Asphalt Driveway Paving in Biloxi, MS

Asphalt driveway paving on the Gulf Coast is a base-and-drainage job first and a paving job second. Biloxi gets about 67 inches of rain a year and most lots are close to flat, so water does not run off on its own. If a driveway sits on a thin base over damp ground, the base softens, the asphalt flexes under every car, and the cracking starts. A new driveway has to be built so the stone under it stays firm and the rain leaves the surface quickly.

When it is time for a new driveway

• Web-pattern or alligator cracking across large areas
• Sunken wheel paths or low spots that hold water for a day after rain
• Potholes that come back after patching
• Edges crumbling into the yard or the ditch
• A surface that is now more patch than original asphalt

Scattered problems can be repaired. When they cover much of the driveway, replacing it usually costs less in the long run than repairing the same areas each year.

Base work on coastal ground

After the old surface comes out, we look at what is underneath. Wet, soft or organic soil gets dug out and replaced with crushed stone. The base is then built up in layers and compacted to the depth in your quote. HomeGuide lists a typical residential section as 2 to 3 inches of compacted asphalt over 6 to 8 inches of compacted gravel, and 3 to 4 inches over 8 to 10 inches for heavier vehicles. Driveways that carry a boat trailer, a work truck or a camper should get the heavier section, and we will say so in writing.

Setting the grade on a flat lot

With little natural slope to work with, the finished shape of the driveway matters. We set a crown or cross slope so rain sheets off the sides, keep the surface below the garage slab so water does not run toward the door, and make sure the low end has somewhere to go. Edges are compacted and backed with soil so they are supported. Where the driveway crosses a roadside ditch, the pipe under it needs to be sized and set to carry the water. On a state route, MDOT requires that pipe to meet its culvert criteria, and the driveway connection itself needs an MDOT permit.

Gravel, shell and dirt conversions

Many coastal homes started with gravel or shell driveways. Some of that existing material can sometimes stay as part of the new base, which can save money. We check how deep it is, how much has been pressed into the soil and whether the grade works, then add and compact stone where needed and pave over it.

Permits and locates

If the work cuts into a public street, the City of Biloxi requires an Engineering excavation permit, and filling or regrading property falls under the city's flood rules. Before any machine digs, we request locates through MS811, which needs at least two working days of notice.

The first few weeks

New asphalt stays soft, especially in Gulf Coast summer heat. HomeGuide suggests waiting 24 to 48 hours before driving on it in normal weather and 3 to 5 days in hot weather, and keeping heavy vehicles off for at least a week. Avoid turning the steering wheel while parked, and put a board under kickstands and trailer jacks.