Straight talk on Maine paving.
Practical articles about asphalt paving, sealcoating, base preparation, and property maintenance in the Maine climate.
- Asphalt Paving And Installation
What questions should you ask an asphalt paving contractor?
Ask for proof of insurance, a written scope with compacted asphalt depth and gravel base depth, how the drainage will be handled, whether disposal is included, what the edge detail will be, when the crew can start and how long the job takes, and for local references. A contractor who answers all seven clearly in writing is usually the one worth hiring.
Fecteau Asphalt Services LLC2026-09-13 - Sealcoating
Why does asphalt turn gray and fade?
Asphalt turns gray because ultraviolet light and oxygen break down the binder that holds the stone together. As that binder oxidizes, the black tar look goes flat, the surface becomes porous, and the exposed stone shows through. Fading is not just cosmetic. It is the first visible sign that the pavement is drying out and getting ready to crack.
Fecteau Asphalt Services LLC2026-09-12 - Commercial Paving
How often should a commercial parking lot be sealcoated in Maine?
Most Maine commercial lots should be sealcoated every two to three years, and high traffic lots such as retail, restaurants, and apartment complexes often need it every two. Line striping is refreshed with each sealcoat. Crack filling happens annually, because a commercial lot takes more load, more salt, and more plow passes than any driveway.
Fecteau Asphalt Services LLC2026-09-11 - Residential Driveway Paving
How do you maintain a new asphalt driveway?
Maintaining asphalt comes down to four habits: keep water off it, fill cracks as soon as they open, sealcoat on a two to three year cycle after the first season, and clean up oil and fuel spills fast. A Maine driveway that gets those four things can last 20 to 30 years. One that gets none of them often needs work inside of ten.
Fecteau Asphalt Services LLC2026-09-10 - Residential Driveway Paving
Can you pave a steep driveway in Maine?
Yes, steep driveways are paved in Maine all the time, but they need extra planning: a stronger base, careful cross pitch so water leaves the surface instead of running down it, a coarser mix for traction, and sometimes a terraced or curved layout. Winter is the real design constraint, since a slope that is fine in July can be unusable in an ice storm.
Fecteau Asphalt Services LLC2026-09-09 - Asphalt Paving And Installation
What does asphalt paving cost per square foot in Maine?
Asphalt paving in Maine is priced per project, not off a flat per square foot rate, because the base work drives the cost. Two driveways of identical size can differ by thousands depending on excavation, gravel depth, drainage, slope, access, and asphalt thickness. The only accurate number comes from a free on site measurement, which is why we will not quote a price over the phone.
Fecteau Asphalt Services LLC2026-09-08 - Residential Driveway Paving
How long before you can drive on a new asphalt driveway?
Wait at least 24 to 48 hours before driving on new asphalt, and up to three days in hot weather. Keep heavy vehicles, campers, and trailers off for about 30 days, and avoid sharp turns with the wheel stopped. Asphalt is firm within days but keeps curing for six to twelve months, which is also why sealcoating waits until the following season.
Fecteau Asphalt Services LLC2026-09-07 - Grading And Drainage
How do you fix driveway drainage problems in Maine?
You fix driveway drainage by giving water a planned way off the pavement: correct pitch away from the house and garage, open culverts and ditches at the entrance, and a trench drain or swale where grade alone is not enough. Standing water is the single biggest reason Maine driveways fail early, because every puddle becomes frost damage by February.
Fecteau Asphalt Services LLC2026-09-06 - Asphalt Repair And Resurfacing
How do you fix a pothole in an asphalt driveway?
A lasting pothole repair means cutting out the failed asphalt in a square shape down to solid base, removing wet or loose material, compacting new base if needed, then filling with hot mix and compacting it flush. Cold patch from a bag is a winter stopgap only. If potholes keep returning in the same spot, the base or the drainage is the real problem.
Fecteau Asphalt Services LLC2026-09-05 - Asphalt Repair And Resurfacing
Can you pave over an existing asphalt driveway?
Yes, if the old surface is structurally sound. An overlay of an inch and a half to two inches works when the base is stable, the drainage is good, and the cracks are hairline. If the driveway has alligator cracking, potholes, soft spots, or frost heaves, paving over it only buys a season or two before the same failures come through.
Fecteau Asphalt Services LLC2026-09-04 - Residential Driveway Paving
How thick should an asphalt driveway be in Maine?
For most Maine homes, plan on three inches of compacted asphalt over a well built gravel base of eight to twelve inches. Driveways that see heavy trucks, oil deliveries, or a camper need more. In a freeze-thaw climate the base depth matters more than the asphalt depth, because frost heave, not traffic, is what destroys most Maine driveways.
Fecteau Asphalt Services LLC2026-09-03 - Asphalt Paving And Installation
Do you need a permit to pave a driveway in Maine?
Often yes. Most Maine towns require a permit when a driveway meets a public road, when you add new impervious surface, or when grading changes drainage. Repaving the same footprint frequently does not. Your town code office has the final say, and a good contractor will tell you which bucket your job falls in before work starts.
Fecteau Asphalt Services LLC2026-09-02 - Asphalt Paving And Installation
Can Fecteau Asphalt pave in Biddeford?
Yes. Fecteau Asphalt Services LLC paves in Biddeford, Maine. We are a family owned and operated, insured crew handling residential driveways and commercial lots across Biddeford and the surrounding towns. We start every job with a free on site estimate so the scope, prep, and price are clear before any work begins.
Fecteau Asphalt Services LLC2026-08-31 - Asphalt Paving And Installation
Who does paving in Arundel, Maine?
Fecteau Asphalt Services LLC handles paving in Arundel, Maine. We are a family owned and operated, insured Maine crew that paves residential driveways and commercial lots across Arundel and nearby towns. We do the base prep right for the local climate and give a free on site estimate before any work starts.
Fecteau Asphalt Services LLC2026-08-31 - Asphalt Paving And Installation
When should you pave in Scarborough?
You should pave in Scarborough when ground temperatures hold above roughly 50 degrees and stay there, which usually means late spring through early fall. Asphalt needs warm ground and dry weather to compact and bond right. Paving too early or too late in the Maine season risks a weak, short-lived surface.
Fecteau Asphalt Services LLC2026-08-31 - Residential Driveway Paving
What does it cost to pave a driveway in Saco, Maine?
The cost of paving a driveway for homeowners across Saco depends on square footage, base condition, drainage, slope, and asphalt thickness. There is no flat rate that fits every driveway. A short flat drive costs far less than a long sloped one that needs excavation. The only real number comes from a free on site estimate.
Fecteau Asphalt Services LLC2026-08-21 - Sealcoating
How often should you sealcoat an asphalt driveway in Maine?
Most asphalt driveways in Maine should be sealcoated every two to three years. The state's hard freeze-thaw winters, road salt, and UV wear break down the surface faster than in milder climates. Newer driveways can stretch to three years. Older or heavily used ones often need it every two.
Fecteau Asphalt Services LLC2026-08-16 - Article
Why does asphalt crack in Maine winters?
Asphalt cracks in Maine winters because water seeps into the pavement, freezes, and expands. That freeze-thaw cycle repeats all season, prying the asphalt apart from the inside. Thin base prep, poor drainage, and unfilled small cracks make it worse. Sealed, well-drained, properly based asphalt resists it far better.
Fecteau Asphalt Services LLC2026-08-12 - Cost
How much does sealcoating cost in Maine?
Most Maine driveway sealcoating jobs run about $0.20 to $0.45 per square foot, or roughly $200 to $600 for a typical residential driveway.
Fecteau Asphalt Services2026-08-10 - Article
What is recycled asphalt millings and is it good for a driveway?
Recycled asphalt millings are old pavement ground up and reused as a driveway surface. They make a solid, budget-friendly driveway in Maine when the base is graded and the millings are compacted right. They cost less than hot asphalt, harden over time, and shed water well, but they are not as smooth as fresh paving.
Fecteau Asphalt Services LLC2026-08-09 - Comparison
Asphalt vs. concrete driveway in Maine: which one should you choose?
In Maine, asphalt is usually the better driveway choice — it costs less up front, flexes with frost heave, and tolerates salt and plows far better than concrete.
Fecteau Asphalt Services2026-08-08 - Maintenance
Why does my driveway crack every winter in Maine?
Maine driveways crack because water gets into the pavement, freezes, expands, and pries it apart — repeated dozens of times each winter.
Fecteau Asphalt Services2026-08-06 - Article
How much does it cost to pave a commercial parking lot in Maine?
Commercial parking lot paving cost in Maine is not one flat rate. Price depends on lot size, base condition, drainage, thickness, and whether you are paving new or repaving. Bigger lots cost less per square foot, but bad base or poor drainage drives the number up. Get a free on site estimate for a real figure.
Fecteau Asphalt Services LLC2026-08-05 - Comparison
Gravel vs. paved driveway in Maine: cost, upkeep, and which lasts
Gravel costs far less up front but needs regrading every year or two. Paving costs more once and then asks for very little.
Fecteau Asphalt Services2026-08-04 - Process
What to expect on driveway paving day: a homeowner checklist
Most residential driveways are paved in one day. Here is how to prepare, what happens hour by hour, and when you can drive on it.
Fecteau Asphalt Services2026-08-02 - Article
How long does hot rubberized crack filling last on a Maine driveway?
Hot rubberized crack filling on a Maine driveway usually lasts three to five years. The exact life depends on crack width, how clean the crack was before filling, drainage, and how many freeze thaw cycles hit it each winter. Cracks that move a lot or hold water fail sooner and need a fresh fill.
Fecteau Asphalt Services LLC2026-07-31 - Commercial
Parking lot line striping in Maine: layout, ADA requirements, and repainting schedule
Most Maine parking lots need restriping every 18 to 36 months, and ADA accessible stalls have specific size, aisle, and signage requirements you cannot skip.
Fecteau Asphalt Services2026-07-30 - Article
What is the difference between sealcoating and repaving a driveway?
Sealcoating is a thin protective coat that guards a sound driveway from water, sun, and salt. Repaving replaces the asphalt itself. Seal a driveway that is still solid with only minor surface wear. Repave when you see wide cracks, potholes, or a crumbling base that sealer cannot fix.
Fecteau Asphalt Services LLC2026-07-28 - Repair
Resurfacing vs. full replacement: which does your driveway actually need?
If the base is sound, resurfacing costs far less and buys 15 or more years. If the base has failed, an overlay just hides the problem for two seasons.
Fecteau Asphalt Services2026-07-27 - Article
How long does a paved parking lot last in Maine?
A commercial asphalt parking lot in Maine typically lasts 15 to 20 years when the base is prepped right and the surface is maintained. Freeze thaw cycles, heavy trucks, poor drainage, and skipped sealcoating shorten that life. Good prep and routine upkeep are what carry a lot the full distance.
Fecteau Asphalt Services LLC2026-07-25 - Article
How long does a new asphalt driveway take to install?
Most residential asphalt driveways in Maine take one to two working days to install. Base prep and excavation run part of a day, paving runs a few hours, and the surface needs about a day to cool before light use. Weather, size, and drainage work can add time, but the paving itself is fast.
Fecteau Asphalt Services LLC2026-07-23 - Article
How long should you wait before sealcoating a new asphalt driveway?
Wait at least 90 days, and often a full season, before sealcoating a new asphalt driveway. Fresh asphalt needs time to cure and release its oils. In Maine, that usually means a driveway paved in spring or summer is ready for its first sealcoat the following year, not right away.
Fecteau Asphalt Services LLC2026-07-19 - Guides
Asphalt Millings vs. Hot Mix: Which Driveway Wins in Maine?
A straight comparison of recycled asphalt millings and traditional hot-mix asphalt for Maine driveways — cost, lifespan, maintenance, and when each one makes sense.
Fecteau Asphalt Services2026-07-16 - Article
How much does it cost to pave a driveway in Maine?
Driveway paving cost in Maine depends on square footage, base prep, drainage, and slope, not one flat rate. A small flat driveway costs far less than a long sloped one that needs excavation. The only honest number is a free on site estimate, because every yard in Saco, Biddeford, and Portland is different.
Fecteau Asphalt Services LLC2026-07-15 - Article
When is the best time to pave a driveway in Maine?
The best time to pave a driveway in Maine is late spring through early fall, roughly May to October, when ground and air temperatures stay warm enough for asphalt to compact and cure. Warm, dry weather lets the crew do the prep right and gives the new surface time to set before winter.
Fecteau Asphalt Services LLC2026-07-11 - Materials
Asphalt Millings vs. New Asphalt: Which Is Better for a Maine Driveway?
Recycled millings save real money. When they are the right call for a Maine driveway — and when new hot mix is worth the cost.
Fecteau Asphalt Services2026-07-08 - Durability
How Long Does an Asphalt Driveway Last in Maine?
Real lifespan for a Maine asphalt driveway, why freeze-thaw is the actual enemy, and the maintenance that adds 5–10 years.
Fecteau Asphalt Services2026-07-08 - Maintenance
When Should You Sealcoat a Driveway in Maine?
Timing sealcoating around Maine weather — when to do it, when to skip it, and how often it actually needs to happen.
Fecteau Asphalt Services2026-07-08