Asphalt Paving Contractor in Santa Cruz County
Freedom Earthworks LLC paves and repairs asphalt driveways, parking lots, private roads and public streets throughout Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito and Santa Clara counties. We handle every step ourselves: grading, base rock, compaction, drainage and paving. Your new asphalt drains properly and holds up for years. Licensed A General Engineering and C-12 Earthwork & Paving contractor, CSLB #1105929.
Our Asphalt Paving Services
New asphalt driveways
Parking lot paving and reconstruction
Private roads and long rural driveways
Public street paving and trench restoration
Asphalt overlays and resurfacing
Pothole repair and patching
Asphalt berms and dikes for drainage
Get a Free Asphalt Paving Estimate
Who we pave for
- Homeowners with a gravel, cracked or failing driveway
- Rural properties with long driveways or private roads that rut or wash out each winter
- Businesses, HOAs and property managers with parking lots that need repair or replacement
- General contractors and public agencies that need paving, trench restoration or patch paving
How we assess and pave
- Site visit. We look at the existing surface, how water moves across it, where it soft-spots or cracks, and what traffic it carries.
- Base and drainage first. Most asphalt failures start below the surface: a thin or wet base, or water running under the edges. We correct grades, add or rebuild aggregate base, and plan where water will go before any asphalt is placed.
- Compaction. The subgrade and base are compacted in lifts so the pavement does not settle into ruts.
- Paving. Hot-mix asphalt is placed and rolled to the planned thickness. Thickness is set by the traffic and the soil, not a fixed rule. Residential driveways are commonly 2 to 3 inches over base; areas with trucks or heavy equipment need more.
- Edges and finish. We shape edges, berms and transitions to garages, roads and gutters so water drains off the pavement.
Repair, overlay or replacement?
- Crack sealing and patching suit pavement that is mostly sound, with isolated cracks or small failed areas.
- An overlay can work when the surface is worn or oxidized but the base underneath is still solid and grades still drain.
- Replacement is usually the better value when there is widespread alligator cracking, sinking, ruts or water pumping up through cracks. An overlay on a failed base cracks again in the same pattern.
We will tell you which one your pavement needs and why.
Site conditions we plan for
- Steep driveways where traction, drainage and access for the paving equipment all matter
- Clay soils and wet winters that soften subgrade
- Narrow access, gates and tight turnarounds in the mountains
- Runoff from slopes, roofs and roads that needs to be carried past the pavement, not across it
What affects cost and schedule
- Area and thickness of asphalt
- How much grading, base rock or removal of old pavement is needed
- Drainage work such as culverts, drains or berms
- Access for trucks and paving equipment
- Asphalt plant availability and weather. Paving needs dry conditions and suitable temperatures.
We give a written estimate after seeing the site.
Frequently asked questions
How soon can I drive on new asphalt?
Usually within a day or two for cars, but hot weather keeps asphalt soft longer. Avoid turning wheels in place and parking in one spot during the first weeks. We give you specific guidance for your job.
Do you pave over gravel?
Gravel can become part of the base if it is graded, supplemented and compacted properly. Loose or muddy gravel has to be corrected first.
Do I need a permit?
Many private driveway repaving jobs do not, but new driveways, work in a county road right-of-way and some grading do. We will tell you what applies.
When should I sealcoat new asphalt?
Not right away. New asphalt needs time to cure first, often several months depending on weather. See sealcoating and crack sealing.
Recent work
- Hillside Driveway Rebuild, Aptos – regraded, ripped and recompacted the old base, added 6 inches of new base rock and paved 3 inches of commercial-grade asphalt.
- ADA Walkways and Approaches, Santa Cruz – asphalt transitions tying new ADA concrete walkways into the existing pavement on a public works project.
Related: Grading and site preparation · Drainage and storm drains · Sealcoating and crack sealing · Asphalt tonnage calculator
Request a paving estimate or call (831) 440-6042. Our team at Freedom Earthworks will personally review your request and contact you to discuss your project.