Paving & Driveway Contractors in Charleston

Homeowners in Charleston often don’t realize just how important a driveway is when it comes to curb appeal; it’s one of the first things guests see when they arrive and one of the last when they leave. So if your front drive is damaged or you want to switch from, say, a gravel driveway to an asphalt one, hire a Charleston, SC driveway installation and maintenance professional to help you create your dream driveway.

What types of services do driveway contractors and paving contractors provide?

From installation to repair, Charleston, SC driveway contractors are responsible for a variety of planning, installation, construction and driveway maintenance services.

Driveway installation. Before work begins on a new or replacement driveway, your professional should create plans based on your needs and material choices, as well as your property grade, soil and other South Carolina landscape factors. When it comes to the actual driveway construction, driveway contractors are responsible for preparing the site, obtaining the necessary materials, making sure a strong foundation is laid, operating equipment and heavy machinery, and cleaning up the site afterwards.

Driveway paving. Your paving contractor will first remove any current driveway surface and make sure the land is even, properly graded and that the base soil or surface is compacted. Crushed rock is then poured onto the base material and packed in tightly. Asphalt is then applied and compacted with a heavy roller machine, which makes it smooth and flat. Lastly, the edges of the driveway should be treated and the asphalt should be at a 45-degree angle at the edges.

Driveway sealing. Sealcoating is a process aimed at protecting your asphalt or concrete driveway from the elements. Your driveway professional will first prepare the pavement, which includes eliminating stains, filling cracks, patching potholes and cleaning the surface, and then apply the sealer, which will need to dry for at least 12 hours.

Driveway resurfacing. This process, also known as an “overlay,” consists of replacing the top layer of the driveway. A more cost-friendly option than a complete driveway replacement, and a more effective long-term solution compared to patching, resurfacing involves installing a new layer of material (usually asphalt) over the existing pavement, which leaves the driveway looking brand new and the damage covered.

Driveway materials. While most driveway contractors in Charleston, SC primarily work with asphalt, they are also experts on the wide range of available driveway materials. If you are looking for something different than a standard asphalt driveway, your pro can help you select driveway pavers or customize a brick driveway design.

A driveway installation and maintenance professional may work closely with a Charleston, SC builder, landscape professional or various manufacturers and suppliers.
Here are some related professionals and vendors to complement the work of driveways & paving: Stone, Pavers & Concrete, General Contractors, Landscape Contractors, Siding & Exteriors.

Questions to ask a prospective driveway installation and maintenance professional:

• How long have you been in the business?
  
• Do you specialize in a specific type of paving?
  
• How many projects like mine have you completed?
  
• May I see examples of previous projects?
  
• Who will be working on the project? Are the workers employees or subcontractors?
  
• How do you charge, and what does that include?
  
• Can you give me a written estimate?
  
• Do you offer a warranty?
  
• When can this job get done?
  
• How long will it be until I can use my driveway after the project?
  
• What happens when the cost exceeds the budget? What about changes to materials or labor pricing?
  
• What will I need to provide?
  
• Are there any important considerations or concerns you foresee with this project?
  

Find a Charleston, SC driveway contractor or paving contractor on Houzz. Narrow your search in the Professionals section of the website to Charleston, SC driveway installation and maintenance. You may also look through Charleston, SC photos to find examples of driveways that you like, then contact the professional or contractor who worked on them.

The cost to build a driveway can vary based on factors like size and location. For specific cost estimates check out our Cost Guides about concrete driveway cost, gravel driveway cost or cost to pave an asphalt driveway.