A homeowner in Brentwood, TN, was dealing with potholes in an existing asphalt driveway. Nash Paving completed the paving work at the property, where the driveway runs uphill toward a garage. The customer had reported the holes, and our work extended across the entire driveway rather than just the damaged spots.
Pre-Filling the Potholes Before Paving
We started by pre-filling the potholes. They were the trouble spots the customer had mentioned, and we addressed them before the new asphalt went down. This was a separate repair step, not something we left for the surface layer to take care of.
When an asphalt driveway has potholes, the damaged spots and the overall surface aren’t quite the same problem. A pothole leaves an opening or depression at a particular location. Filling those areas ahead of an overlay addresses the holes directly instead of counting on the new surface layer alone to fill them.
Not all potholes call for exactly the same kind of repair. The extent of the damage and the condition of the pavement underneath can change what’s needed. A localized fill is different from a full-depth repair, where a damaged section is removed and rebuilt.
The appropriate approach depends on what’s happening beneath the surface, not simply how the pothole looks from above.
Installing a 2½-Inch Asphalt Layer Across the Driveway
Once the potholes were filled, our crew installed a 2½-inch asphalt layer across the entire driveway. In paving, we call that an overlay. We’re putting new asphalt on top of existing pavement rather than tearing out the driveway and building it again from the ground up.
The measurement matters because it describes what we installed on this particular job. It doesn’t mean every asphalt driveway should receive a 2½-inch layer. Asphalt thickness and repair requirements can vary depending on the existing pavement and the work being done.
An overlay also shouldn’t be confused with sealcoating. Sealcoating involves applying a thin protective treatment over existing asphalt, while resurfacing adds new asphalt material. Here, we were doing actual paving work, with the new layer extending across the complete driveway.
Resurfacing can renew the surface of an older driveway, but it isn’t a substitute for repairing serious problems with the supporting base. A driveway with deeper structural damage may need more extensive work before another asphalt layer is considered.
The Finished Driveway in Brentwood
The completed driveway has a dark, relatively uniform asphalt surface with defined edges alongside the lawn. The new pavement continues uphill toward the garage, covering the full stretch of the driveway.
Have potholes in your driveway or wondering whether resurfacing might be appropriate?
Contact us about asphalt driveway repairs or resurfacing in Brentwood and surrounding Middle Tennessee. We can talk about what your driveway needs and the paving options available.
