[PigPen]

I'm looking to have my asphalt driveway redone and widened in Northern Virginia. I've reached out to a few random companies for quotes, but I'm wondering if anyone has had a particularly good or bad experience in the area.

[BlackTalon]

Try M&F Concrete, Inc. (www.mfbuild.com)

They do really big projects, and really small ones. My experience with them has been for concrete work, but they asphalt as well.

[Vicegrip]

How many square yards? If large enough I might have a good reference

[PigPen]

Originally Posted by Vicegrip

How many square yards? If large enough I might have a good reference

Not that big. Somewhere around 1000 square feet.

[PigPen]

I called M&F, but they said they don't do asphalt, at least anymore. The spread on the quotes I am getting is nuts. Anywhere from $5K to $12K.

[BlackTalon]

Sorry M&F can't take it on.

That spread is not nuts -- it will probably grow as you talk to more paving contractors. The busy ones throw out high quotes, as they cannot easily take on the work.

The less busy ones *could* be less busy for a reason... But in some instances they may have equipment that allows them to bang out small jobs quickly (that is how M&F is, at least for concrete).

Anyway, how many sf will the additional paving be? Doing it correctly means shallow excavation, installing a gravel subbase, then a base course of asphalt followed by the surface course.

And for the existing area? Looking at having it ripped out and replaced, or are you hoping they can mill it down 2 inches and apply a new surface course?

[N Fotouhi]

Sent you a PM with a name and contact.

[rbpeirce]

Originally Posted by BlackTalon

are you hoping they can mill it down 2 inches and apply a new surface course?

That's not advisable if there are serious cracks. They will come thru in a few years.

[BlackTalon]

Originally Posted by rbpeirce

That's not advisable if there are serious cracks. They will come thru in a few years.

Depends on the type of cracking. If it is due to subgrade failure you have to dig it out and put in compacted gravel. If it is due to slippage, that will likely be an issue with the new paving as well and there is no simple treatment. If it's from the asphalt oxidizing and getting brittle, they just need to prestrip the crack with a suitable fabric.

[Vicegrip]

There are Many bad asphalt contractors. Long on promises short on preparation and material installed. Disappear after payment. It is a business with many fly by night types.

Find a contractor that has a good reputation and has other long term work that can be inspected or reviewed.