Question 1

Do I need a permit to replace my driveway apron in Maplewood?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The apron — the section of your driveway that crosses the public sidewalk and meets the curb — requires a permit through Maplewood's Engineering Department before work can begin. The apron must be built to the township's grade and thickness standards, and work done without a permit can be ordered removed at the owner's expense. The driveway itself on private property is generally not permitted separately. Roca handles the permit application and coordinates the required DPW inspection as part of any project that includes apron or curb-cut work — that process is our responsibility, not yours.

Question 2

My asphalt driveway has cracks but the base feels solid — should I patch it or replace the whole thing?

Accepted Answer

If the surface cracks are isolated and the driveway does not flex underfoot or show heaving and settling across sections, the base is likely still sound — which means a quality patch or a mill-and-overlay will hold. If cracking is widespread, sections have shifted out of plane, or there are soft spots when you walk on it, the base has moved and a patch will re-fail on the same timeline. The only honest way to know is to look at the actual driveway. Roca evaluates on-site at no charge and gives you a specific recommendation for what will last, not what costs more.

Question 3

How does Maplewood's clay soil affect how long a driveway lasts?

Accepted Answer

Clay soils drain slowly, which means water stays near the surface longer after rain and snowmelt. That water migrates into any crack or joint in the driveway surface, freezes when temperatures drop, expands, and forces the crack wider. On a driveway with an undersized subbase — common in older Maplewood installations — the saturated subgrade can also shift and settle unevenly over time, pulling the surface with it. The fix is building the base deep enough to keep water away from the subgrade and grading the driveway surface and surrounding area so water moves off and away rather than sitting. A properly built asphalt driveway in Maplewood's clay soil lasts 20 to 30 years; one built on a shallow base typically fails within 5 to 10.