Serving Bridgewater & Somerset County
Asphalt, pavers and concrete for driveways, patios, walkways and parking areas in Bridgewater, NJ, built on a properly compacted 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 paving services in Bridgewater, NJ, including asphalt and blacktop driveways, interlocking pavers, concrete, patios, walkways and parking lots, plus repairs and sealcoating. We’re family-owned, licensed and insured, with 30+ years of experience in Somerset County.
Bridgewater has everything from 1950s and ’60s ranches and split-levels in Finderne and Bradley Gardens to large colonials on wooded lots in the hills north of Route 22. Whatever you’re paving in Bridgewater, the result depends on what’s underneath: excavation to stable ground, a compacted stone base, and drainage that moves water away from your home.
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.
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 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.
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 seeThe top layer of concrete is peeling off in flakes or patches.
Why it happensFreeze-thaw cycles combined with de-icing salts, especially on concrete without air entrainment, or concrete that was overworked or finished with water on top.
How we fix itSmall areas can be resurfaced. Widespread scaling means replacement with air-entrained concrete, proper finishing and curing, then sealing.
How to prevent itNo rock salt or ammonium de-icers in the first winter, and seal every few years.
Many Bridgewater driveways built in the 1980s and ’90s are now reaching the end of their life. Two-car widening, a paver apron and Belgian block curbs are our most requested upgrades here, especially on the sloped lots north of Route 22 where proper pitch keeps water out of garages.
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.
Every Bridgewater quote lists the excavation depth, base depth and finished thickness in writing so you can compare contractors fairly.
Compare them in our guide: asphalt vs. concrete vs. pavers.
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. For homeowners, see residential paving, and for businesses see commercial paving.
Plan with confidence
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
It depends on size, the condition of the existing surface, how much excavation and base is needed, access and the material. We give free written quotes after a short site visit.
Yes. We pave driveways, patios and walkways for Bridgewater homeowners and parking lots and access drives for local businesses.
Yes. We work throughout Bridgewater Township, including Finderne, Bradley Gardens, Green Knoll and Martinsville, as well as neighboring Somerville, Raritan and Branchburg.
Spring through late fall, when asphalt plants are open and ground temperatures are above roughly 40–50°F. Book early, because spring and fall fill up quickly.
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
