Asphalt Crack Repair in Sherwood, Oregon: Diagnosis & Fix

Quick Verdict

Asphalt crack repair in Sherwood works best when you read the crack first, then match the fix to it. A clean line crack on a sound lot can be routed and sealed for years of protection, but a connected, web-like pattern means the base has failed and sealing it only buys a season. Sherwood sits at the southwest edge of the metro in Washington County, on valley clay that holds winter water and softens the sub-grade. This guide shows you how to read the crack, what a proper repair looks like, and when to stop sealing and get a real assessment.

Why Cracks Happen on Sherwood Pavement

Sherwood is a fast-growing Washington County community along the Highway 99W corridor, southwest of Tualatin and Tigard. The soil under most lots here is dense Willamette Valley clay, layered over the rockier Tonquin geology that runs through this part of the county. That clay holds water through the wet season. When the sub-grade saturates, it swells; when it dries in summer, it shrinks. That seasonal movement flexes the asphalt above it and opens cracks.

Sherwood's growth also means a mix of pavement ages — newer subdivisions next to older commercial lots along Pacific Highway and the Tonquin area. Newer pavement cracks from thermal movement and settlement; older pavement cracks from oxidation and fatigue. Either way, the crack is the symptom, and the question is what is moving below. Our pavement distress diagnosis guide covers every distress type.

Reading the Crack: Surface vs. Structural

Before anyone fills anything, read the pattern:

• Single straight cracks along a joint or across the lane are usually thermal or reflective — good candidates for routing and sealing.
• Cracks following the pavement edge point to weak shoulder support or drainage that leaves water on clay.
• Connected, interlaced cracking that looks like reptile skin is alligator cracking — a base failure, not a surface issue. We cover that in our alligator cracking repair in Sherwood guide.

If you cannot tell which you have, a pavement distress inspection in Sherwood settles it.

The Right Way to Repair a Crack

A repair that lasts is more than filler from a tube:

1. Clean the crack. Remove dirt, weeds, and old failed sealant. A wet, dirty crack rejects sealant within months.
2. Rout working cracks. A clean routed reservoir gives the sealant room to flex with seasonal movement.
3. Apply hot-pour sealant. A flexible, heated sealant bonds to the crack walls and keeps winter rain out of the base.
4. Patch widened cracks. Where a crack has spalled into a hole, it needs a patch, not sealant.

Done right, sealing keeps water out of the structure — the key to protecting a base on water-holding clay.

When a Crack Means Bigger Trouble

Some cracks have moved past sealing:

• The crack is wide with loose, crumbling edges and you can see base material.
• The cracking is spreading into a connected pattern.
• The pavement flexes or deflects when a vehicle rolls over it.

In those cases the honest fix is partial-depth or full-depth patching of the failed area, sometimes with base repair on soft clay. Sealing over a failing base just hides the problem until winter reopens it.

Industry Baseline Range: routing and hot-pour crack sealing typically runs in the range of $1.00 to $3.50 per linear foot, while full-depth patching of a failed area runs $4.00 to $12.00+ per square foot. These are industry baseline ranges for planning only — actual pricing depends on lot size, access, condition, and current market conditions. Get a site-specific quote.

Current Market Reality

Oregon's paving and sealing season runs roughly May through October, and Washington County crews book out fast once the dry weather arrives. Crack sealing needs a dry crack and moderate temperatures, so the same wet winter that opens your cracks closes the window to fix them well. Getting scheduled early in the season means a properly dried-out crack and a better price before the summer rush.

The Bottom Line for Sherwood Property Owners

Catch a crack early on sound pavement and a clean rout-and-seal protects your lot for years. Wait until the crack spreads and the clay below softens, and you are into patching or reconstruction. The smart move on Sherwood lots is an honest read of the crack before you spend. Cojo provides asphalt repair services across Washington County and the 99W corridor and will tell you which situation you are in. Request a crack assessment and we will walk your lot before you commit.