Asphalt Resurfacing & Overlays in Greensboro, NC

Asphalt resurfacing, also called an overlay, places a new layer of hot-mix asphalt on top of an existing surface. It makes sense when a driveway or lot is faded, rough or full of small cracks but still firm underfoot: no sinking, no potholes that return, no edges breaking off. HomeGuide estimates an overlay can save 20 to 30 percent compared with full replacement, because the old pavement stays in place as part of the base.

How we decide

The question is whether the base can carry another layer. We look for alligator cracking, which means the base has failed in that spot; soft areas that flex under a car; and drainage problems that will keep soaking the clay. Isolated failures can be cut out and rebuilt before the overlay. If failures are spread across the whole surface, an overlay only buries the problem and the cracks reflect back through, often within a year or two. In that case we recommend replacement and explain why.

Preparing the surface

• Cleaning the old surface so the new layer bonds
• Cutting out and rebuilding failed patches to full depth
• Filling larger cracks
• Milling or cutting at garage slabs, walks and the street so the new asphalt does not leave a lip
• Spraying a tack coat that glues the new layer to the old

Height and transitions

Every overlay raises the surface, usually by 1.5 to 2 inches. At a garage door, a sidewalk or a curb that can create a trip edge or send water toward the house. We plan those transitions before paving, either by cutting the old asphalt back at the edges or by tapering the new layer.

Overlays on Greensboro clay

On red clay, the overlay is only as good as the drainage. If water runs onto the driveway from the yard or collects at the bottom of a slope, we fix that first. Otherwise the clay under the old base stays wet and the overlay fails along with it.

What it costs

HomeGuide lists overlays at $1 to $3 per square foot for straightforward work and resurfacing older surfaces at $3 to $7 per square foot when more preparation is needed. Angi's repair guide puts typical driveway resurfacing at $500 to $2,000. Your quote separates the repair work from the overlay itself.