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Give your worn driveway new life with asphalt resurfacing in Shreveport, LA. We install asphalt overlays over sound bases to correct minor cracking and rutting, delivering a smooth, attractive surface without the cost of full replacement.
Legacy Asphalt Shreveport provides professional asphalt resurfacing throughout Shreveport, LA, Louisiana and the surrounding area. Our licensed, insured crew delivers safe, clean, on-time work with a free estimate before anything begins. Call (318) 616-9109 or request your free quote.
Asphalt resurfacing in Shreveport that actually fixes the root problems
When asphalt in Shreveport starts to ravel, crack, or hold standing water, you do not always need a full tear out. Asphalt resurfacing and overlays let Legacy Asphalt Shreveport restore strength and smoothness by installing a new asphalt layer on top of your existing base.
The key is honest evaluation. We start by checking how deep the cracks are, how solid the base feels under load, and where water is traveling. If your pavement has a sound foundation but a worn or brittle surface, a resurfacing overlay can give you 8 to 15 more years of life at a lower cost than full replacement.
In our climate, heat, sun, and sudden downpours are brutal on pavement. We look for oxidized gray surfaces, shallow alligator cracking, ruts from heavy trucks, and edges that are crumbling from water intrusion. When those issues are limited to the top couple of inches, resurfacing is usually the smart move. If we find deep structural failures, we will explain why certain areas must be cut out instead of just covered.
How Legacy Asphalt Shreveport performs a professional overlay
A quality asphalt overlay in Shreveport is more than just putting blacktop on top and rolling it. Legacy Asphalt Shreveport follows a specific process to get the new layer bonded and draining correctly.
1. Surface inspection and mapping: We walk the entire site with you, mark soft spots, grade problems, and drainage patterns. We note where vehicles turn the tightest and where heavy loads sit the longest, since those areas may need thicker lifts or localized repairs.
2. Milling and edge tie ins: We usually mill (grind) along transitions like garage aprons, street tie ins, and around drains. This creates a clean, controlled edge and room for the new asphalt so elevations meet flush instead of creating trip edges or water dams.
3. Full depth patching where needed: Any areas that are pumping water, severely rutted, or show deep alligator cracking get cut out. We remove the failed base, compact new stone, and install new base asphalt in those patches. Resurfacing over structural failure is how overlays fail early, so we do not skip this step.
4. Cleaning and tack coat: We power broom, blow, and in some cases pressure wash the surface to remove dust, dirt, and loose aggregate. Then we apply a tack coat, a thin layer of asphalt emulsion, which acts like glue between the old surface and the new mat so they act as one structure.
5. New asphalt placement: We bring in hot mix asphalt from local Shreveport area plants, typically a dense graded mix suitable for our traffic and climate. It is laid with a paver for driveways, parking lots, and roads so the mat is even and consistent, then compacted with steel drum and pneumatic rollers to lock the aggregate together.
6. Finishing details: We check joints, match existing concrete, and verify slopes to drains or edges so water moves off the pavement. After cooling, we restripe parking lots and add wheel stops or signage as needed.
Material choices and thickness options for overlays
Not every asphalt resurfacing job uses the same mix or thickness. Legacy Asphalt Shreveport explains your options so you understand what you are paying for and how it will perform.
Mix types: For most overlays in Shreveport, we use a dense graded hot mix that balances smoothness, strength, and cost. In high traffic commercial lots or industrial sites with trucks, we may recommend a mix with a slightly larger aggregate and stiffer binder to resist rutting. In residential areas where noise and appearance matter, we keep the surface a bit finer for a smoother, cleaner look.
Thickness: Standard overlay thickness is often 1.5 to 2 inches after compaction. For light duty driveways that are structurally sound, 1.5 inches can be sufficient. For shopping centers, churches with bus traffic, and areas where delivery trucks turn sharply, we may suggest 2 to 2.5 inches. At transitions, thickness is carefully feathered so the surface flows evenly without abrupt changes.
Reinforcement options: In sections with moderate cracking that does not justify full replacement, we can sometimes use leveling courses or paving fabrics between layers to help control reflective cracking. We will let you know when these add ons make sense in Shreveport’s heat and when they are not worth the extra cost.
What affects the cost of asphalt resurfacing in Shreveport
Customers often ask why two lots of similar size have different resurfacing prices. The square footage is only one part of the equation. Legacy Asphalt Shreveport builds pricing around conditions on the ground.
Existing pavement condition: Areas that require extensive full depth patching or deep milling cost more than lots that are mostly sound on the base and subbase. If we can resurface with only minor localized repairs, we can keep your cost down. If the base is unstable, more of the budget shifts to rebuilding those sections so the overlay is worth doing.
Access and layout: Wide open lots or straight driveways are more efficient to pave than chopped up areas with islands, tight gates, or multiple small sections. More edges and obstacles mean more handwork and time. We factor that in so your estimate reflects the real labor involved.
Thickness and mix type: Thicker overlays use more asphalt, which is priced by the ton. Heavier traffic areas or mixes designed to resist rutting typically cost more. We always discuss where extra thickness or upgraded mix is truly needed and where a standard section is perfectly adequate.
Drainage corrections: If we need to reshape areas to eliminate standing water, install or adjust catch basins, or mill down high spots to restore proper flow, there is added grading and milling time. Addressing drainage at the resurfacing stage is usually cheaper than living with puddles that shorten pavement life.
Timing and phasing: For active businesses, we can stage the work in phases or during off hours to keep you operating. Phasing can slightly increase cost, but it often saves you more in business disruption than it adds in paving expense.
Dealing with Shreveport weather, drainage, and scheduling
Shreveport’s climate plays a big role in how and when asphalt resurfacing should be done. Legacy Asphalt Shreveport schedules work and chooses methods with our local weather patterns in mind.
Heat and sun: Our hot summers accelerate oxidation, which is why pavements here turn brittle and gray if not maintained. We prefer to pave in temperatures that allow proper compaction without the mix cooling too fast or getting scuffed by turning tires. That usually means spring and fall are ideal, with careful monitoring in peak summer.
Rain and humidity: Sudden thunderstorms are a fact of life in northwest Louisiana. We do not apply overlays on wet surfaces or with rain imminent, because moisture trapped under the mat interferes with bonding and can cause stripping. We watch short term forecasts closely and would rather reschedule than leave you with a compromised surface.
Drainage: Given the intensity of local downpours, resurfacing is the right time to fix ponding. An overlay can raise grades just enough to push water where it should go, or we may lightly mill certain spots first to create positive slope toward drains. Standing water is one of the main reasons otherwise good overlays fail early.
Traffic and cure time: Fresh overlays can usually be opened to light car traffic within 24 hours. For heavy trucks or turning traffic, we may recommend a longer cure period so the surface has time to gain strength, especially in very hot weather when asphalt is more susceptible to scuffing.
Common resurfacing problems and how we prevent them
A lot of overlay issues come from taking shortcuts. Legacy Asphalt Shreveport focuses on a few critical details that make the difference between an overlay that lasts a couple of years and one that performs for a decade or more.
Reflective cracking: If cracks run all the way through the existing pavement and into the base, they will often reflect through a new overlay. We mitigate this by cutting out the worst sections, properly compacting new base material, and in some cases using a leveling or intermediate course before the final surface.
Slippage and delamination: When the new asphalt layer is not properly bonded, it can slide or peel away, especially where vehicles brake or turn. We prevent this by thoroughly cleaning the old surface, using the correct tack coat application rate, and ensuring the tack has set properly before placing new asphalt.
Rutting in wheel paths: In high load areas, thin overlays or soft mixes can deform under repeated wheel loads. We specify mixes with proper aggregate structure and binder content for the expected traffic and do not shortcut compaction. When we see existing ruts, we correct those with milling or leveling before placing the final overlay.
Edge failures: Unsupported edges are prone to breaking off under traffic and water infiltration. Where possible, we extend resurfacing to a stable edge or install proper edge support. In driveways, that can mean tying into concrete properly. In parking lots, it can mean compacting the shoulder alongside the edge after paving.
What to expect when you hire Legacy Asphalt Shreveport
For homeowners, property managers, and business owners in Shreveport, asphalt resurfacing is a significant investment, so you should know exactly what the process looks like.
Site visit and proposal: We meet you on site, walk the pavement, discuss how it is used, and talk about any drainage or safety concerns. You receive a written proposal that explains the scope clearly, including thickness, repair areas, and how we will manage traffic during the work.
Scheduling and preparation: Once you approve the work, we coordinate dates that fit your schedule, taking into account any business hours or events. We provide guidance on how to prepare, such as moving vehicles, notifying tenants or customers, and protecting landscaping near the work area.
Execution: Our crew arrives with the equipment and materials needed to complete the job efficiently. We post temporary signs and barricades, keep you updated on progress, and adjust phases if weather requires a change. Cleanliness and organization on site are part of how we work.
Aftercare guidance: When the overlay is complete, we walk the site with you, explain when you can drive and park on different areas, and give recommendations on future maintenance. That may include when to schedule the first sealcoat, how to handle oil leaks, and what signs of distress to watch for over time.
Legacy Asphalt Shreveport focuses on doing resurfacing and overlays correctly, using methods and materials that make sense for Shreveport’s traffic and weather, so you get long term value from your pavement.
