Driveway Paving in Casper, WY

Driveway paving in Casper is mostly about what goes under the asphalt. With a three-foot frost line and long stretches of below-freezing weather, any water that gets into the base or the soil below it will freeze and push the pavement up. When it thaws, the ground softens and the asphalt cracks. Good driveways here are built so water cannot sit underneath them.

Signs a driveway is done

• Wide cracks that join into a web pattern
• Potholes that come back every spring
• Sections that heave in winter and settle in summer
• Edges breaking off along the yard or street
• A patch of ice that shows up in the same dip each January

If the problems are limited, filling cracks and patching can buy years. If they cover most of the driveway, replacement usually makes more sense.

Base depth and compaction

Out comes the old surface and any wet or spongy dirt; in goes crushed rock, a few inches at a time, each layer rolled tight. HomeGuide describes a typical residential build as 6 to 8 inches of base under 2 to 3 inches of asphalt, and 8 to 10 inches of base under 3 to 4 inches of asphalt for heavier vehicles. With the pickups and trailers common in Casper, we often recommend the heavier section. The bid states both numbers.

Slope and snowmelt

The driveway should send meltwater to the yard, a ditch or the gutter, not across the surface or toward the garage. The grade is set for that, and we flag any downspout that dumps onto the drive. Where snow gets piled matters too. Piles on the uphill side melt back across the driveway.

At the curb

If your driveway meets a city street, the curb and the approach are in the public right-of-way. The City of Casper requires a curb-cut permit to remove curb or curb-walk for a driveway, and a street-cut permit for digging in the street or alley. If your new driveway ties into the existing approach, neither may apply. If you want it wider or moved, we explain what is involved at the estimate.

The first year

New asphalt is softer in its first summer. Do not crank the steering wheel while sitting still, set trailer jacks and kickstands on a scrap of plywood, and keep loaded trucks away from the edges. HomeGuide recommends waiting 3 to 6 months before the first seal coat.