Asphalt Millings Driveways in Naperville, IL
We build driveways from recycled asphalt millings for homes across Naperville, Illinois.
- Quotes in writing
- 21 areas covered
Naperville Asphalt Driveway builds asphalt millings driveways for homes across Naperville. We spread ground-up recycled asphalt over a firm base, shape it so water runs off, then roll it down hard.
What asphalt millings are
The millings we lay are old asphalt pavement that has been ground up so it can be used again. The Federal Highway Administration calls this material reclaimed asphalt pavement. It says milling means taking the top of a road off with a milling machine, which can remove up to 2 inches in one pass.
The Federal Highway Administration says that, by weight, 93 to 97 percent of this material is stone, and only 3 to 7 percent is hardened asphalt. It also says the asphalt stuck to the stone is somewhat harder than new asphalt, mainly because the old pavement has been out in the air and the weather.
Where millings work
The Federal Highway Administration says recycled asphalt can go into the base of almost any kind of pavement, and it names residential driveways and parking areas in its list.
We lay millings as the top of your driveway, or as the firm layer under a new asphalt driveway. If you'd rather have a smooth black finish, see our asphalt driveway installation page.
How we lay a millings driveway
The Federal Highway Administration says recycled asphalt that has been processed and mixed the right way drains well and lasts very well. It says recycled asphalt that isn't processed or mixed to spec can make the pavement perform poorly.
We don't spread a thin layer of plain stone over the millings. The Federal Highway Administration says the two don't bond well, and the loose stone can come apart under traffic.
It says the asphalt in the millings is sticky, which can make the final shaping hard. It also says crews should pay close attention to packing the material down well. So we set the slope first, then roll the millings until they're firm.
Where the millings come from
The Federal Highway Administration says the quality of recycled asphalt can vary, since it comes from many old pavements. It says soil or even trash can sometimes end up in the piles. It also says milled asphalt can soak up a lot of water if it's left out in the rain, so it shouldn't sit in a pile for a long time.
We check each load before it goes on your driveway, and we send back any that's mixed with dirt or trash.
Naperville driveway rules
The City of Naperville says it requires property owners to fill out and send in a Driveway Permit Application before a new driveway goes in. Its Driveway Guide says that rebuilding a driveway with any changes needs a permit too. The guide also says residential driveways can't be wider than 20 feet or narrower than 9 feet, measured at the property line.
The guide's material tables list asphalt, stamped asphalt, brick pavers, concrete and stamped concrete. For asphalt, outside your property line, in what the city calls the right-of-way, it asks for 3 inches of asphalt on a 6 inch stone base. On your own side of the line, it's 2 inches of asphalt on a 6 inch stone base.
Before we quote, we check with the city whether millings will meet its rules for your driveway, and we tell you what we find.
What to get in writing
Ask for these in writing, whoever you hire:
- Where the millings come from, and whether they've been crushed and screened.
- How deep the millings will be once they're rolled.
- Whether any plain stone is going under the millings.
- How the driveway will slope so water runs off.
- Which part of the driveway is in the price, marked on a sketch.
Questions about asphalt millings driveways in Naperville
How is a millings driveway different from a regular asphalt driveway?
On an asphalt driveway we lay fresh hot asphalt and roll it smooth, while on a millings driveway we spread and roll ground-up old asphalt, so the top is rougher.
Can you put millings over my gravel driveway?
Yes, we can, once we've checked that the gravel underneath is firm. The Federal Highway Administration lists fixing up gravel roads among the uses for recycled asphalt.
Does a millings driveway get harder over time?
The Federal Highway Administration says that when recycled asphalt is mixed with natural stone for a base, the asphalt in it makes the base a lot stronger over time.
Do millings need to be mixed with anything?
The Federal Highway Administration says that for a base that has to carry weight, recycled asphalt is usually mixed with regular stone. It says the more recycled asphalt in the mix, the less weight the base can hold up.
How big are the pieces in asphalt millings?
The Federal Highway Administration says almost all recycled asphalt is milled or crushed down to 1.5 inches or smaller.
Is using asphalt millings good for the environment?
The Federal Highway Administration says recycled asphalt almost always goes back into roads in some form. It says less than 20 percent of the extra old asphalt made each year has to be thrown away. It also says some questions about what can wash out of recycled asphalt where it touches groundwater still need to be settled.
Get a quote for an asphalt millings driveway
Call us, or send the quote form with your ZIP code and roughly how big your driveway is. We'll come out, check the base, and give you a written quote. To see the other work we do, go to the Naperville Asphalt Driveway home page.
Ready to talk about your asphalt driveway job?
Send the quote form with your ZIP code and what you need. We will get back to you with a written quote.