Asphalt Overlays in Baytown, TX

Asphalt overlays put a new layer of hot-mix asphalt over an existing surface. When the old pavement is faded, rough and cracked but still firmly supported, an overlay gives you a new surface without the cost of tearing out and rebuilding the base. HomeGuide notes an overlay typically saves 20 to 30 percent compared with full replacement. The catch is that an overlay copies whatever is under it, so it only works when the base is sound.

Good candidates

• Surface oxidized, gray and raveling
• Cracks that are mostly narrow and not spreading into alligator patterns
• Few or no soft spots
• Drainage that already works, or that a thin layer can correct

Poor candidates

• Widespread alligator cracking
• Ruts and soft spots that move under a tire
• Low areas where water stands

In those cases, the cracks reflect up through the new layer within a year or two. Failed sections need to be cut out and rebuilt first, and if those are most of the surface, replacement is the honest answer.

Height and transitions

Every overlay raises the surface. At a garage slab, a sidewalk, a curb or a storm inlet, that extra height can trap water or create a lip. We mill the edges and transitions so the new surface meets them flush and water still flows where it should. On flat Gulf Coast lots, keeping the drainage path right matters more than anything else in an overlay.

The steps

We repair failed spots with full-depth patches, fill cracks, mill transitions, apply a tack coat so the layers bond, then pave and roll the new layer. The finished overlay is sealed and striped on the same schedule as new asphalt.

Overlays on parking lots

For commercial lots, an overlay is often the most cost-effective way to renew the whole surface at once. We patch failed areas, mill around inlets, curbs and entrances so drainage and transitions still work, then pave the lot in phases. After the overlay cures, the lot is striped to the current layout, including accessible spaces that meet the 2010 ADA Standards.

Overlay or replace: a quick guide

If most of the surface is firm, an overlay makes sense. If more than a third of the area has failed base, replacement usually costs less over the life of the pavement. We test before recommending either, and we explain the reasoning in writing so you can compare bids on the same terms.