There are 5 basic steps to proper paving: Identify area sub base. Remove all soil base material, or current aggregate and/or asphalt product. Replace with virgin 3/4" stone base gravel as needed and compact. Grade entire area for proper drainage and water runoff. Grading may be the single most important aspect of the paving process. A poorly graded surface can cause problems like puddles, cracks and humps. Pave 1.5 to 2" using 3/4" hot asphalt binder and compact / roll. Pave 1.5 to 2" using 3/8" hot asphalt topcoat and compact /roll. Three inches ( 3" ) is the proper thickness for common residential and/or light commercial projects. Some people think the thicker the asphalt, the better the job. The truth is that if you pave more than 3 to 4 inches, you could have problems. Excessive settling from pavement that is too thick can cause tire marks, puddles and humps. Paving less than 3" can cause premature cracking, separation, and breakage. Note: for resurfacing thickness is usually 1 to 2 inches. Some paving companies choose to skip some very important steps. They pave a single layer of topcoat asphalt. Although paving a single layer is acceptable for walkways, paving only one layer on a driveway is asking for trouble. Driveways and parking get much heavier traffic. Demand that a paving company use the proper technique, and that they use what is commonly called binder and top coat.