Asphalt Resurfacing in Cheyenne, WY

Asphalt resurfacing places a new layer of hot-mix over existing pavement. It is the right choice when a driveway or lot is faded, raveling and lightly cracked but still flat and firm. HomeGuide estimates resurfacing saves 20 to 30 percent compared with tearing out and replacing. It is the wrong choice when the base has failed, because the new layer will crack along the same lines within a season or two.

Deciding if it will work

We look for alligator cracking (a web of connected cracks that means the base has given way), sunken or heaved areas (moving or saturated subgrade), and ruts in wheel paths (pavement too thin for its load). Limited problems get cut out and rebuilt before the overlay. Widespread ones mean replacement, and we show you the evidence.

Preparing the surface

Cracks are cleaned and filled. Failed spots are saw-cut, excavated and rebuilt. The surface is swept and a tack coat applied so the new layer bonds. Along garage floors, sidewalks and curbs, the old asphalt is milled or cut back so the new surface finishes flush and does not leave a ridge for water or plows.

Raising the grade

An overlay adds 1.5 to 2 inches or more. Where a driveway already sits close to the garage floor, that can send water toward the door, so we check every transition and mill where needed. On lots, we protect curb reveal and drainage so water still exits.

Cost

HomeGuide lists driveway resurfacing at about $3 to $7 per square foot, and its repair guide lists overlays at $1 to $3 per square foot. The range depends mostly on how much repair and milling the surface needs first.

Cheyenne timing

A thin overlay loses heat quickly, especially on the cool mornings Cheyenne gets even in June. We schedule overlays for warm weather and warm ground, inside the roughly 106-day growing season, and avoid the shoulder months when nights drop near freezing.

After the overlay

Treat it like new asphalt: let it cure 3 to 6 months before sealing, keep heavy point loads off it in hot weather, and seal new cracks as they appear.

Driveways versus lots

On a driveway, an overlay is usually a single lift tied into the garage slab and the street. On a lot, the work is often staged: milling along curbs so drainage still works, rebuilding truck lanes and dumpster areas first, then overlaying in sections so the business stays open. Either way, the estimate lists the repairs, the milling and the overlay as separate lines.