RDM Construction Companies

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What Is Asphalt Milling?

Asphalt milling, also called cold planing or pavement milling, is the controlled removal of the top layer of deteriorated asphalt down to a specified depth, typically 1.5 to 2 inches for surface replacement work. A milling machine uses a rotating drum with carbide-tipped teeth to grind the existing pavement to a precise depth and grade, loading the removed material directly onto a dump truck via conveyor.

What comes off the machine isn't waste. It's reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), one of the most recycled construction materials in the United States. Those millings are hauled to a plant, reprocessed, and blended into new hot-mix asphalt for future paving projects.

Once milling is complete, the surface is clean, profiled, and ready for a fresh layer of hot-mix asphalt that bonds far better than paving over intact old asphalt.

When Does Your Pavement Need Milling vs. Another Solution?

This is the question most property owners get wrong, and it's the most common source of callbacks and premature pavement failure. Not every damaged driveway or parking lot needs milling. But some surfaces are past the point where anything else makes sense.

You Should Asphalt Mill When:

The surface has widespread cracking, rutting, or deformation
Multiple overlays have already raised the pavement height relative to curbs, drains, or garage slabs
Drainage grades need to be re-established
You need a uniform, level surface for clean line striping or ADA compliance

The Milling Process: What to Expect on Your Property

Site prep and marking

We mark utility access points, drainage inlets, and any sections requiring variable-depth milling before equipment arrives.

Milling pass.

The cold planer works across the surface, removing material at a consistent depth. For driveways, this is typically one or two passes. Larger parking lots are completed in multiple overlapping passes for grade uniformity.

Load and haul.

Material is loaded directly onto trucks via the milling machine's conveyor. Your property is left clean with no piles of broken asphalt sitting for days.

Surface inspection

Once milling is complete, we inspect the exposed sub-base for soft spots, drainage issues, or areas requiring additional base repair before paving begins.

Tack coat and repaving

A liquid asphalt tack coat is applied to the milled surface to ensure proper bonding, then hot-mix asphalt is installed, graded, and compacted.

Asphalt Milling for Saratoga Springs Properties

Saratoga Springs averages 60+ freeze-thaw cycles per year. Water infiltrates pavement cracks, expands as it freezes, and widens the damage from the inside out every winter. By the time a surface shows significant visible cracking, the damage underneath is typically more advanced than it looks from the driveway.

This is why milling is frequently the more cost-effective long-term choice compared to overlays in this climate. Laying new asphalt over a compromised upstate surface doesn't stop the freeze-thaw process. It just buries it temporarily. Milling removes the damaged layer entirely, gives you a fresh bonding surface, and resets the pavement clock.

Service Areas for Asphalt Milling

RDM serves Saratoga Springs, Wilton, Malta, Ballston Spa, Clifton Park, and surrounding Saratoga County communities.

Get a Free Milling Estimate in Saratoga Springs

Fill out the estimate form on this page and we'll get back to you with availability and pricing. Prefer to talk first? Call or text (518) 414-8789. We're available Monday through Friday 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM and Saturday through Sunday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM.

+1 (518) 414-8789