Paving, masonry & concrete questions

All of Westchester County and Putnam County, New York, including Peekskill, Yorktown, Cortlandt, Bedford, White Plains, Scarsdale, the Rivertowns, the Sound Shore, Yonkers, Mount Vernon, Carmel, Mahopac, and Brewster.

Asphalt driveways and parking lots; concrete sidewalks, patios, and steps; Unilock pavers, bluestone, and flagstone; Belgian block curbing and railroad tie work; and stone walls, retaining walls, and stone steps. We work for homeowners, property managers, and businesses.

Since 1985. We have served Westchester and Putnam County for more than 40 years.

Yes. We hold a Westchester County home improvement license and carry general liability and workers' compensation insurance. We can provide certificates on request.

Yes. We pave and repair parking lots and build sidewalks, curbing, and walkways for businesses, apartment buildings, and property managers, as well as residential work.

Call (914) 386-7179, email zarrcon@gmail.com, or use the request form on our contact page. We visit the property, look at the ground and drainage, and give you a written estimate.

Asphalt costs the least to install, handles freeze and thaw well, and is quick to repair. Concrete lasts a long time but can crack and is hard to patch invisibly. Pavers cost the most but can be lifted and reset, and offer the most design choices. In every case the base and drainage matter more than the surface.

It depends on the municipality and the work. Anything in the public right-of-way, such as a new apron, a curb cut, or a sidewalk, usually needs approval, and taller retaining walls often do too. We check the requirements for your address before we start.

Usually after about three days, longer in hot weather. For the first few weeks, avoid turning the wheel while the car is stopped, and keep heavy trucks, trailers, and jack stands off the surface.

Resurfacing works when the base underneath is sound and the problem is surface wear. Wide cracking, sunken areas, and standing water usually mean the base has failed, and an overlay will crack along the same lines. We tell you which your driveway needs after we see it.

Hot mix asphalt needs warm ground and air to compact properly, and regional asphalt plants generally close for the winter. Most paving happens from spring through late fall.

The base and the drainage. A properly compacted stone base, correct thickness, and pitch that moves water off the surface matter more than anything you can see on top.

Pavers can be lifted and reset if the ground moves and come in many colors and sizes. Bluestone and flagstone give a traditional look that suits older Westchester homes. Poured concrete costs less up front but is harder to repair invisibly. All three last when the base is built properly.

Water and frost. Without drainage behind a wall, water builds up, freezes, and pushes the stone out. Rebuilding with drainage stone and a proper base fixes the cause, not only the look.

Often, once a wall passes a certain height or holds back a driveway or structure. The threshold differs by municipality, and taller walls may need an engineer's design. We confirm the requirements for your address before we build.

Almost always because of the base: too thin, poorly compacted, or not pitched to drain. Missing edge restraints also let the field spread. We rebuild the base when we reset failed pavers.

Foot traffic is usually fine after a day or two. Vehicles should wait about a week. Concrete keeps gaining strength for roughly a month.

In many Westchester municipalities the property owner maintains the sidewalk, and replacement in the public right-of-way often needs a permit. We check the rules for your municipality before we start.

Concrete shrinks as it cures and moves with temperature. Control joints give those cracks a place to happen in a straight line. Random cracking usually comes from a weak base, poor drainage, or missing joints.

Within limits. Concrete must not freeze before it cures, so late-season pours need protection, and some jobs are better scheduled for spring. We plan each pour around the forecast.

Every two to three years is typical for a residential driveway. Sealing too often builds up layers that can flake. Traffic, sun exposure, and salt use all affect the right interval.

Wait several months so the asphalt can cure, usually until the following season. Sealing too early traps oils that need to escape.

Sealcoat alone does not. Cracks need to be cleaned and filled with crack sealant first. Sealing protects sound asphalt; it does not repair a failed base.

Sealer needs dry pavement and mild temperatures to cure, so it is done in warm, dry weather, typically late spring through early fall.