How thick should my asphalt and base be?
A home driveway usually needs 2 to 3 inches of asphalt over 6 to 8 inches of packed gravel. A business lot needs 4 inches or more in two layers over a deeper base. The base carries the weight, so a thin or loose base fails first.
Most failures start underneath. A thin or poorly compacted base lets the surface flex, crack and pothole, so the section below the asphalt matters just as much as the asphalt itself.
“A cheap quote that cuts the base is the most expensive choice, because you repave years early.”
North Bay Grading and PavingSonoma County
The right section by use
Thickness depends on what drives on it. A passenger driveway runs 2 to 3 inches of asphalt over 6 to 8 inches of base. A business lot runs 4 inches or more in two layers over 8 inches or more of base. Trucks and farm equipment need more. We size the section to the traffic, not to a one-size guess.
Why the base matters most
The base carries the load, so a thin or poorly packed base fails first no matter how good the asphalt looks on day one. We pack the base to 95 percent and test it. A low bid that skimps on base depth is the most expensive choice you can make, because you repave years early.
- Driveway: 2 to 3 inches
- Lot: 4 inches or more
- The base carries the load
In short, thickness should be engineered to your load and soil. We measure, assess the sub-grade and recommend a section built to last.
