Driveway Removal & Replacement
When a driveway is cracked, sunken, and patched past the point of saving, we tear it out, rebuild the base, and repave it the right way — so you're not fighting the same problems again next spring.
Most driveways that fail in New Hampshire don't fail because of the asphalt on top. They fail because of what's underneath: a base that was too thin, never compacted properly, or graded so water runs under the pavement instead of off it. Every winter that water freezes, expands, and pushes the surface up and apart.
Sealcoating and patching can't fix that. Once a driveway is alligator-cracked across large areas, sinking in spots, or breaking off at the edges, the honest answer is a full replacement. We remove the old asphalt, correct the base and the grade, and pave a new driveway with hot-mix asphalt at the right thickness.
What's included
- Free on-site assessment: replace, resurface, or repair — whichever actually fits
- Clean saw cuts where the driveway meets the road, garage, or walkways
- Removal and haul-away of the old asphalt
- Excavation of soft or contaminated base material where needed
- New crushed gravel base, graded and compacted
- Grading so water drains away from your home, garage, and the new pavement
- New hot-mix asphalt, typically 3 inches, laid with a paver and roller-compacted
- Clean edges, smooth transitions, and a 2-year workmanship warranty
Replace or resurface? How to tell
Resurfacing (an overlay of new asphalt over the old) works when the driveway is worn and faded but still solid: no widespread spider-web cracking, no sinking, no soft spots. It costs less and goes faster.
Replacement is the right call when the cracking is everywhere, the surface has sunk or heaved, water pools in low spots, or the edges are crumbling away. Putting new asphalt over a failed base just means the cracks come back through, usually within a couple of winters.
We'll look at your driveway in person and tell you which one it needs. If it can be resurfaced, we'll say so.
How we approach it
Here's the sequence from first call to final walkthrough:
Start to finish
Assess & quote
We walk the driveway with you, check the cracking, the drainage, and the base, and send a clear written quote. If a resurfacing or repair is enough, we'll tell you.
Cut & remove
We saw-cut clean lines at the road, garage, and walkways, then break out and haul away the old asphalt so nothing gets buried under the new driveway.
Rebuild the base
Soft or muddy spots are dug out. New crushed gravel is brought in, graded so water sheds away, and compacted until it's firm.
Pave & roll
New hot-mix asphalt is laid with a paver and compacted with a roller while it's hot, typically to 3 inches for a residential driveway.
Walkthrough
We clean up, check the edges and slope with you, and go over how to treat the new driveway while it cures.
Driveway Removal & Replacement in New Hampshire
Driveway Removal & Replacement questions
How do I know if my driveway needs to be replaced instead of resurfaced?
If the cracking is widespread in a spider-web pattern, the surface has sunk or heaved, water sits in low spots, or the edges are breaking away, the base has failed and the driveway needs replacing. If it's mostly faded and has a few cracks but is still solid, resurfacing may be enough. We'll tell you honestly which one it is.
What happens to my old asphalt?
We break it out and haul it away. Old asphalt is commonly recycled into new paving material, so it doesn't just end up in a landfill.
How long does a driveway replacement take?
Most residential driveway replacements are done in one to two days, depending on size, how much base work is needed, and the weather. We'll give you a time estimate with your quote.
How thick will my new driveway be?
For most residential driveways we lay about 3 inches of hot-mix asphalt over a compacted gravel base. If heavier vehicles will use it, we'll recommend a thicker build.
How much does driveway replacement cost?
It depends on the size, how much old material has to come out, how much base work is needed, and access to the site. We measure on-site and give you a written quote with no surprise add-ons later.
Ready to replace that old driveway?
Free written estimates across New Hampshire and Northern Massachusetts. Tell us about your project and we'll get you a fair, no-pressure quote.