Common Questions, Honestly Answered.
Cost, timing, the difference between asphalt and chip seal, what happens if something goes wrong, the questions we hear the most, with straight answers.
How much does asphalt paving cost in Western Colorado?
Pricing depends on square footage, base condition, drainage requirements, and access to the site. A small residential driveway is a different price-per-square-foot than a 1/4-mile ranch road or a commercial parking lot. The honest answer: we don't price asphalt off a calculator. We come walk the property and give you a written quote that reflects the actual scope of work.
How long does asphalt paving take?
Most residential driveways run a single day, sometimes finishing inside 8 hours from arrival to clean-up. Larger commercial lots can take 2-3 days. Road construction varies based on length and base prep needs. We give you a project timeline as part of the written estimate, and we keep you posted if anything changes.
How long until I can drive on new asphalt?
For passenger vehicles, typically 24-48 hours after the final lift is laid, depending on temperature and humidity. We give you specific cure-time guidance for your job before we leave the site. For heavy trucks and trailers, a longer cure time is recommended.
What's the difference between asphalt and chip seal?
Asphalt is hot-mix laid on a compacted base, the smooth black surface most people picture for a driveway or parking lot. Chip seal is a heavy asphalt emulsion sprayed on the surface with clean angular aggregate spread immediately on top, then rolled tight. Chip seal is significantly cheaper per square foot and handles ranch traffic, plows, and freeze-thaw very well, but it has a rougher texture than smooth asphalt.
Should I overlay or replace my old asphalt?
It depends entirely on the base condition. If the base is still solid and the surface is just tired or lightly cracked, an overlay buys you another 8-12 years for a fraction of full-replacement cost. If the base is failing, alligator cracking, sinking spots, an overlay just hides the problem for a season or two. We give you the honest answer after walking the surface.
Do you do work in Aspen, Vail, and the mountain towns?
Yes. The service area covers all of Western Colorado including Aspen, Snowmass, Basalt, Vail, Avon, Eagle, Edwards, Leadville, and the surrounding mountain towns. Mountain conditions are tougher (bigger temperature swings, more plow contact, more freeze-thaw) and the paving methodology is built for it.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. D&M Paving Co is fully licensed and insured for residential and commercial paving work in Colorado. Documentation available on request before the project starts.
How quickly can you get out for an estimate?
Most weeks we're scheduling free walk-the-property estimates within a few business days. For urgent commercial or HOA work, call directly and we'll prioritize the visit. Most quotes go back the same day after we walk the site.
What happens if something is wrong after the job is done?
You call us, and we come back. We stand behind the work. The owners are on every job, there's no escalation chain, no out-of-state corporate office, no excuse-making. If something's not right, we make it right.
Do you do small jobs, or is there a minimum size?
We do small residential driveways and large commercial road projects. We don't have a hard minimum, but for very small jobs (a single short driveway in a remote area, for example), the travel time and equipment mobilization can affect pricing. Worth a phone call to talk through.