Asphalt Paving & Seal Coating in Arvada, Colorado
Arvada runs from century-old streets around Olde Town out to subdivisions still being finished on the west side. That spread means the right answer for your driveway depends heavily on which Arvada you live in.
One City, Two Very Different Paving Problems
Arvada covers a lot of ground and a lot of decades. East of Wadsworth you have established neighbourhoods with driveways laid in the 1950s through the 70s. Out west toward Leyden Rock, Candelas and the Standley Lake side, much of the housing is recent enough that the asphalt is still in its first maintenance cycle.
Those two situations call for completely different conversations, and it is worth knowing which one you are in before you start collecting quotes.
Older Arvada: the seal, overlay or replace decision
A driveway that has been down for forty or fifty years has usually reached a fork. If the base underneath is still solid, an overlay puts a fresh surface on at a fraction of replacement cost. If the base has failed, no amount of surfacing will help and an overlay will crack in exactly the same places within a couple of winters.
The difference between those two outcomes is thousands of dollars, and it is decided entirely by what is under the asphalt rather than what you can see on top. Anyone quoting a full tear-out without checking is either not looking or not telling you.
Newer Arvada: the cheapest years of your driveway’s life
If your asphalt went down in the last ten or fifteen years, you are in the window where maintenance is almost absurdly good value. Crack filling and a seal coat on a 2–3 year cycle costs a small fraction of what replacement will cost later, and it is the difference between a driveway that lasts a couple of decades and one that fails early.
The reason the interval is shorter here than the 3–5 years you see quoted nationally is local. NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the Denver–Boulder area show roughly 156 nights a year at or below freezing but only about 22 days that never thaw — leaving around 134 full freeze-thaw cycles, each one expanding whatever water is sitting in a crack. Add high-altitude UV drying out the binder and the clock runs faster here.
Clay soil, same as the rest of the Front Range
Much of the metro sits on expansive clay that swells when wet and shrinks as it dries. That movement cracks slabs and heaves pavement laid on a base that was never properly prepared. It is why we spend real time on grading and compaction — it is the invisible part of the job and the part that decides how long the visible part lasts.
Permits in Arvada, and the Licence Requirement That Rules Out Most Contractors
Work that stays entirely on your own property — resurfacing, sealing, crack filling an existing driveway — generally does not need a City permit. What triggers one is work in the public right-of-way, the strip where the street, curb, gutter and sidewalk sit.
Arvada only issues right-of-way permits to licensed contractors
This is the detail that catches homeowners out. According to the City of Arvada, right-of-way permits can only be issued to a contractor holding a current Municipal General Contractor licence with City of Arvada Engineering.
That means if your job touches the curb, gutter, sidewalk or street — a new or widened curb cut, flatwork replacement in the right-of-way, asphalt patching or paving in the public way — you cannot simply hire whoever gave the lowest number. The contractor has to be licensed with the City, or the permit does not get issued at all.
The street cut moratorium map
Arvada also publishes Construction Projects and Street Cut Moratorium maps, and asks that anyone planning to excavate in the right-of-way review them first. If your proposed work falls in one of those areas, you are expected to coordinate with the City Project Engineer to avoid interfering with City work.
In plain terms: if your street has recently been resurfaced or is scheduled to be, there may be a restriction on cutting into it. Worth establishing before you plan a curb cut, not after.
Utility locates
Any excavation needs locates through Colorado 811 before digging starts. It is free and required by state law.
We raise the permit question at the estimate rather than leaving it with you. If your job needs City involvement, you will know before a date gets booked.
Permit requirements and licensing rules change. The above reflects the City of Arvada’s published right-of-way permitting guidance and is a starting point rather than legal advice. Confirm current requirements with City of Arvada Engineering for your specific property.
Arvada Neighborhoods & What We See There
Arvada is not one thing. Here is roughly what turns up where.
Olde Town & central Arvada
The oldest part of the city, narrower lots, alleys, and more work that touches the right-of-way. This is where the licence requirement above matters most.
Lake Arvada & Ralston Valley
Established residential from the postwar decades. Driveways squarely in the seal-overlay-replace decision window, and the place an honest assessment saves the most money.
Candelas, Leyden Rock & the west side
Newer construction, newer asphalt. These are prime maintenance candidates — crack fill and seal now and you may never face a replacement bill.
Standley Lake & the north
Suburban streets with a mix of ages. Also more concrete flatwork here, since newer builds lean that way for patios and walkways.
Commercial & retail corridors
Wadsworth, Ralston Road and the industrial pockets. Parking lot paving, overlay and striping, phased so businesses stay open.
HOAs & multi-family
Shared parking areas and private drives across the city. One mobilisation covering the whole property beats separate trips.
What We Do in Arvada
Asphalt is the bulk of the work. We pour concrete too, so when concrete is the better answer we can just say so.
Asphalt Driveway Paving
New installation and full replacement with proper base prep, grading and drainage. Typically drivable within one to three days.
Asphalt Overlay
A fresh surface over a base that is still sound, at a fraction of full replacement cost.
Seal Coating
Our specialty, using Masterseal Asphalt Emulsion Sealant. Up to a 3-year warranty, exclusions in writing before work starts.
Crack Filling & Patching
The highest-return maintenance there is in this climate. Sealing cracks keeps water off the base.
Commercial Parking Lots
Paving, overlay, striping and repair. Phased so sections stay open and you keep trading.
Concrete Patios & Flatwork
Patios, sidewalks, slabs and concrete driveways poured on a properly prepared sub-base.
Driveways We've Done
Our own photos, from our own job sites — no stock images.
Reviewed by Front Range Homeowners
4.6from 29 Google reviewsLarry and his team “made my driveway look good as new” — professional, and easygoing to deal with.Brady HaughGoogle review
“Competitive price. I like the result on my driveway.”Brian SchlanderGoogle review
Called it “a very nice and careful job resealing our driveway” at a reasonable price.Doug HodgsonGoogle review
When to Book in Arvada
Metro elevation gives a longer window than the foothills, but the calendar still fills.
Frequently Asked
Do I need a permit to repave my driveway in Arvada?
My driveway is from the 1960s. Does it need replacing?
My house is newer. Do I still need seal coating?
How often should I seal coat in Arvada?
How much does an asphalt driveway cost in Arvada?
Do you do commercial parking lots in Arvada?
Should I choose asphalt or concrete?
How soon can I drive on it?
Get a Free Arvada Estimate
We are just next door in Golden, so getting out to look is easy. Tell us what you have and we will assess the base, check the drainage, and give you a written price with no obligation — including a straight answer on whether you need a reseal, an overlay or a replacement.
Golden, CO 80401
We Also Serve
Arvada sits between our Golden base and the north metro.