Overlays for tired but solid pavement
Asphalt Resurfacing in Bossier City, LA
A new surface can add years, but only when the base below it is still doing its job.
- Free on-site estimates
- Itemized written quote: base depth and asphalt thickness spelled out
- Drainage checked before any new asphalt is placed
When an Overlay Makes Sense
Asphalt resurfacing puts a new layer of hot asphalt over existing pavement. Done on the right driveway or lot, it gives you a smooth new surface for less than tearing everything out; HomeGuide estimates an overlay saves 20 to 30 percent compared with full replacement. Done on the wrong one, it cracks in the same places within a year or two, because the problem was never the surface.
Good candidates
- Surface cracking and graying, but no soft spots
- A few potholes or failed patches that can be cut out first
- Raveling, where loose stone is coming out of the surface
- Pavement that is structurally sound but rough or uneven
Poor candidates
- Widespread alligator cracking, which means the base has given way
- Ruts and sunken areas, especially near drains or the street
- Water that seeps up through cracks after rain
- A surface already so high from earlier overlays that it meets the garage slab or curb with a step
Milling first
On lots and on driveways that meet a garage, curb or sidewalk, we often mill off the top of the old asphalt before resurfacing. Milling keeps the finished surface at the right height, gives the new layer a rough surface to bond to and removes the worst of the cracked top. Where milling is not needed, we clean the surface and apply a tack coat so the new asphalt bonds.
Repairs before the new layer
Any spot where the base has failed gets cut out and rebuilt to full depth first. In Bossier City, those spots tend to be where water collects: low corners, the street end of a driveway and areas around drains. Skipping that step is why cheap overlays fail.
Getting the most from it
After resurfacing, the same care rules as new asphalt apply: let it cure, then seal it and keep cracks filled. An overlay over a sound base can serve for many years in this climate.
What resurfacing does not fix
An overlay does not correct drainage by itself, does not strengthen a failed base and does not stop tree roots from lifting the surface. It also adds height, which matters at garage slabs, sidewalks and curbs. Each overlay raises the surface, so a driveway that has already been overlaid once or twice usually needs milling or full removal before the next layer. We check all of this before recommending an overlay, and if replacement is the better value, we say so.
What This Covers
Resurfacing combines repairs, preparation and a new asphalt layer.
Assessment
We check for soft spots and base failure before recommending an overlay.
Milling
Top layer ground off where heights must match curbs, slabs or drains.
Full-depth patches
Failed areas cut out and rebuilt before the overlay.
Tack coat and overlay
Bonding coat, then new hot-mix asphalt rolled to thickness.
Typical Resurfacing Costs
| Item | Published range |
|---|---|
| Driveway resurfacing (HomeGuide) | $3 to $7 per sq ft |
| Resurfacing (Angi) | $3 to $20 per sq ft |
| Overlay (HomeGuide repair guide) | $1 to $3 per sq ft |
| Savings vs. full replacement (HomeGuide) | 20% to 30% |
Published national ranges from HomeGuide and Angi; each guide measures the job differently, so the ranges do not line up. Bossier City prices can differ, and removal, base repair, drainage work and access move the total. Your written estimate is the price.
How It Works
1. Inspect
Probe soft spots, check drainage and measure heights at edges.
2. Recommend
Overlay, overlay with repairs, or replacement, and why.
3. Prepare
Mill, patch and clean; tack coat applied.
4. Pave
New layer placed, rolled and feathered into edges.
Asphalt Resurfacing Questions
How much does resurfacing save?
HomeGuide estimates an overlay saves about 20 to 30 percent over full replacement. The savings disappear if failed base areas are left in place, because the new layer will crack over them.
How thick is an overlay?
Typically a couple of inches of compacted asphalt, set by how the pavement is used and by the heights it has to meet at edges and drains.
Can you resurface over concrete?
Sometimes, but joints and cracks in concrete tend to show through asphalt over time. We look at the slab before recommending it.
Will resurfacing fix standing water?
Only if the low spot is corrected first. We regrade or rebuild low areas before the overlay so water has somewhere to go.
How long does an overlay last?
It depends on the base under it. Over a sound, well-drained base and with sealing on schedule, an overlay can last many years. Over a failing base, it can crack within a year or two.
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Get a Asphalt Resurfacing Estimate
Free resurfacing assessments in Bossier City and nearby towns.