New Jersey paving & masonry contractor
One family-owned crew for every kind of driveway: asphalt, interlocking pavers, concrete and Belgian block. New installs, replacements, widening and repairs.
Three decades paving NJ properties
Fully licensed NJ contractor
Owner-led, hands-on projects
Written, no-obligation quotes
Overview
Quick answer
Old Irish Paving & Masonry installs, replaces, widens and repairs asphalt, paver, concrete and Belgian block driveways throughout New Jersey. We help you choose the material that fits your budget, style and maintenance preferences, then build it on a properly compacted base with drainage designed in.
Choosing a driveway is a balance of budget, appearance, maintenance and how the driveway is used: daily commuter cars, a work truck, kids on bikes, a long rural lane or a tight suburban lot. Because we work in all the major materials, our recommendation isn’t driven by what one crew happens to install.
Key facts
Problems we solve
Most calls we get start with a problem, not a project. Here are the issues New Jersey homeowners and property managers bring to us most often, what causes them, and how we fix them for good.
What you seeWater pools at the garage door or seeps under it after storms.
Why it happensThe driveway slopes toward the house, has settled near the slab, or there’s simply nowhere for water from a sloped driveway to go.
How we fix itWe regrade the base so water runs away from the house, or install a trench drain across the driveway in front of the garage, piped to daylight or a dry well.
How to prevent itKeep the joint between the driveway and garage slab sealed, and keep downspouts discharging away from the driveway.
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 seeGrass and weeds sprouting between pavers, sand piles from ants, and joints washing out.
Why it happensPlain sand in the joints, joints that were never fully filled, or polymeric sand that has worn away.
How we fix itWe clean out the joints, let them dry, sweep in fresh polymeric sand, compact and mist it so it hardens and locks the pavers.
How to prevent itKeep joints topped up, sweep debris off, and consider sealing every few years.
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.
What you seeGaps opening up between pavers, borders drifting into the lawn, cut pieces loosening.
Why it happensMissing or failed edge restraint. Without it, traffic pushes the paver field outward.
How we fix itWe reset the border on a compacted base and install a proper concrete or spiked edge restraint, then re-tighten and re-sand the field.
How to prevent itEdge restraint is non-negotiable on every paver job. Ask how it will be installed.
| Asphalt | Pavers | Concrete | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Value, long driveways, snow & salt | High-end curb appeal, easy repair | Clean modern look, flat sites |
| Install time | 1–2 days | 3–7 days | 3–5 days + cure time |
| Maintenance | Sealcoat every 2–3 years | Re-sand joints occasionally | Seal periodically |
| Repairs | Patch | Lift & reset units | Section replacement |
Explore each option: blacktop driveways, interlocking paver driveways and concrete driveways.
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.
We regularly build driveways in Bridgewater, Flemington, Clinton, Chester, Flanders, Whitehouse Station, Martinsville, Middlesex, Branchburg, Hazlet, Keansburg and Middletown. See all areas we cover.
Plan with confidence
| Season | What to do |
|---|---|
| Spring | Check for heaving, new cracks and edge damage from plowing. Book projects early for the best start dates. |
| Summer | Ideal for installs, repairs and sealcoating. |
| Fall | Great paving weather. Finish repairs before freeze-up. |
| Winter | Plow carefully, use gentle de-icers, and plan next year's project. |
Reviews
★★★★★
I met with the owner Thomas, who gave me ideas and choices for the look I was trying to envision. The crew tore up my old cracked concrete patio and sidewalk and installed gorgeous new pavers. They did the work promptly and professionally and cleaned up well after the jobsite.
— Dawn G., Google review
★★★★★
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
FAQ
Asphalt and interlocking pavers both handle freeze-thaw and plowing well. Asphalt is more affordable, while pavers cost more but can be repaired invisibly. Concrete works too but needs air-entrained mix and sealing to resist salt damage.
An asphalt driveway usually takes 1–2 days. Pavers take about 3–7 days depending on size and pattern. Concrete takes 3–5 days plus about a week of curing before you drive on it.
Yes. Popular combinations are asphalt with Belgian block curbing, asphalt with a paver apron, or a concrete driveway with paver borders.
Yes. Removal, hauling and disposal of the old surface is included in our replacement quotes.
Call (908) 992-2345 or request a free estimate. We visit, measure and give you a written quote.
Regrade the driveway so it pitches away from the garage, or install a trench drain across the driveway in front of the door, piped to a dry well or daylight.
You can, but it rarely looks or performs right next to asphalt or pavers, and many towns limit driveway width. A paved widening on a matching base is the lasting fix.
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.
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
