New Asphalt and Bitumen Driveways Gold Coast

What we lay

New asphalt driveways for homes and rural properties. Shared and body corporate driveways. Access roads, private roads and estate roads. Car parks for commercial and industrial sites. Hardstands, laydown areas, yards and turning areas. Extensions to existing asphalt. And replacement of old driveways that are past repair.

Whether you call it an asphalt driveway or a bitumen driveway, the goal is the same: a smooth, sealed surface that drains properly and lasts.

It starts with the base

Asphalt is only as good as what is under it. The black surface is the wearing layer. The base underneath carries the load. Get the base wrong and even the best asphalt will crack, sink and pothole early. Get it right and an asphalt driveway can last for decades.

We start by preparing the subgrade, which is the natural ground. Soft spots are dug out. Then road base is laid in layers and compacted to the right depth for the traffic it will carry. A home driveway needs less than a truck route or a busy car park. Falls are set so water runs off the surface and away from buildings, not into the base.

Laying the asphalt

With the base finished and checked, a prime or tack coat is applied, then hot mix asphalt is laid to the planned thickness. It is spread and levelled while it is hot, then compacted with a roller until it is dense and smooth. Compaction is what turns loose hot mix into a strong, waterproof surface, so it has to happen while the asphalt is still at working temperature.

Edges are finished neatly against gardens, kerbs, paths and garage slabs so there are no lips or raw edges to break away later.

Asphalt or sprayed bitumen seal?

In Queensland, many people say bitumen when they mean asphalt. There are actually two different surfaces. A sprayed bitumen seal is hot bitumen sprayed onto the base with a layer of stone chips rolled into it. It is common on rural roads and long country driveways because it is cost effective over big areas. Asphalt is bitumen premixed with crushed rock and sand at a plant, then laid hot and rolled.

Asphalt gives a smoother, quieter and harder wearing finish, and it handles turning tyres and heavy vehicles better. For most home driveways, car parks and commercial areas on the Gold Coast, asphalt is the better choice. We will tell you which suits your job.

Why choose asphalt

Asphalt is quick to lay and can usually be driven on the same day once it has cooled. It handles heat and heavy rain well, it is easy to repair if it is ever damaged, and across a large area it usually costs less than concrete. It is also one of the most recycled construction materials around. Old asphalt can be crushed and reused in new asphalt, so very little goes to waste.

Replacing an old driveway

If your driveway is broken across most of its length, sinking in several places or has been patched so many times there is nothing sound left, a new driveway is often the better long term value. We remove the old surface, fix or rebuild the base, sort out the drainage, and lay new asphalt.

If only parts of it have failed, we will tell you, and quote repairs or driveway resurfacing instead. There is no point paying for a whole new driveway if you do not need one.

Car parks, access roads and hardstands

Commercial and industrial asphalt has to carry heavier loads, so the base and asphalt are designed thicker and stronger. We build new car parks, extend existing ones, lay access roads into properties and estates, and build hardstands for trucks, machinery and storage. Line marking can be added once the asphalt is down by arrangement.

Looking after new asphalt

New asphalt is darker and slightly softer for the first few weeks while it cures. Avoid sharp turns on the spot with a stationary car, and keep heavy point loads like jockey wheels and motorbike stands off it on very hot days. Keep gutters and drains clear so water runs off, and get any cracks sealed early as the surface ages.

Getting a quote

Tell us where the job is, roughly how big the area is and what it will be used for, and send a few photos. We will come out and measure up if needed, then give you a fixed written quote.