Driveway Paving in West Des Moines, IA

Driveway paving in West Des Moines is mostly replacement work. Much of the city was built between 1970 and 2010, and driveways from those decades are reaching the end of their life: cracked into small pieces, sunk by the garage, or overlaid so many times they sit above the sidewalk. A new asphalt driveway starts with removing all of that and fixing whatever made it fail.

Is it time?

Replace when you see cracks that link into an alligator-skin pattern, potholes that come back after patching, a section that rocks or sinks when a car drives over it, or edges that have broken off into the lawn. Repair or resurface when cracks are scattered and straight, the surface is gray and rough but flat, and water drains off.

The base

HomeGuide describes a typical residential section as 2 to 3 inches of compacted asphalt over 6 to 8 inches of compacted gravel, with more of each for trucks, trailers or RVs. After the old surface comes out, we probe the ground. Soft or pumping subgrade is dug out and replaced with crushed stone. In newer subdivisions, the ground near the garage is often backfill that has kept settling; we compact it properly before the base goes on. The finished grade sheds water to the lawn or the gutter.

Paving day

Hot-mix asphalt arrives at temperature and is spread with a paver where access allows, then rolled while still hot. Edges are tapered and compacted so they do not crumble, and the joints at the garage slab and sidewalk are cut clean. On cold or windy days the mix cools faster, which is why we schedule full driveways in warm weather.

Approach and curb

If the new driveway ties into the existing concrete approach, nothing in the right-of-way changes. If you want the curb cut widened or the approach replaced, that is right-of-way work. In West Des Moines it takes a city permit; the current application lists a $50 sidewalk and approach fee, a $200 deposit and 24 hours' notice to Engineering before digging. We include that in the plan when it applies.

Your first months

New asphalt is soft at first. Stay off it for a few days, longer in hot weather. Do not turn the wheels while the car is stopped, and use a board under kickstands and trailer jacks. Sealcoating waits three to six months for the asphalt to cure. After that, sealing every few years and filling cracks before winter keep it in shape.