Residential Driveway Paving in Arlington, VA

By The Numbers

Arlington Elite Asphalt — Track Record

500+

Driveways Installed

14

Years in Business

5.0

Star Google Rating

1

Day for Most Jobs

What You Get

What a Full Driveway Installation Includes

Every Arlington Elite Asphalt residential driveway follows the same complete process — no shortcuts on base prep, thickness, or compaction.

Demo & Base Prep

Full demolition of the existing surface using a skid steer. Arlington's clay-heavy soils require aggressive subgrade inspection — we assess load-bearing capacity before deciding base thickness. Compacted aggregate base: 4 inches minimum for stable subgrade, 6–8 inches where clay content is high or drainage is poor.

Hot-Mix Asphalt

We use Superpave 9.5mm surface mix — the same specification VDOT requires on Virginia state roads. Asphalt is delivered at 280–320°F and must be placed within 30 minutes. Standard residential thickness: 2–3 inches compacted. Two-lift applications (2" binder + 1.5" surface) for driveways with SUVs, trucks, or delivery vehicles.

Grading & Drainage

We grade every driveway to drain away from the structure — minimum 2% cross-slope. Standing water on an asphalt driveway accelerates oxidation and weakens the base. We account for Northern Virginia's 40+ annual freeze-thaw cycles when setting slopes, which is the most common cause of premature cracking when ignored.

Compaction & Finish

Roller compaction achieves minimum 92% Marshall density — the VDOT specification for road surfaces. Edges are cut clean and the apron connection to the street is finished flush. Site cleanup before departure: all debris, millings, and excess material removed. New surface is ready to walk on in 24 hours, ready to drive on in 3 days (5–7 days in summer heat).

How It Works

Arlington Driveway Paving — Our 4-Step Process

From first call to finished surface in as little as 1–2 weeks. Here's exactly what to expect.

1

Free On-Site Estimate

We visit your Arlington property within 24–48 hours of your call. We measure the driveway, assess subgrade condition, check drainage, and note any ROW permit requirements at the street connection. You receive a written, itemized quote — not a ballpark on the phone.

2

Scheduling & Permits

Once you approve the quote, we schedule your job and pull any required Arlington County excavation or ROW permits under Code Chapter 22. Most residential driveways are scheduled within 1–2 weeks. We handle all permit paperwork — you don't file anything.

3

Installation Day

Crew arrives between 7–8 AM. Demo and base work typically takes 2–4 hours; paving follows immediately. Most standard Arlington residential driveways (400–800 sq ft) are completed in a single day. Larger driveways or those requiring significant grading may take 2 days.

4

Curing & Aftercare

New asphalt needs 3 days before driving (5–7 days in summer). We leave written aftercare instructions: avoid parking in the same spot for the first 30 days, don't turn steering wheels while stationary for the first 6 months, and wait 6–12 months before applying sealcoating so the asphalt can fully cure and off-gas.

Residential Driveway Paving — Arlington, VA Cost Guide

Pricing based on standard Arlington County residential jobs. Scope, access, and subgrade condition affect final cost — all estimates are free and on-site.

Driveway Size	Typical Cost	Notes
Small / 1-car (300–400 sq ft)	$2,100–$4,800	Minimum job applies; good for tight urban lots
Standard 2-car (500–650 sq ft)	$3,500–$7,800	Most common size in Arlington residential
Large / 3-car (700–1,000 sq ft)	$4,900–$12,000	Lyon Village, North Arlington, Cherrydale homes
Estate / Long driveway (1,000+ sq ft)	$7,000–$18,000+	North Arlington estates; call for custom quote
Demo & removal of existing surface	Included	Concrete removal priced separately ($2–$4/sq ft)
Aggregate base preparation	Included	4–8 inches depending on subgrade; never skipped
Arlington County ROW permit	Included	Required for all work in the county right-of-way

New Asphalt Driveway vs. Concrete — Arlington Comparison

Both are viable for Northern Virginia. Here's what drives the decision for most Arlington homeowners.

Asphalt (Recommended)

Cost per sq ft$7–$15

Lifespan (maintained)20–30 years

Freeze-thaw performanceExcellent

Resurfacing optionYes ($3–$6/sq ft)

Ready to use3 days

Right choice when: budget and performance both matter; most Arlington homes

Concrete (Alternative)

Cost per sq ft$12–$25

Lifespan (maintained)25–40 years

Freeze-thaw performanceFair (salt damage)

Resurfacing optionNo — full replacement

Ready to use7 days

Right choice when: long-term aesthetics matter and budget is flexible

Arlington Elite Asphalt assesses every job honestly — we'll tell you if a resurfacing overlay would save you $2,000 over full replacement.

Signs You Need a New Asphalt Driveway in Arlington

Not sure if you need service now or can wait? These are the signs that indicate it's time to call Arlington Elite Asphalt at 571-427-0191.

Alligator Cracking Across the Surface

Interconnected fatigue cracks that form a pattern resembling alligator skin signal base failure — not just surface wear. Sealcoating or crack filling cannot fix this. When alligator cracking covers more than 25–30% of the driveway surface, full-depth reconstruction is typically the correct call. We assess the extent and depth of cracking on every estimate visit and show you exactly what we find.

Significant Surface Depressions or Heaving

Depressions that hold water after rain, or areas that have risen due to root pressure or freeze-thaw heaving, indicate base-level problems. Water collecting in low spots accelerates base saturation and will cause structural failure around those areas within 1–3 years. Depressions over 1 inch deep that cannot be corrected with a simple overlay require full-depth work.

Crumbling Edges and Large Pothole Clusters

When the driveway edges are crumbling and potholes are appearing in clusters rather than isolated spots, the base beneath has deteriorated to the point where patch repairs become temporary fixes that need to be redone every season. At that stage, the cost of repeated patching over 5 years typically exceeds the cost of a single full replacement.

Your Driveway is 20–25+ Years Old

A properly installed asphalt driveway in Northern Virginia has a 20–30 year service life with regular sealcoating. If your driveway is past that range, even if it looks passable, a structural inspection is worthwhile. Early intervention before the base fails entirely is always less expensive than emergency replacement after a surface cave-in.

FAQ

Residential Driveway Paving FAQ — Arlington, VA

How much does a new asphalt driveway cost in Arlington, VA?

Most Arlington homeowners pay $3,500–$8,000 for a standard 500–650 sq ft driveway at $7–$12/sq ft installed. North Arlington and Lyon Village properties with longer driveways run $7,000–$18,000+. Call 571-427-0191 for a free on-site estimate — price varies by grade, existing surface, clay content, and ROW requirements. We give you a written quote with itemized line items before any work begins.

How thick should a residential asphalt driveway be?

Minimum 2–3 inches of compacted hot-mix asphalt over a 4–8 inch aggregate base. Arlington Elite Asphalt uses a two-lift approach for driveways with heavy vehicle use: a 2-inch binder course beneath a 1.5-inch surface course, totaling 3.5 inches compacted. This exceeds the residential minimum and handles Virginia's 40+ annual freeze-thaw cycles without premature cracking or surface deformation.

Do I need a permit to pave my driveway in Arlington County?

Any excavation or work within the Arlington County right-of-way — including the driveway apron connecting to the street — requires an Excavation ROW permit under Arlington County Code Chapter 22. New driveway installations or significant modifications on private property may also require a residential building permit. Arlington Elite Asphalt handles all permit coordination as part of the job — you don't file paperwork. Questions: Arlington County Inspection Services at (703) 228-3800.

Can I pave over an existing driveway, or does it need to be torn out?

It depends on the existing surface condition. If the base is structurally sound and the existing asphalt shows no alligator cracking, major depressions, or heaving, an asphalt overlay ($3–$6/sq ft) is a valid option and can save $1,500–$3,000. If there's alligator cracking, standing water, or base failure, the old material must be removed and the base regraded before new asphalt. Arlington Elite Asphalt gives an honest assessment on every estimate visit.

How long after paving should I wait before driving on new asphalt?

Wait 3 days before driving on new asphalt in spring/fall weather. In summer (above 85°F), wait 5–7 days — the surface stays soft longer in heat. During the first 6–12 months of full cure, avoid parking heavily loaded vehicles in the same spot repeatedly and avoid turning steering wheels while stationary. Wait 6–12 months before applying sealcoating to allow the asphalt to cure and fully off-gas.

What is the difference between two-lift and single-lift asphalt paving?

Single-lift paving places all asphalt in one pass — typically 2–3 inches. Two-lift paving places a thicker binder course (2 inches of coarser SM-12.5A or similar) first, then a surface course (1.5 inches of finer SM-9.5A) on top. Two-lift produces better structural performance under heavy loads, better compaction through the full depth, and a smoother, denser surface course. Arlington Elite Asphalt uses two-lift installation on driveways with heavy vehicle use — SUVs, delivery trucks, commercial vehicles — and single-lift on standard residential driveways with lighter loads.

What aggregate base is required under an Arlington asphalt driveway?

Virginia DOT and standard best practice require a minimum 4-inch compacted 21-A aggregate base under residential asphalt. In Arlington County's clay-heavy soils, we typically install 6–8 inches of compacted base material, and in areas with high clay content or poor subgrade drainage, we go deeper. The base is the structural layer — the asphalt above it is just the wearing surface. A cheap thin base is the most common reason driveways fail years before their expected lifespan.

Can I pave my driveway in the fall or winter in Northern Virginia?

Asphalt paving requires ambient temperatures above 50°F for proper compaction. In Northern Virginia, the viable paving window is typically April through mid-November. Early fall (September–October) is excellent for paving — cooler temperatures slow cooling and allow more working time. November paving is possible but weather-dependent. We monitor forecasts and will reschedule if conditions are marginal. We do not pave in temperatures below 40°F or during rain.

What is the average square footage of an Arlington residential driveway?

The most common Arlington residential driveway sizes: single-car driveways in urban Arlington neighborhoods run 200–350 sq ft; standard two-car driveways on typical suburban lots run 500–700 sq ft; larger driveways in North Arlington and Dominion Hills homes run 800–1,200 sq ft; estate driveways in the Lyon Village and Country Club Hills areas can exceed 2,000 sq ft. We measure every driveway on the estimate visit — phone estimates based on approximate size carry significant risk of error.