Asphalt Milling & Overlay
New surface. No tearout. A fraction of the cost.
Most asphalt doesn't fail from the bottom up — it fails from the surface down. UV oxidation, water infiltration, traffic wear, and Washington's freeze-thaw cycles all work on the top two inches first. If the base beneath it is still structurally sound, tearing the whole thing out is unnecessary.
Milling removes the failed surface layer to a precise, consistent depth. The exposed base is cleaned and inspected, any localized failures are repaired, and fresh hot mix asphalt goes down over a surface that's actually ready to bond to it. The result is effectively new asphalt — for significantly less than full replacement.
It's not the right answer for every situation. If the base has failed, an overlay just delays the inevitable and wastes money. We assess every job honestly before recommending it.
What our Asphalt Milling & Overlay service covers.
- Milling (grinding and removal of existing surface layer)
- Base inspection and spot repair of sub-base failures
- Tack coat application for proper bonding
- Hot mix asphalt overlay — typically 2 inches
- Edge and transition work
- Haul-off and recycling of milled material
- Striping and finish work
How Asphalt Milling & Overlay works.
Assessment — is this a milling candidate?
We evaluate the base: type and extent of cracking, whether failures are surface or structural, and whether the grade and drainage are correct. If the base is compromised, we'll tell you — because an overlay over a bad base will mirror the same failures within a season or two.
Milling
A milling machine grinds the existing surface down to a consistent depth — typically 2 inches — without disturbing the base. This removes cracking, oxidation, and irregularities, leaving a textured surface that bonds well to new asphalt. The milled material is loaded and removed for recycling.
Base repair
Once the old surface is off, we can see exactly what the base looks like. Any soft spots, base failures, or drainage problems that weren't visible get addressed now — not after the new asphalt is down.
Tack coat
Asphalt emulsion is applied to the milled surface before paving. It's the bonding agent between old and new. This step is sometimes skipped by contractors looking to save time. Skipping it means the overlay can delaminate under traffic. We don't skip it.
Overlay and compaction
Fresh hot mix asphalt is laid at the right temperature and immediately compacted. Edges are cut clean and transitions to adjacent surfaces are finished properly.
Why choose A-Team for Asphalt Milling & Overlay.
Honest assessment first
We'll tell you if overlay will work or if the base needs attention. No guessing.
Cost-effective
When the base is solid, overlay saves 40-60% versus full replacement.
Clean transitions
We grade the edges properly so water drains and the surface meets curbs cleanly.
The tell-tale sign that milling and overlay is the right call: surface cracking without the alligator pattern. Alligator cracking — the web-like, interconnected pattern — indicates base failure. Overlay won't fix it.
An overlay typically adds about 2 inches to the surface height. At transitions — garage doors, drainage grates, curb cuts, and ADA ramps — adjustment may be needed. We flag these during assessment.
Milled asphalt is 100% recyclable and commonly used as aggregate in new asphalt mix. Choosing milling over full replacement is the more environmentally responsible approach.
We provide milling and overlay services for driveways, parking lots, and commercial surfaces throughout the Puget Sound — Tacoma, Puyallup, Auburn, Federal Way, SeaTac, Sumner, Covington, Maple Valley, Bellevue, and greater Seattle.
Not sure if your pavement qualifies for overlay?
Call us. We'll come out, look at the base condition, and give you a straight answer — milling and overlay, full replacement, or just maintenance. No obligation.