Building Sustainable, Durable Driveways with Recycled Asphalt Millings
- Hick's Paving
- Sep 29
- 3 min read
When it comes to resurfacing a driveway or private road, many homeowners and property managers immediately think of new asphalt or concrete. But there’s a smart, sustainable — and cost-effective — alternative: recycled asphalt millings. At Hicks Paving, we’ve been using millings in the Lehigh Valley for years to deliver durable, low-maintenance surfaces with environmental benefits.
In this post, we’ll walk you through:
What asphalt millings are
Why they’re a strong alternative for driveways and small roads
The installation process (and why doing it right matters)
Maintenance tips to make your recycled asphalt last
Real-world use cases and what to expect
What Are Asphalt Millings?
Asphalt millings (also called reclaimed asphalt pavement, RAP) are bits and fragments of asphalt that are ground up and recycled after removal from existing paved surfaces. Essentially, when a pavement is milled or ground down, those leftovers can be reused.
Because they reuse existing materials, asphalt millings are considered 100% recycled.
Why Choose Millings for Your Driveway or Private Road?
At Hicks Paving, we recommend asphalt millings for many residential and private access projects. Here’s why:
1. Cost Savings
Because the material is recycled and readily available, it often runs at a fraction of the cost compared to fresh hot-mix asphalt.
2. Environmentally Friendly
Using millings recycles old pavement instead of sending it to landfills. Plus, producing and installing recycled asphalt emits less dust, odors, vapors, and greenhouse gases compared to manufacturing new asphalt.
3. Low Maintenance & Long-Term Durability
A well-installed millings surface becomes harder over time. Weeds and grass have a tough time penetrating it. Because it firms up over time and resists movement, you get a stable surface with minimal effort.
4. Suitable for Local Conditions
While millings may not be the best choice for heavy-traffic roads or major streets, they perform very well in driveways, long lanes, farm roads, parking lots, and bike paths.
How We Install Recycled Asphalt Millings
To get a strong, long-lasting surface, the installation must be done carefully. Here’s our general approach:
Site prep & grading
We first clear the area, remove any loose debris, ensure proper drainage, and grade for water runoff.
Base stabilization
If the underlying soil is soft or unstable, we may add stone or aggregate to stabilize the base.
Spreading the millings
Millings are laid down in uniform lifts (thin layers), not all at once. This ensures better compaction and bond.
Heavy compaction
This is critical. Using rollers or plate compactors, we compress the surface tight. This step brings the millings together and reduces void space.
Fine grading & finishing
We check for smoothness, proper drainage, and adjust the surface for rideability and aesthetics.
Curing and hardening over time
The surface continues to settle and firm up over weeks or months, reducing dust and improving durability.
Maintenance Tips to Prolong Your Millings Surface
Though millings are lower maintenance than many other surface types, here’s what keeps them in top shape:
Regular inspection — Especially after heavy rain or freeze-thaw cycles, check for spots with rutting, “tracking,” or loose stones.
Top dressing — Occasionally adding a thin fresh layer of millings and re-compacting helps maintain smoothness.
Edge stabilization — Use curbs, edging stones, or borders so that edges don’t crumble or spread.
Avoid sharp turning under load — Heavy vehicles making tight turns can shift millings. Gentle curves reduce that risk.
Drainage control — As with any pavement, standing water is a primary enemy. Ensure surface slopes away from structures and manage runoff.
Real Applications & What to Expect
Driveways & long lanes: Many homeowners love millings for long driveways where full asphalt paving would be costly.
Parking lots: For small private lots (especially low-trafficked), millings can give acceptable performance at lower cost.
Farm lanes, salvage yards & access roads: In places where durability matters but budgets are constrained, millings often shine.
Recreation paths / bike trails: Because millings can be compacted and fine-tuned, they can serve well for non-motorized paths.
One caveat: if you later decide to upgrade to hot-mix asphalt, you may need to treat the milling surface rather than simply paving over it.
Why Hicks Paving Is a Trusted Choice in Lehigh Valley
Over 70 years of experience — We’ve been serving the Lehigh Valley since 1950.
Family-owned / hands-on approach — Our owners and crews are personally invested in every job.
Modern equipment & techniques — We use state-of-the-art machines and proven processes.
Commitment to value and sustainability — We view millings as not just a cheaper option, but a responsible, eco-friendly one.
Free estimates / local responsiveness — In Lehigh Valley, from Bath to Bethlehem, Nazareth, Easton and beyond, we’re in your backyard.
