Serving Mission Viejo, CA and surrounding areas. (714) 750-8059
A deteriorated driveway does not always mean starting over from scratch. Asphalt milling removes the damaged surface layer, preserves a solid base, and sets up a clean repave that drains correctly and meets your curb or garage threshold without a bump.
Asphalt milling in Mission Viejo is the process of grinding down the worn top layer of an existing driveway or parking surface using a machine with a rotating drum of metal teeth, then repaving the clean base with fresh asphalt. Most residential mill-and-repave projects are completed within two to three days, with the driveway back in use roughly 24 hours after the new asphalt is laid.
It makes sense when the base beneath your asphalt is still solid but the top layer has cracked, crumbled, or lost its grade. Milling removes only what is damaged rather than tearing out everything, which saves material and time. It also solves a problem that paving over the old surface cannot: when a previous overlay has raised the driveway too high relative to your garage threshold or curb, milling brings it back down to the right height. If the underlying surface needs full structural work before repaving, we can pair milling with asphalt resurfacing to address both layers in a single visit.
The ground-up material removed during milling is collected and recycled into new asphalt mix on other projects - one of the more environmentally responsible aspects of this approach to driveway restoration.
When cracks spread across most of your driveway rather than appearing in just a spot or two, individual patching stops making sense. In Mission Viejo, widespread cracking is often the result of years of UV exposure and heat breaking down the asphalt binder, and milling removes that degraded layer entirely so a fresh surface can be laid on solid footing.
If you notice small chunks of asphalt breaking away from the surface - sometimes called raveling - the top layer has deteriorated past the point where sealing or patching will hold. This is a common sign in Southern California driveways that have gone many years without resurfacing, and milling is the right first step before new asphalt goes down.
Water pooling on your driveway after rain signals the surface has warped, settled unevenly, or lost its original slope. In Mission Viejo, where winter rains can be intense, pooling water accelerates surface damage and can work into cracks to undermine the base. Milling and repaving restores correct grade so water drains where it should.
If your driveway was paved over once before without milling, it may now sit too high at your garage threshold or curb. This creates a lip that scrapes low vehicles and can direct water toward your garage. Milling removes that built-up thickness so the new surface sits at the right level and clears the transition cleanly.
We provide residential and commercial asphalt milling throughout Mission Viejo and south Orange County, handling everything from standard driveway mill-and-repave projects to larger parking areas. Our process starts with an in-person assessment to confirm the base is still stable - milling a surface whose base has shifted only delays the same cracking from returning. When the base is sound, we mill to a consistent, even depth across the whole surface, removing the deteriorated layer cleanly without damaging what is underneath. The milled material is loaded and taken for recycling rather than sent to a landfill.
After milling, we coordinate the repaving schedule to minimize your time off the driveway. Fresh asphalt is spread, graded to the correct slope, and compacted with a roller so the surface drains correctly and meets surrounding concrete cleanly. For driveways where a previous overlay created a height problem at the curb or garage apron, milling solves that issue permanently. When the project scope also calls for base repair or full excavation, we connect that work to our drainage solutions services so runoff is addressed at the same time the surface is restored.
Suits homeowners whose driveway surface has deteriorated beyond patching and whose base is still solid enough to preserve.
Suits businesses and property managers who need a worn parking surface restored without a full tear-out and base replacement.
Suits driveways that were overlaid previously and now sit too high at the garage threshold, curb, or surrounding concrete.
Suits properties where standing water or incorrect slope is making driveway deterioration worse and needs to be fixed during the repave.
Mission Viejo sits in inland south Orange County where summer temperatures regularly climb into the 90s and the sun is intense year-round. That prolonged UV exposure oxidizes asphalt binder over time, making the surface brittle and prone to cracking even without the freeze-thaw cycles that damage pavement in colder climates. Most of the city's driveways were installed between the 1970s and 1990s as part of the master-planned Saddleback Valley development, which means a large share of them are now old enough that surface deterioration is expected - not a sign the original work was poor. Milling removes that oxidized layer and restores a flexible surface built to handle Southern California heat.
The city also has a high concentration of HOA communities with appearance standards for driveways and private surfaces. We work regularly with planned community homeowners throughout Mission Viejo and help navigate the approval process before any work begins. Homeowners in Aliso Viejo and Laguna Niguel face similar HOA considerations and age-related driveway issues, and we bring the same local experience to every project across south Orange County.
Describe what you are seeing - cracking, loose surface, a height problem at the garage - and we will respond within one business day. No commitment required for the first conversation.
We visit the property, measure the area, and check base condition before giving you a written estimate. The quote clearly states what will be milled, the target depth, and what the new asphalt layer will consist of - nothing vague.
The milling machine grinds down the old surface to the agreed depth. The removed material is loaded for recycling. The work is loud and produces some dust, but is usually complete in a few hours for a standard residential driveway.
Within a day or two of milling, we return to pave the new asphalt layer. Fresh material is spread, graded to the correct slope, and compacted with a roller. Your contractor will confirm exactly how long to wait before driving on the new surface.
We visit the surface in person, check base condition, and give you a written estimate with an honest recommendation - milling, overlay, or something else. Most quote requests get a response within one business day.
(714) 750-8059Our state contractor license is current and verifiable through the California Contractors State License Board at cslb.ca.gov. Liability insurance and workers compensation coverage are in place on every job - protecting you from any liability on your property.
Milling a surface whose base has shifted only delays the same cracks from returning. We assess base stability before recommending milling and address any base issues before new asphalt goes down, so the finished surface holds for years rather than months.
We follow installation standards aligned with the National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA), the leading national trade body for paving contractors. That means proven milling depth practices, quality material selection, and compaction standards that meet industry benchmarks for Southern California conditions.
We have been completing asphalt milling and paving work in Mission Viejo and surrounding south Orange County cities since 2016. We know the seasonal timing, the HOA approval process, and the soil conditions specific to this area - experience that shows up in the quality of the finished result.
A good milling job is about more than removing the old surface - it is about setting up the new layer to last. We get the depth right, check the base, correct the slope, and pave with quality material so your driveway holds up to Mission Viejo's sun, soils, and HOA scrutiny for the long term.
Fix the grade and runoff issues that often accompany a deteriorated driveway surface, addressing both problems during the same project.
Learn MoreWhen the base also needs attention before a new surface goes down, asphalt resurfacing handles the full restoration from base to finish.
Learn MoreLate spring through early fall is the ideal paving window - contact us now to book your estimate before the schedule fills up.
