How thick should an asphalt driveway be?

• <div><p>An asphalt driveway should be at least 3 inches thick over a compacted gravel base. Areas with poor drainage should have a thicker stone base. To <a href="https://www.angi.com/articles/how-much-does-it-cost-install-asphalt-driveway.htm">install a new asphalt driveway</a> over an existing driveway, the new asphalt should be at least 2 inches thick and the existing driveway should be in relatively good condition.</p></div>

What are the cons of paver driveways?

• <div><p>Paver driveways are durable and aesthetically pleasing, but they do have a few cons. For instance, paver driveways are often more expensive than <a href="https://www.angi.com/articles/pros-and-cons-asphalt-vs-concrete-driveway.htm">asphalt and concrete driveways</a>. They also make it easier for weeds to grow where the separate pavers meet up. They may also be more likely to settle over time.</p></div>

Best paving pros near Ruthven, IA

Q: What is the ideal distance between stepping stones?

• <div><p>The ideal distance between stepping stones depends on your design preference. A general rule is to place them about 24 inches apart from center to center to match an average person's stride. Another common approach is to leave about 6 inches of space between the edges of each stone; this can be adjusted to fit the path's total length without cutting pavers. If you plan to plant between the stones, leave at least 6 to 8 inches of space to give the plants room to grow.</p></div>

Q: What color can my resin driveway be?

• <div><p>One advantage of selecting a resin bound driveway over concrete or asphalt is that homeowners have a variety of colors to choose from. Manufacturers customize aggregate materials, so customers can choose browns, golds, greens, blues, reds, and blacks. Some manufacturers also offer metallic shades.</p></div>

Q: Is asphalt the same as tarmac?

• <div><p>Asphalt and tarmac are not the same thing. Traditional tarmac, short for tarmacadam, uses tar as a binder to hold crushed stone together. Asphalt uses bitumen&mdash;a byproduct of crude oil&mdash;to bind aggregate. Though tarmac was once a go-to for roads, asphalt has become the modern standard. And these days, most surfaces referred to as &ldquo;tarmac&rdquo; are actually asphalt. So, while the names may overlap, the key distinction lies in the binder&mdash;tar for tarmac and bitumen for asphalt.</p></div>

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Verified Reviews for Paving Service pros in Ruthven, IA

*The Angi rating for Paving Service companies in Ruthven, IA is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Paving Service needs.

*The HomeAdvisor rating for Paving Service companies in Ruthven, IA is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Paving Service needs.

Last update on November 15, 2025

Reviewed in November 2025
Good installation and good customer service
Mad City Windows & Baths
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Reviewed in February 2025
BHG Frameless Shower Doors Denver provided top-notch service from start to finish. They helped us choose the right shower door for our space, and the installation was flawless. We highly recommend them to anyone looking for a quality shower door replacement!!!
BHG Frameless Shower Doors Denver
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Reviewed in June 2023
they designed a gutter on a difficult corner of my house. with all this rain i did not have one drop of water in my basement!. I am beyond amazed and very grateful. Then they returned and fixed a problem my grandson made when he put up the back gutter. Although it wasnt their work or even...
Go Gutters
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Reviewed in January 2022
They were on time and understanding. They were easy to work with. I would use the service again. They were willing to work with me and they work hard. It turns out great. I was pleased with the service.
Polished Junk Solutions, LLC
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Reviewed in March 2020
Amazing service and staff! Very friendly and great price!! Would highly recommend!
A+ Lawn & Landscape
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Reviewed in February 2020
Jesse Norman was truly professional at all times. He is very knowledgeable about the products and service he provided I appreciated his willingness to work on our time table for installation. I will definitely be referring him and your company to my friends and family.
Eco-Water
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Reviewed in March 2018
Such a fast response to my inquiry and the project was finished very quickly. The customer service was great! I was very pleased with the thoughtfulness and detail that was displayed after they assessed my project to be sure it would work properly for me.
Toft Electric, Inc.
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Reviewed in May 2017
Good prompt service and friendly workers! Only complaint was that I had requested to get filled out rebate forms from them in order to get about $325 from Spencer Utilities and Black Hills Gas. I had to go to their office here in Spencer to get them to do this. Liked that they gave a 2% discount...
Christian's Sheet Metal HVAC
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Reviewed in September 2016
prices are reasonable, customer service was great, and they did a wonderful job. Very clean.
Daizy Sweeps
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Reviewed in April 2014
We did not use this vendor because we felt that if the customer service was that bad in the store, we could not have confidence in them doing a good job. When doing a remodel you need a provider that will do an excellent job and work to your satisfaction. <br />
Syverson Tile & Stone
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Top-Rated Paving pros in Ruthven - Updated Nov 2026

Ground Zero Services LLC

5.0(

)

Gravel or Loose Fill Paving - Install, Spread or Scrape

Serving Ruthven, IA and surrounding areas

In business since 2023

Free estimates

"When amazing!! He did a fabulous job!"

+12

Recommended by100%of homeowners

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Rhyno Pressure Washing

4.0(

)

Asphalt Paving - InstallAsphalt Paving - Install- For BusinessAsphalt Paving - Repair or Patch+1 more

Serving Ruthven, IA and surrounding areas

In business since 2017

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

"Great job. Even got stubborn algae off my skirting!! Thanks!!"

Recommended by100%of homeowners

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DA Excavation & Forestry

New to Angi

Gravel or Loose Fill Paving - Install, Spread or Scrape

Serving Ruthven, IA and surrounding areas

In business since 2019

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

DA Excavation & Forestry is committed to excellence in every aspect of our \nbusiness. We uphold a standard of integrity bound by fairness, honesty, \nand personal responsibility. Our distinction is the quality of service \nwe bring to our customers. Accurate knowledge of \nour trade combined with ability is what makes us true professionals. \nAbove all, we are watchful of our customers' interests and make their \nconcerns the basis of our business.

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d and m painting and staining

New to Angi

Asphalt Paving - Repair or PatchAsphalt Paving - Repair or Patch - For Business

Serving Ruthven, IA and surrounding areas

In business since 1995

Free estimates

We�re a locally owned and operated company with 15+ years of industry experience. We value honesty and integrity, and stand behind our work. We specialize in both interior and exterior residential and commercial painting projects. We pride ourselves on the quality of our work as well as our commitment to outstanding results. We look forward to building long-term relationships with our clients and guarantee your satisfaction!

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Mid Iowa Site Services, LLC

New to Angi

Gravel or Loose Fill Paving - Install, Spread or Scrape

Serving Ruthven, IA and surrounding areas

In business since 2016

Free estimates

With over 20 years of experience, Mid Iowa Site Services is the solution for all your demolition, excavation, and gravel needs. We take great pride in our extreme professionalism, timeliness and superior customer service on every job. We develop lasting relationship, so that the next time service is needed there's no question who to call. Satisfaction guaranteed! Call us today! \n

Response time3 hrs

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Paving Services FAQs, answered by experts

The ideal distance between stepping stones depends on your design preference. A general rule is to place them about 24 inches apart from center to center to match an average person's stride. Another common approach is to leave about 6 inches of space between the edges of each stone; this can be adjusted to fit the path's total length without cutting pavers. If you plan to plant between the stones, leave at least 6 to 8 inches of space to give the plants room to grow.

One advantage of selecting a resin bound driveway over concrete or asphalt is that homeowners have a variety of colors to choose from. Manufacturers customize aggregate materials, so customers can choose browns, golds, greens, blues, reds, and blacks. Some manufacturers also offer metallic shades.

Asphalt and tarmac are not the same thing. Traditional tarmac, short for tarmacadam, uses tar as a binder to hold crushed stone together. Asphalt uses bitumen—a byproduct of crude oil—to bind aggregate. Though tarmac was once a go-to for roads, asphalt has become the modern standard. And these days, most surfaces referred to as “tarmac” are actually asphalt. So, while the names may overlap, the key distinction lies in the binder—tar for tarmac and bitumen for asphalt.

An asphalt driveway should be at least 3 inches thick over a compacted gravel base. Areas with poor drainage should have a thicker stone base. To install a new asphalt driveway over an existing driveway, the new asphalt should be at least 2 inches thick and the existing driveway should be in relatively good condition.

Paver driveways are durable and aesthetically pleasing, but they do have a few cons. For instance, paver driveways are often more expensive than asphalt and concrete driveways. They also make it easier for weeds to grow where the separate pavers meet up. They may also be more likely to settle over time.

The Ruthven, IA homeowners’ guide to paving services

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