Asphalt Paving in Malabar, FL

Asphalt paving in Malabar looks different from paving in Palm Bay next door. Malabar is small, with 2,949 residents in 2020, and mostly rural: the census found that 74.1 percent of residents live in rural areas. Homes sit on bigger lots, and many driveways are long runs of shell, gravel or dirt. Paving those takes more planning than a suburban drive.

Size and setting

Malabar covers about 10.7 square miles of land and 2.57 square miles of water, at an elevation of 23 feet. The town lists 1962 as its incorporation, with official incorporation in 1969. Of its 1,359 housing units in 2020, almost none sat empty for sale: the owner vacancy rate was 1.1 percent.

Long drives, done in stages

On a long drive, the cost adds up quickly. Many owners pave the section nearest the house first, where it matters most for mud and dust, and extend it later. We build the full width of base under the first section and leave a square edge so the next phase ties in cleanly.

Building on sandy, wet ground

Rural lots here often have low areas that stay wet after summer storms. The drive needs to sit above them. We build the grade up with compacted base, crown the surface so water sheds to both sides, and make sure the ditch or swale along the drive can carry the water away.

Equipment and access

Long drives and rural lots are often used by trucks, trailers, tractors or horse trailers. Tell us what uses your drive. We size the base and asphalt for the heaviest vehicle and widen turning areas where needed.

Permits

Malabar is its own town. If your work connects to a public road, we check with the town (or the county, for county roads) before scheduling.

Recycled asphalt

For very long drives, recycled asphalt is an option worth pricing. By HomeGuide's figures it costs about $4 to $9 a square foot, where new hot-mix starts at $5 and climbs past $12. It is coarser than new asphalt but far more stable than shell.

Driveway width and passing room

On a long rural drive, a single lane is usually enough, but it helps to have a wider spot where two vehicles can pass or where a delivery truck can turn. We can add a pull-out or a turnaround near the house so trucks do not have to back the whole length of the drive.

Edges on rural drives

Without curbs, the edges of a rural drive take a beating from tires dropping off and from water running alongside. We compact the base wider than the paved width and finish the edges at an angle so they are supported. Keeping grass or soil built up to the edge after paving helps them last.

Horses, tractors and trailers

Many Malabar properties have horses, tractors or trailers. Steel-shod hooves and tractor lugs can mark asphalt, especially when it is hot. We can recommend a thicker surface where animals or equipment cross, or a stabilized shoulder for them to use instead.

Maintenance on a long drive

Crack filling and sealing a long drive costs more than a short one, but it is still far cheaper than repaving. We can quote maintenance for the whole drive or just the section near the house.