At a retail plaza on East Main Street in Smithtown, NY, a section of failed parking lot pavement needed to come out.
On September 5, 2026, our crew at Royal Pavement Solutions replaced 1,000 square feet of asphalt. We finished the pavement work in one day. Repainting the markings was a separate part of the project, with its own scope.
A One-Day Repair, From Sawcuts to Finished Asphalt
We weren’t replacing the entire lot. Our four-person crew sawcut 50 linear feet around the failed section, removed the damaged pavement, and prepared the opening for new asphalt. The straight cuts left clean edges for the replacement material to meet the pavement and stay in place.
That’s the reason for sawcut asphalt patching instead of leaving an uneven edge. The Federal Highway Administration’s asphalt patching checklist covers the same basic considerations: defining the repair area, using tack coat, and compacting the patch.
We used tack coat as part of the repair to help the new asphalt bond to the existing pavement. Then we placed 13 tons of Type 6 top-course asphalt, finishing at 2 inches thick after compaction. Two inches is the rolled thickness, not the depth of loose mix before the roller passes over it.
The equipment on the job included skid steers, a propane hot box with a belt conveyor, and a 2-ton roller.
The hot box keeps asphalt at a workable temperature, while rolling brings the material down to its compacted finish. The repaired section meets older pavement near the lot entrance and sidewalk corner. We finished it to match the surrounding grade, rather than leave a raised or sunken patch.
Each crew member logged seven hours. By the end of the day, the commercial asphalt repair was complete, and no change order was needed.
Repainting the Lines Wasn’t Part of the Asphalt Repair
Cut out a section of asphalt with paint on it, and the markings come out with the pavement. But replacing that pavement doesn’t automatically include repainting it. In Smithtown, the asphalt repair covered the cutout and replacement. Restoring the markings was outside that portion of the job.
The plan called for additional line striping work to be painted to match the existing layout, not changing the arrangement of the parking stalls, using DOT-approved traffic paint and an airless sprayer.
The plaza entrance has yellow STOP and directional markings. When a cutout affects markings like those, the property manager needs to know who is putting them back.
Before approving a repair, check whether the striping is included, priced separately, or being handled by another crew.
Fresh Asphalt Can Change How New Paint Looks
There’s another detail with markings on new pavement. Paint applied within 30 days of fresh asphalt may look lighter or more faded than lines on the older part of the lot. We flag that possibility because a color difference alone doesn’t automatically mean the new paint is defective.
The Texas Department of Transportation’s pavement-marking handbook also addresses paint discoloration on new asphalt. That isn’t a universal 30-day rule, and it doesn’t make every difference acceptable. The paint used and the agreed specifications are what matter most.
Know What’s Included Before the Repair Starts
If damaged pavement crosses parking stalls, STOP bars, or directional arrows, account for those markings when you’re planning the asphalt work.
For help defining both parts at your property, request an asphalt repair and restriping estimate.
