Paving & Driveways in Stratford

Yes. 'We have leftover asphalt from a job down the road' is a classic scam — the material is often laid thin over no base and fails within months, and the crew is untraceable. Reputable paving firms price from a site visit and written spec, not from surplus material on a truck.

On a proper base: asphalt 15-25 years, concrete 25-40, block paving 25+ (with occasional re-sanding and weed control), gravel indefinitely with topping up. Sealing asphalt and concrete every few years extends life in harsh climates.

Yes — water must drain to a lawful outfall or soak into the ground. Many jurisdictions now require permeable paving or on-site soakaways when front gardens are paved, precisely to stop rain sheeting onto the street. A good contractor designs falls and drainage before laying anything.

Make each contractor state the excavation depth, sub-base material and compacted depth, surface thickness, edge restraints and drainage plan. In Stratford, also ask what happens to excavated spoil — cartage and disposal is a real cost that cheap quotes quietly exclude.

Often yes — asphalt can be overlaid if the base is sound, concrete can sometimes be resurfaced or used as a base for pavers, and sunken block paving can be lifted and relaid on fresh bedding. If the base has failed (widespread cracking, deep ruts), resurfacing only buys a year or two.

A skimped sub-base. The surface layer gets the attention, but 100-200mm of properly compacted hardcore beneath it is what stops sinking, cracking and rutting. Quotes that are far below the rest usually save money underground where you cannot see it.

A typical residential driveway takes 2-5 days: excavation and sub-base first, then the surface. Asphalt is drivable within days; new concrete should cure about a week before taking a car's weight; pavers can be used almost immediately once compacted and sanded.

Roughly May to October — asphalt plants close in winter and cold-weather pours fail. Book in early spring; by late summer good crews are fully committed, and late-November 'deals' are usually jobs that should wait until spring.