Serving Martinsville & Somerset County
New blacktop driveways, private roads, parking lots, overlays and repairs in Martinsville, 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
Martinsville, NJ
Quick answer
Old Irish Paving & Masonry provides asphalt paving in Martinsville, 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.
For Martinsville’s sloped drives we build a heavier base and compact the asphalt carefully on grades so it holds up to braking and turning.
Steep grades and wooded lots in Martinsville mean runoff, tree roots and shale soils all affect how paving is built. 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 Martinsville and nearby Somerset County: some are specific to local soils, terrain and housing, others are common across New Jersey.
What you seeLong sloped drives with roots lifting asphalt and runoff carving the edges.
Why it happensSteep grades on wooded lots in the Washington Valley area.
How we fix itRoot management, heavier base, careful compaction on the grade, Belgian block edges and drainage at the bottom.
How to prevent itKeep gutters, swales and drains clear of leaves.
What you seeHard-to-use yards with eroding slopes.
Why it happensHilly terrain.
How we fix itRetaining walls and terraced patios with steps, designed with drainage behind every wall.
How to prevent itPlant slopes and direct downspouts away from walls.
What you seeTannin stains on patios and blocked drains every fall.
Why it happensHeavy tree cover.
How we fix itCleaning, sealing pavers for stain resistance, and drain grates that are easy to clear.
How to prevent itBlow off leaves weekly in fall.
What you seeTwo depressions where the car always parks or drives, sometimes holding water.
Why it happensToo thin a base, poor compaction, or heavy vehicles (work trucks, RVs, dumpsters) on a driveway designed for cars.
How we fix itRuts mean the base deformed. Small areas are excavated and rebuilt. Widespread rutting calls for replacement with a thicker base and asphalt section sized for the heavier vehicles.
How to prevent itTell your contractor about any heavy vehicles before paving, and use plywood under dumpster wheels and trailer jacks.
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 seeA patch of interconnected cracks that looks like reptile skin, usually in wheel paths or near the garage.
Why it happensThe base underneath has failed. Water got through surface cracks, softened the stone and soil, and the asphalt is now flexing under every car. It’s a structural failure, not a surface one.
How we fix itWe saw-cut around the failed area, dig out the asphalt and the wet base, install and compact new stone, then patch with hot-mix asphalt. If more than about a quarter of the driveway looks like this, full replacement is the better value.
How to prevent itSeal cracks as soon as they appear, keep downspouts discharging away from the driveway, and sealcoat every 2–3 years.
Local businesses and institutions in the Martinsville area use us for parking areas, repairs and sealcoating. See commercial paving for details.
Plan with confidence
Reviews
★★★★★
Last month they did my backyard stoop, patio and walkway, and added a french drain to a sump pit in the yard. They did an amazing job! I highly recommend them for any paving and masonry work. Tom and crew are a pleasure to deal with.
— Bill P., Google review
★★★★★
Tom, his son, and their crew replaced our front walkway and steps and repaired a foundation wall on our home. They were here on time every morning and cleaned up before they left for the day. The quality of their work is outstanding.
— Kate L., Google review
★★★★★
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
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. On Martinsville’s sloped lots we often install a trench drain in front of the garage, regrade the driveway and redirect water to a swale or dry well.
Usually after 2–3 days, longer in hot weather. Avoid sharp turns while stationary for the first few weeks.
Well-built pavers and properly air-entrained concrete can last 30+ years, and asphalt 15–25 years. The base and drainage matter more than the surface.
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.
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
