Serving Bridgewater & Somerset County
New blacktop driveways, private roads, parking lots, overlays and repairs in Bridgewater, NJ, built on a compacted stone base.
Three decades paving NJ properties
Fully licensed NJ contractor
Owner-led, hands-on projects
Written, no-obligation quotes
Bridgewater, NJ
Quick answer
Old Irish Paving & Masonry provides asphalt paving in Bridgewater, NJ, including new and replacement blacktop driveways, private roads, parking lots, overlays, patching and sealcoating. Typical residential builds include excavation, a 4–6 inch compacted stone base and 2–3 inches of compacted hot-mix asphalt, adjusted to your soil and traffic.
Bridgewater’s mix of long hillside drives and busy commercial corridors along Routes 22 and 202 means we pave everything from homeowner blacktop to office and retail lots, using thicker asphalt sections where delivery trucks turn.
Land near the Raritan River is flat and can stay wet, while the northern neighborhoods climb toward the Watchung ridge with steeper driveways and shale-and-clay soils that need careful base work. Asphalt is flexible and handles winter plowing and salt well, but only when the base underneath is solid and the surface drains.
Key facts
Problems we solve
These are the issues we’re called about most in Bridgewater and nearby Somerset County: some are specific to local soils, terrain and housing, others are common across New Jersey.
What you seeOn sloped lots toward the Watchung ridge, storm water runs the length of the driveway and pools at the garage door.
Why it happensSteep grades with no interception point. Shale-and-clay soils don’t absorb runoff quickly.
How we fix itA trench drain across the driveway at the garage, piped to a swale or dry well, plus a regraded base so water is carried to the sides.
How to prevent itKeep the trench drain grate clear of leaves each fall.
What you seeThin asphalt or cracked concrete that has been patched for decades, often too narrow for two cars.
Why it happensDriveways from that era were often laid with minimal base, for one car.
How we fix itFull tear-out, new compacted base, and widening to a two-car layout within township limits.
How to prevent itBuild for today’s vehicles and add Belgian block edges to stop lawn creep.
What you seeA widening gap where the concrete stoop meets the house.
Why it happensStoops poured without frost footings settle independently of the foundation.
How we fix itDemolish and rebuild on a proper footing, often finished in brick with bluestone treads.
How to prevent itSeal the joint at the house and keep downspouts away from the stoop.
What you seeHoles that you or a previous contractor filled with cold patch, only for them to reopen after the next freeze.
Why it happensCold patch from a bag doesn’t bond or compact properly, and the soft base underneath is still holding water. Each freeze-thaw cycle pops the patch out.
How we fix itA permanent repair is cut square, excavated to firm material, rebuilt with compacted stone, tack-coated and filled with hot-mix asphalt rolled flush.
How to prevent itFix potholes in the warm season with hot mix, and make sure water drains off the surface instead of sitting in low spots.
What you seeSlabs have cracked, lifted at the joints, or the surface is flaking off in patches.
Why it happensFreeze-thaw, road salt, tree roots, a weak base or concrete poured without air entrainment and proper control joints.
How we fix itIsolated slabs can be removed and repoured. If the whole driveway is scaling or heaving, replacing it with new concrete, asphalt or pavers on a properly built base is the lasting fix.
How to prevent itAvoid rock salt and ammonium-based de-icers, and seal concrete every few years.
What you seeWater ponds near the garage door, along the edges or in tire ruts long after the rain stops.
Why it happensThe driveway was graded flat or sloped the wrong way, or the base has settled in spots. Standing water seeps into cracks and accelerates every other kind of damage.
How we fix itSmall birdbaths can sometimes be corrected with an infrared or hot-mix leveling patch. Where the overall pitch is wrong, the surface has to come out so the base can be regraded, sometimes with a trench drain or dry well added.
How to prevent itPitch matters most at installation. Ask any contractor exactly where water will go before they pave.
| Layer | What we do | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Subgrade | Excavate soft soil, grade for drainage | Prevents sinking and puddles |
| Fabric | Geotextile over soft clay (when needed) | Keeps stone from pushing into the soil |
| Stone base | 4–6″+ quarry-processed stone, compacted | Carries the load and resists frost |
| Asphalt | 2–3″+ hot mix, rolled hot | Dense, smooth, watertight surface |
Our process
Tom or a family member walks the property, measures, checks drainage and talks through materials and budget.
You get a clear, itemised quote covering excavation, base depth, materials, finish and clean-up. No pressure.
Our own crew excavates, builds the compacted base and installs the surface using quality materials.
We clean up, walk the finished job with you, explain aftercare and stand behind the work.
Offices, retail centers and medical buildings along Routes 22, 202 and 206 rely on us for lot resurfacing, patching, sealcoating and striping scheduled around business hours. See commercial paving for details.
Plan with confidence
Reviews
★★★★★
I couldn't be happier with the work Old Irish Paving did on my driveway! The team was professional, efficient, and the quality of their work is outstanding. They made the whole process stress-free from start to finish.
— Angel G., Google review
★★★★★
Old Irish put in a patio for us and we are extremely happy with the patio and their service. They were very responsive and got the job done very quickly. The patio and concrete pad underneath our hot tub look amazing!
— Alyssa M., Google review
★★★★★
My sister hired Old Irish for cellar stairs and basement wall work. They arrived early, never left until 5 or after, and always cleaned up. They also told her about leakage inside her foundation and did a great job fixing it.
— Connie B., Google review
FAQ
Typically 15–25 years with good base work, drainage, sealcoating every 2–3 years and prompt crack filling.
Only if the base is sound and the surface has minor damage. Otherwise we remove it and rebuild. See paving over old asphalt.
Yes. We work throughout Bridgewater Township, including Finderne, Bradley Gardens, Green Knoll and Martinsville, as well as neighboring Somerville, Raritan and Branchburg.
Usually after 2–3 days, longer in hot weather. Avoid sharp turns while stationary for the first few weeks.
Most recurring cracks come from water getting into the base, not from the asphalt itself. Seal cracks while they’re small, fix drainage, and if alligator cracking has spread, rebuild the base in that area.
No. Bagged cold patch is a temporary fix. A permanent repair is saw-cut, excavated, rebuilt with compacted stone and filled with hot-mix asphalt.
Free, no-obligation quote
Tell us about your driveway, patio, steps or masonry project. Tom or a member of the family will call you back promptly to book a free on-site visit and a written quote.
Prefer to talk? (908) 992-2345
