Things You Need to Pave a Road

Gravel

• Be prepared to call a gravel service, because you'll need trucks full of the material to create your road base. You'll need at least 4 to 6 inches of gravel, but check with your city or county planning departments to learn about local regulations. A layer of geotextile fabric laid on the topsoil and covered in the gravel road base will help prevent the formation of cracks, ruts and potholes in asphalt, thus extending the life of a paved road.

Asphalt Mixer

• Asphalt mixers keep hot asphalt -- a mix of petroleum-based asphalt cement and crushed stone, gravel and sand -- at temperatures of 300 to 325 degrees so that it remains pliable for shaping and setting on the roadway. A contractor may have access to a portable asphalt mixer, or they can be rented from most equipment rental agencies.

Asphalt Spreader

• Use an asphalt spreader attached to a skid loader as soon as the hot mix has settled onto the roadway. Spreaders are available in widths up to six feet and will allow you to grade the road in a single pass. Skid loaders and attachments such as asphalt spreaders are available at tractor or equipment rental stores.

Asphalt Roller

• Use an asphalt roller to put the finishing touches on your paved roadway. Most rollers are operated by a driver and use two sets of drums to smooth and compact newly-placed asphalt. A small project such as a driveway may call for a one-ton asphalt roller, but for larger-scale projects, such as a parking lot or long road, builders should opt for large three-ton models with drums in the 39-to-51-inch range, according to the website ForConstructionPros.com.