Overview: Driveway Paving Contractors
A paved driveway is mostly the part you can't see. The old surface comes up, the ground gets shaped so meltwater leaves the lot, and crushed gravel goes down in compacted layers. Hot asphalt is rolled on top last. Many of the same companies patch holes, seal cracks, lay interlocking pavers and rebuild the apron where the drive meets the road.
Frost decides whether the work lasts. Water held in the base freezes, expands and lifts the surface, and the damage shows up at the spring thaw. So ask how deep the gravel goes and where the water drains. The edges need packed shoulders, because a plough blade will find any lip.
The old paving scam travels well. Alberta's consumer investigators warn about crews who knock with asphalt left over from a job nearby, pave at a discount and are gone by the time it crumbles. Real paving gets measured, priced and written down, and it rarely starts the same afternoon.
Our listings show what each paver states on its own website, from asphalt and interlock to crack sealing. Open your province, then your city, to find paving companies that work on home driveways.
Frequently asked questions
What decides how long a driveway lasts?
The gravel base and the drainage, more than the asphalt thickness. Where frost goes deep, water held in the base freezes and heaves the surface, then the thaw leaves it soft. A thick layer over wet, loosely packed gravel still breaks up. Ask how deep the base goes, how it gets compacted and where the meltwater ends up.
Can I cancel a paving deal I signed at my door?
In Ontario, yes. A contract signed at home comes with a ten-day cooling-off period, counted from when you receive your written copy, and you can cancel for any reason. In Alberta, a prepaid contract can be cancelled within ten days of getting your copy. Send the cancellation in writing and keep proof. A crew pushing to start today is a reason to wait.
Does a paving contractor need a licence?
It depends on the province. In Quebec, paving and interlock work falls under an RBQ contractor licence, and you can check the number in the RBQ's online registry. Alberta requires a prepaid contracting licence from any company that sells away from its business and takes money before the work is done. Where no licence applies, references and a detailed written contract carry the weight.
Why are the edges of my driveway crumbling?
Nothing is holding them up. An asphalt edge with no packed shoulder snaps off under tires, and the plough catches the raised lip every winter. Backfill the sides with compacted gravel or soil, flush with the surface, and top them up as they settle. Put reflective stakes along the edges before the first snowfall, so the plough operator can see where your drive ends.
How should potholes and cracks be repaired?
Seal cracks in the fall, before meltwater gets in and freezes. Each freeze pries a crack wider, and by spring it's a hole. A lasting pothole repair means cutting the edges square, clearing out the loose stuff and compacting hot asphalt in. Cold patch is a winter stopgap. A hole that comes back every spring in the same spot says the base underneath stays wet.
Do I need permission for a new driveway?
For a new or wider entrance onto a public road, usually yes. The municipality controls the curb cut and often the culvert. In Ontario, an entrance onto a provincial highway needs a permit from the Ministry of Transportation instead. Toronto also regulates front yard parking, so widening a drive to fit another car can need the city's approval. Resurfacing the drive you already have usually needs nothing.
