal work.
If your surface needs repair or maintenance, not a rebuild
Overlay and Resurfacing
A new layer over sound pavement. It won't fix a failed base.
Asphalt Repair
Potholes, patches, and failed sections cut out and replaced.
Crack Sealing and Filling
Sealing cracks before water gets under the pavement.
Sealcoating
A protective coat that shields a sound surface from sun and water.
Tar and Chip
Chip seal: liquid asphalt with stone rolled in, common on long rural drives.
Little Rock first, then every town in Arkansas
We're based in Little Rock, Arkansas. Our paving service runs statewide too, from the Ozarks to the Delta.
The time of year matters more than the distance. Hot mix wants warm, dry days, so the colder months are for planning and getting a quote, and the paving comes once the weather turns.
Questions about asphalt paving
How much does asphalt paving cost in Little Rock?
It depends on the size of the job, what has to be torn out, and how much work the ground needs. See the Arkansas price ranges on this page for a starting point, then get your number on a free written estimate.
How thick should new asphalt be?
It depends on your ground, your traffic, and your drainage, so it's worked out per job. Your quote states it in inches, compacted, which is the thickness after rolling, not before.
How long does new asphalt last?
The thickness and the base decide it: the difference is fifteen years or three. A well-built surface lasts longest when cracks are sealed early and water keeps moving off it. Sealcoating a sound surface every few years helps shield it from sun and water.
Can you pave over a gravel driveway?
Often, yes. The gravel is graded and checked first. Soft or muddy spots get dug out and refilled, and the stone is shaped and compacted before any hot mix goes down. Your quote will say what's being kept and what's being added.
Is asphalt the same as blacktop?
Yes. Blacktop is the everyday name for the same material, which engineers call asphalt concrete. On a quote you'll usually see asphalt or hot mix.
When is the best time of year to pave in Arkansas?
Warm, dry weather, outside the freeze window. Around Little Rock the normal freeze window runs from about November 10 to March 21 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). The Ozarks freeze earlier and thaw later; the Delta's cold spell is shorter.
How soon can I drive on new asphalt?
It depends on the heat and the thickness, so ask the crew on the day. Hot mix firms up as it cools, and a hot afternoon keeps it soft longer. Until it's ready, keep turning tires, jacks, and trailer stands off it.
Tell us what you want paved.
A driveway, a lot, a lane out to the barn. Give us the rough size and what's there now, and we'll set up your free written estimate with the thickness written on it.
Call (501) 506-6799Available 24/7. Press 1 and you'll reach a person.
Ask about the warranty on your job when you call. It depends on the work.
