Asphalt Milling Services

What Asphalt Milling Is and What It Solves

Asphalt milling, also called cold planing, is the process of grinding away part or all of an existing asphalt surface using a milling machine fitted with a rotating drum and carbide cutting teeth. The machine cuts the pavement to a controlled depth and loads the removed material, known as millings, directly onto a truck for hauling or recycling.

Milling solves problems that a simple overlay can’t fix on its own. Paving new asphalt directly over a rutted, cracked, or uneven surface locks those defects into the new layer and often raises the grade high enough to create drainage issues at curbs, doors, and drains. Milling removes the damaged material first, so the new surface goes down on a clean, level plane instead of on top of the problem.

This matters most for commercial and industrial properties carrying heavy, repetitive traffic, but it’s also the right call on residential driveways and private roads where the surface has failed but the base is still holding.

What’s Included

• Surface milling for resurfacing: removing the top layer of worn asphalt so a fresh overlay bonds properly and sits at the correct grade, closely tied to our road and roadway paving work.
• Rut and deformation removal: grinding out wheel-path depressions and low spots before repaving, coordinated with our parking lot paving process for commercial lots.
• Full-depth removal: cutting through the entire asphalt section in areas where the surface has failed completely, ahead of base repair or reconstruction.
• Grade and drainage correction: milling around curbs, manholes, and drains to restore proper water flow before new asphalt is placed.
• Edge milling and butt joints: cutting clean, straight edges where new pavement meets an existing surface, driveway, or road tie-in, closely related to our asphalt repair and patchwork services.

Our Process

1. Site evaluation. We walk the property, check the depth and pattern of the damage, and determine whether the base underneath is still sound. This step decides whether the job needs a surface mill or a full-depth removal.
2. Marking and planning. We identify drains, manholes, utility covers, and grade points that need to hold their elevation, and plan the milling pass around them so the finished surface drains correctly.
3. Milling. The milling machine cuts the asphalt to the planned depth in controlled passes. The cutting drum grinds the material and loads it directly for hauling, keeping the work area clear as we go.
4. Cleanup and inspection. We sweep and inspect the milled surface for consistent depth, exposed base condition, and proper grade before any paving material goes down.
5. Repair or reconstruction of soft spots. If the milled surface reveals base failure in specific areas, we address those spots directly rather than paving over a known weak point.
6. Overlay or resurfacing. Once the milled surface is clean and confirmed sound, we place and compact the new asphalt layer, tying it into existing pavement, curbs, and drainage points.

Warning Signs You Need Milling

• Wheel-path ruts or depressions that hold water after rain
• A surface that feels wavy or uneven when you drive across it
• Asphalt that has raised above curb height or drain grates over time from repeated overlays
• Alligator cracking spread across large sections rather than isolated cracks
• A parking lot or road where patchwork repairs are no longer keeping up with new damage
• Standing water in low spots that weren’t there when the lot was new

When and How Often

Milling is typically scheduled ahead of a planned resurfacing, not as a standalone maintenance item, so timing follows the same window as most North Texas paving work: spring through fall, when temperatures and ground conditions support proper compaction of the new surface afterward. Property owners who stay ahead of surface failure with regular sealcoating and crack sealing often push out the point where milling becomes necessary. Once ruts, grade problems, or widespread cracking show up, milling before overlay is usually the more durable choice than paving over the existing surface again.

Why Choose PMG Paving

Third-generation, family-owned crews. PMG Paving is built on Gentry’s Paving Group’s foundation, giving our team over 30 years of combined hands-on paving experience.

Free property inspection and quote. We evaluate the pavement in person before recommending milling, patchwork, or full resurfacing, so the plan matches what’s actually under the surface.

From driveways to distribution centers. Our crews handle milling on everything from a single residential drive to large commercial and industrial yards.

Honest pricing and realistic timelines. We tell property owners what the milled surface reveals and what it means for the job, before work moves forward, not after.

Where We Offer Asphalt Milling

PMG Paving provides asphalt milling throughout North Texas, based out of Terrell and serving the surrounding region. We regularly work in Kaufman, Rockwall, Mesquite, Garland, Rowlett, Plano, McKinney, Allen, Richardson, Lancaster, Balch Springs, Crandall, Fate, Heath, Greenville, and Quinlan, along with other communities across our full service area.

FAQ

What is asphalt milling used for?

Milling is used to remove a worn or damaged asphalt surface, correct ruts or drainage problems, and reset the grade before a new overlay goes down, without disturbing a sound base underneath.

Does milling remove the whole road or parking lot?

Not always. A surface mill removes only the top layer, while full-depth milling cuts through the entire asphalt section. Which one applies depends on how deep the damage goes.

What happens to the material that gets milled off?

The removed asphalt, called millings, is collected during the process and commonly recycled as aggregate in new pavement.

Do I need milling if I’m already getting a new overlay?

If the existing surface has ruts, uneven grade, or heavy cracking, paving over it without milling first usually locks those defects into the new layer. Milling gives the overlay a clean, level base to bond to.

How much does asphalt milling cost?

Cost depends on the size of the area, the milling depth required, hauling distance for the removed material, and site access. We provide a firm quote after the in-person inspection.

Do you offer milling for both commercial and residential properties?

Yes. We handle milling ahead of resurfacing for parking lots, warehouse yards, private roads, and residential driveways.