For a typical Ottawa home, the actual paving of an asphalt driveway takes one to two days, but the full project — excavation, granular base, compaction, and the asphalt lift — usually spans three to seven days from the day the crew arrives. A straightforward two-car resurfacing over a sound existing base can be done in a single 4–8 hour visit, while a full tear-out and rebuild on a longer rural or Kanata-area driveway typically needs two to four working days plus a settling period between base and asphalt. In 2026, Ottawa homeowners are paying roughly $6–$10 per square foot for asphalt (about ...
A full asphalt driveway replacement in Ottawa breaks into distinct stages, and knowing them helps you judge whether a quoted schedule is realistic. Day one is demolition and excavation: the crew rips out the old asphalt or gravel and digs down 8 to 12 inches to reach undisturbed subgrade. Day two is granular base — typically 6 to 8 inches of Granular A or B compacted in lifts with a vibratory roller. Many quality Ottawa contractors then let the base sit and settle for one to several days, especi...
Resurfacing (an overlay of 1.5–2 inches of new asphalt over a structurally sound existing driveway) is the fastest option — often start to finish in one day for $3–$5 per square foot. It only works if the base is intact and drainage is good; overlaying a cracked, heaved driveway simply reflects thos...
Paving day is not the finish line. Fresh asphalt is walkable within about 6 to 12 hours, but you should keep vehicles off for 24 to 72 hours depending on temperature — longer during an Ottawa August heat wave, when surface temperatures stay high and the mix stays soft. Full curing, where the asphalt has fully hardened and oxidized, takes 6 to 12 months. During that first season, avoid parking in the same spot every day, keep sharp-edged jack stands, motorcycle kickstands, and trailer jacks off t...
Ottawa's paving season effectively runs from late April or early May through mid-to-late October, and it is the single biggest constraint on your timeline. Hot-mix asphalt plants in the region shut down over winter, so nothing gets paved between roughly November and April. Asphalt should be placed when ambient temperatures are consistently above about 10 °C; late-October pours cool too quickly and can compact poorly, leaving a rough or porous surface. Rain is the other schedule killer — crews wi...
Early-May and late-October slots are often easier to book and occasionally discounted, but they carry more weather risk. Mid-spring also means a soggy subgrade after snowmelt, which can extend the base-settling stage by several days on clay-heavy lots in Barrhaven, Orléans, and the rural fringes.
Two Ottawa homes on the same street can have very different paving timelines. Size is obvious — a 500 sq ft city driveway paves in hours, while a 2,000 sq ft rural laneway in Greely or Manotick can take several days. Beyond size, the biggest variables are drainage and subgrade. Lots with poor slope need grading work or a French drain, adding a day or more. Heavy clay subgrade, common through much of the Ottawa region, may need geotextile fabric and extra granular depth to prevent frost heave. Ac...
Most straightforward driveway resurfacing on private property in Ottawa does not require a building permit, but two situations do trigger City involvement. First, if you are widening a driveway or changing its layout, zoning rules limit driveway width and the proportion of front yard that can be paved, and you may need City approval. Second, any work in the municipal right-of-way — the strip between your property line and the street, including the apron and any culvert or curb cut — requires a R...
Ask: How many inches of granular base and how many inches of compacted asphalt? Do you use a roller or a plate compactor? How long between base and paving? Who handles the right-of-way permit? What is your workmanship warranty, and does it cover settling in the first winter? Specific answers signal ...
The asphalt itself is usually laid in one day (about 4–8 hours for a standard residential driveway), but the complete project including excavation, granular base, compaction, and settling typically takes three to seven days. Interlocking paver driveways generally take three to five days of on-site work.
Keep vehicles off for 24 to 72 hours, longer during hot Ottawa summer weather. You can usually walk on it after 6 to 12 hours. The asphalt continues to cure and harden for 6 to 12 months, so avoid sharp-edged stands and repeated parking in the exact same spot during the first season.
Ottawa's paving season runs roughly from late April or early May to mid-to-late October. Hot-mix asphalt plants close for winter, and asphalt should be placed when temperatures are consistently above about 10 °C, so no paving happens between November and April.
Asphalt runs roughly $6–$10 per square foot installed in 2026, so a typical 600–800 sq ft Ottawa driveway costs about $4,000–$8,500. Resurfacing over a sound base is cheaper at about $3–$5 per square foot, while interlocking pavers run $18–$30 per square foot.
Simple resurfacing on private property usually does not need a permit, but widening or relocating a driveway can trigger zoning limits on driveway width and front-yard paving, and any work in the municipal right-of-way (apron, curb cut, or culvert) requires a City of Ottawa Right-of-Way permit.