In a business where first impressions begin at the curb, few names carry the weight of four generations.
Onorati Construction traces its roots back to 1914, when Sebastiano Onorati left Italy in pursuit of the American Dream. Just four years later, in 1918, he established S. Onorati and Sons Construction, working tirelessly as a stone mason to grow the business and set a standard for the generations that followed.
More than a century later, that legacy is still visible — in asphalt.
Today, Paul Sr. leads the company alongside his sons, Paul Jr. and Joe. And at 93, his grandfather, another Paul, still makes appearances on job sites, reminding clients just how long the name has stood behind the work.
“He’ll come on the job and say ‘I paved this driveway 40 years ago,’” Onorati explained.
Paul and Joe grew up accompanying their father to job sites, learning from the ground up long before they were old enough to operate equipment. They spent summers in the field shoveling, raking, and pushing wheelbarrows, building the work ethic and values that would continue to carry the business forward.
In a fourth-generation business, family isn’t just part of the story — it is the story.
“Communication is key,” Onorati explained. “We hash it out and address everything before heading out.”
From upstate New York to, as Paul Jr. jokes in classic Jersey fashion, “Exit 105,” the company has paved properties across the Northeast Corridor. Along the way, they’ve completed projects for homes, businesses, and government spaces across the state, especially close to home.
But for all the miles they’ve covered, their busiest stretch begins when homeowners take a closer look at what winter left behind.
As temperatures rise, cracks widen, edges crumble, and surfaces weakened by salt and freeze-thaw cycles begin to show. For many homeowners, the damage starts at the driveway.
“There is a paving season,” Onorati said. “It begins in late March and extends to early December.”
Or from a temperature standpoint, "Forty degrees and rising,” he added. “The hotter the better.”
Essential for safety, salt is brutal on pavement. Think Jersey potholes, just smaller and closer to home.
“Over time, the driveway loses strength and durability."
With a lifespan of 10–12 years for overlay and 15–20 for new full depth installation, driveways aren’t flashy, but they demand attention. Preventative maintenance can mean the difference between a simple crack and a full replacement. There are more cost-effective options such as removing and repaving the surface, or patching up smaller flaws.
If the damage is minor or the budget is tight, crack filling or seal coating can extend the life of a driveway.
Material choice plays a role, too.
While asphalt remains their specialty, the team also installs concrete and decorative finishes like cobblestone and Belgium block. These details elevate a driveway from functional to statement-making.
Even driveways follow trends.
Curb appeal has a ripple effect, especially in tight-knit neighborhoods where one upgrade often inspires another.
“A client on Smith Court may say go down to another house and say 'I want my driveway to look like theirs.'”
From consultation to contract, communication leads. He’s mindful of rising costs and meets homeowners where they are.
“We make it flexible for them to meet their goal,” he said. “We want the driveway to look good but also keep in mind the costs.”
A standard job takes two to five days, weather permitting. The bigger the job, the bigger the crew.
“One of our largest jobs was Jockey Hollow in Morristown,” he said. “We paved the interior roads in the park. It was an almost 7,000 ton job between the base course and surface course.”
Smaller patch jobs, on the other hand, can be wrapped up in just a few hours.
“We've serviced families for generations,” he said. “Sometimes the homeowner comes out and says ‘I remember when your grandfather did this driveway. We hold that close to our hearts. It’s nice to see people sticking with us.”
Summer may be peak paving season, but it can be brutal for the crew.
“Asphalt can reach up to 300 degrees,” he explained. “If the air temperature is 90 degrees, the ambient temperature on top of the asphalt can reach between 150-160 degrees on the paving machine. We’ve had shoes melt. Hydration plays a huge factor in keeping the crew safe.”
That’s when Grandpa shows up.
“He’ll bring popsicles and ice cream to cool the guys off.”
For the Onoratis, paving isn’t just seasonal work — it’s generational pride. From stone masonry roots in Italy to asphalt laid across New Jersey, the Onorati name has become woven into the landscape. And in a business where first impressions begin at the curb, that kind of legacy is built to last.
"We’ve serviced families for generations. We hold that close to our hearts."