How to Pave a Driveway with Asphalt and When to Call in a Pro

If you’re tired of parking on the street or dodging holes in your aging driveway, you may be considering a freshly paved path to park your car. Paving a driveway is an instant upgrade to any home, but it requires a lot of upfront investment, specialized skills, and heavy equipment to install, plus ongoing maintenance. While most homeowners should leave this job to a local driveway paving company, you can learn how to pave a driveway to better understand the process and what to expect from the company you hire to do the job.

Particularly handy, homeowners who have similar experience can typically handle this job themselves in a few days to a week. Read on for our step-by-step guide on how to pave a driveway.

Prepping to Pave a Driveway 

Before you can learn the step-by-step details of how to pave a driveway, you’ll need to take some precautions. One of the most important steps is surveying your property for utility lines, and you’ll also need to remove the surface—whether it be old asphalt, concrete, pavers, or just grass—where you plan to pave.

Survey the Property

You’ll need to do some demolition and digging to pave a driveway, so it’s important to call 8-1-1, the national number to call before digging underground, to have a professional check for utility lines before you start this project. An expert can flag or mark areas where utility lines or pipes are underground.

Buy Paving Materials

If you have extensive driveway paving experience and access to the heavy machinery needed to complete this job, you may be considering DIYing. If so, you’ll need to purchase the right paving materials at a home improvement store, like fresh asphalt, for your driveway. Otherwise, you can discuss your options with the driveway installation company you are working with.

Apply for a Permit

Building projects of this size typically require a permit. You will need to contact your local building department, prepare supporting documentation, submit the application, and wait for approval before you can start your project. Permit fees vary, but expect to pay between $150 to $2,000, depending on your project and jurisdiction.

Remove Old Materials

It’s best to remove any old concrete or pavers if you are paving a driveway if you want a smooth, sturdy surface. You’ll need heavy equipment, like power graders and rollers or compactors, to get this done, and it’s best to hire a local demolition company near you to get this job done safely.

Make Repairs

In some cases, you can repave over an existing asphalt driveway. If your asphalt driveway has minor cracks or holes, you can repair these areas before paving a new surface. You can fill cracks and small holes with asphalt sealant, then continue on with the steps to pave a driveway.

DIY Driveway Paving vs. Hiring a Pro

Paving a driveway requires special, heavy equipment at nearly every step of the process, from demolishing the old driveway surface to laying fresh asphalt. If you attempt this project yourself, you could end up with a weak driveway, or worse, you could damage your home’s foundation. Instead, hire a local driveway paving pro to get the job done safely, efficiently, and correctly.

Paving an asphalt driveway costs $2,500 and $6,600 with a professional. Although you can save up to $7 per square foot to DIY, you’ll spend about $500 per day on equipment rentals for machinery like jackhammers, rollers, and graders. Also, keep in mind that if done incorrectly, driveway repairs can be expensive. Expect to pay up to $5,000 in driveway repair costs or similar prices to repave a driveway.

There are some smaller project tasks you can tackle to bring down professional labor costs, including:

• Demolition and removal of materials

• Clear the area of obstructions

• Secure necessary permits

Pros and Cons of DIY Driveway Paving

Rolling up your sleeves and paving your driveway might seem like a rewarding and cost-effective project, but it’s not for the faint of heart. While saving money and having full control over the process is appealing, the physical labor, time commitment, and risk of mistakes can have you thinking twice. Here’s a closer look at the pros and cons:

Pros of DIY Driveway Paving

• Cost Savings: Professional paving isn’t cheap. The biggest reason homeowners opt for DIY paving is to cut labor costs. Professional driveway installation can be expensive, so handling the work yourself means you only pay for materials.

• Control Over Materials and Process: Doing it yourself means total creative control. You can choose specific materials, patterns, and finishes to match your home’s aesthetic without relying on a contractor’s preferences or limitations.

• Flexible Scheduling: Instead of working around a contractor’s availability, you can pave at your own pace. This flexibility allows you to fit the project into your free time.

Cons of DIY Driveway Paving

• Physical Demands and Skill Requirements: Paving is labor-intensive and requires knowledge of proper techniques. Heavy lifting, repetitive motions, and long hours on your feet can be physically exhausting. 

• Potential for Costly Errors: A poorly paved driveway won’t last. Mistakes like improper grading or compaction can lead to cracks, settling, and drainage issues—which can be expensive to fix.

• Equipment and Tool Investment: Paving isn’t a job you can do with basic tools. You’ll need a plate compactor, asphalt rake, and possibly a paver machine, and renting or buying these adds to the cost. 

• Warranties and Liability Concerns: Professionals offer warranties on their work, while DIY paving comes with no guarantee. If your driveway fails, the repairs are entirely on you. Any accidental damage to your property—like misjudging a slope and causing water to drain toward your home—is also your responsibility. 

If you’re confident in your skills, prepared for the labor, and willing to invest in the right tools, a DIY driveway could be worth it. Otherwise, hiring professionals might save you more trouble in the long run.