Asphalt Driveway Installation in Lake Charles, LA

Asphalt driveway installation in Lake Charles is about the layers you never see. Under a few inches of asphalt sits a compacted stone base, and under that is native soil that, across the coastal prairie, stays wet and soft after rain. A driveway that ruts, cracks in a web pattern or sinks where it crosses the ditch almost always has a base or drainage problem. Installing a new one means fixing both.

When to replace instead of repair

• Web-like cracking across the wheel paths
• Potholes that return after patching
• Soft spots that move under a tire
• A dip over the culvert pipe
• Edges crumbling into the yard or ditch

Isolated problems can be patched. When they are everywhere, replacement usually costs less over the life of the driveway.

Building the base

After tear-out, we test the subgrade. Wet or pumping soil comes out and compacted crushed stone goes in. HomeGuide describes a typical residential build as 2 to 3 inches of compacted asphalt over 6 to 8 inches of compacted gravel, with 3 to 4 inches over 8 to 10 inches for heavier vehicles. We state both numbers in your quote and grade the base so water runs to the ditch, the street or a swale.

The culvert crossing

Most Lake Charles driveways cross an open ditch on a culvert pipe. Inside the city, culvert work needs a $30 non-refundable permit. The location is staked, Public Works Engineering sets the pipe size, grade, length and catch basin location, Engineering is called two days before backfill, and a final inspection closes the permit. Owners can apply only for a driveway permit up to 25 feet, and subsurface drainage permits require a licensed contractor from the city's list. Permitted work must be done within 90 days. A driveway built over a properly set and compacted culvert does not sag.

Curbed streets

Where there is a curb instead of a ditch, removing the curb for a new or wider driveway also needs a city permit, and the city notes that curb removal is the owner's responsibility. We include that in the plan.

Hurricane-season scheduling

We can pave year-round, but rain is the main delay. We will not lay asphalt on a wet base, so during stormy stretches we watch the forecast closely and move dates when needed.

Caring for a new driveway

Keep cars off for a couple of days and heavy loads off for longer, especially in summer. Avoid turning the wheel while stopped. Wait three to six months to seal, then reseal every few years.