Pavemar’s Driveway Paving Schedule and Process: What to Expect.

If you’re planning to get your driveway paved, one of the first questions on your mind is probably: “How soon can it get done?” At Pavemar Paving, we get this question multiple times a day! Homeowners want to know what the schedule looks like, how long the work takes, and when they can drive on it again.

In this post, we’ll walk you through exactly what to expect when you book your residential driveway paving with us. From the moment you say “yes” to the moment you park your car on your fresh new asphalt, here’s how it all works.

Step 1: Booking Your Driveway Paving

Once you give us the go-ahead, we add your driveway to our list right away.

Most of our asphalt paving work is commercial, and those large projects are often booked months in advance. Residential driveways, however, are slotted in as our schedule allows, usually within 4 to 6 weeks. (See example of a recent work week schedule below)

So what does that mean for you?

• If you approve the work today, we’ll aim to pave your driveway within the next 4–6 weeks.

• Driveway jobs are weather dependent, and paving is usually done in dry, warm conditions.

• Sometimes commercial jobs finish early or get delayed. When that happens, we’re often able to fit in a full day of driveway work...so your job may get bumped up earlier than expected!

It’s a flexible system, and we always try to give you as much notice as possible before we come.

Step 2: The Day of the Job

Good news: most driveways only take half a day to complete from start to finish.

Here’s a look at how the process works:

1. We arrive on-site and remove the old asphalt.

2. We regrade the driveway to make sure the slope is correct and drainage is proper.

3. We supply stone to raise-up and level out the grade where necessary (most often in front of the garage)

4. We compact the base layer using vibratory rollers and plate compactors so it’s firm and stable.

5. We pave the driveway with 3 inches of hot asphalt - compacted down to 2.

In 95% of our driveway projects, the paving is done on the same day as the removal and prep. You go from a cracked, old driveway to a fresh blacktop in just a few hours!

Step 3: What Happens if the Base is Too Soft?

Sometimes, we discover that the ground under your old driveway is too saturated, this happens if the base beneath your asphalt holds a lot of ground water or if there is an insufficient stone layer. In this case, we might have to delay the final paving step.

Here’s what we do:

• We complete the removal and base preparation as planned.

• We leave the gravel base exposed, and let it dry naturally over the next 2–4 weeks.

• During this time, you can still use your driveway. Parking on the gravel is fine, and rain won’t hurt it.

• At this time, we will never ask for any form of payment. We only take payment upon the full completion of our work.

Once the base is firm and dry enough, we return to complete the final paving. Our team always checks that the ground is firm and ready before laying asphalt. This ensures your driveway lasts for years without sinking, cracking, or shifting.

Step 4: After the Paving – When Can You Use It?

After the driveway is paved, we block it off with caution tape to ward off any 3-point turn bandits.

We recommend:

• Staying off the new asphalt for 2–3 days.

• No driving, walking, or parking during this time.

• After 3 days, it’s safe to use as usual.

This short wait helps your driveway harden up and hold its shape. Once the curing time is over, your new driveway is ready to go!

PRO CARE TIP: Avoid dry steering on your freshly paved surface. It can cause tire marks and, in extreme cases, gouge the asphalt. Best practice is to steer while your vehicle is in motion or drive straight on and off the driveway - especially on hotter days.

Real-World Scheduling Example: What a Week Actually Looks Like

To give you a better idea of how flexible our schedule can be, here’s a real example from a recent workweek:

What was scheduled:
We had the entire week booked off for a large commercial paving job at the JohnVince Foods (Planters Peanuts factory).

• Stage 1: Monday–Wednesday

• Stage 2: Thursday–Friday

What actually happened:

• Monday–Tuesday: We got Stage 1 done ahead of schedule

• Wednesday: With a gap before Stage 2 could start, we filled the day by paving three residential driveways

• Thursday: We completed Stage 2 of the commercial job in one day

• Friday: Got rained out and couldn’t pave anything

This kind of variability is why we tell clients their driveway might get done earlier than expected.

When commercial work wraps up faster or gets postponed, we take full advantage of that time to complete residential driveways. It’s a win-win for everyone.

Why Our Process Works

At Pavemar, we’ve been paving driveways across Toronto and Southern Ontario for over 30 years. Our process is built around:

• Quality processes

• Skilled workmanship

• Honest timelines

• Clear communication

We’re upfront about costs, weather delays and we never rush a job when the ground isn’t ready.

When you hire Pavemar, you’re getting a team that cares about doing it right the first time.

Final Tips for Homeowners

Here’s a quick checklist to keep in mind when planning your driveway paving:
✅ Book early—spring and summer spots fill up fast
✅ Be flexible—your job may get done sooner if our schedule permits
✅ Don’t worry if the gravel is left exposed—it’s a part of the process
✅ Plan for 2–3 days of driveway downtime after paving

📍 Pavemar Paving: Residential Driveway Experts

From old driveway removal to new blacktop installation, we make the process easy for homeowners. Whether your driveway is cracked, sinking, or just overdue for a refresh, Pavemar Paving gets it done right the first time.