Asphalt Paving in Durham, Oregon: 2026 Cost & Service Guide

Asphalt Paving in Durham, Oregon

Durham is a small city tucked between Tigard and Tualatin in Washington County, hugging the Tualatin River and Fanno Creek on the south metro edge. It is a compact, established community of homes and small-commercial properties rather than open farm country, and that setting shapes the paving here. Lots are smaller, properties sit close together, and the low ground near the creek and river holds water. The Willamette Valley rain is steady through the wet season, so a Durham driveway has to shed and drain water on ground that can already be damp.

Cojo Excavation & Asphalt paves driveways and lots in Durham from our Willamette Valley base, an easy run into the south metro. This guide covers how paving works in this creek-side metro setting and what it takes to build a driveway or lot that lasts.

What Asphalt Paving Involves

A durable asphalt driveway or lot is built in stages, and in Durham the base and drainage stages matter most against the rain and the low-lying ground. The work breaks into:

• Site prep and grading — Clearing and shaping the ground and setting the slope so water runs off rather than ponding, which takes care on the flat, low ground near the creek.
• Sub-base and base — Laying and compacting crushed rock to build a stable, free-draining foundation. On damp valley soils, this base work keeps the pavement from settling.
• Asphalt placement — Laying the hot mix at the right thickness and compacting it while hot for a dense surface that sheds water.
• Edges and drainage — Shaping edges and directing water off the driveway, which matters where the ground sits low and water can pool.

Our asphalt paving cost in Oregon guide breaks down how these stages are priced.

Durham's Ground and Climate

Fanno Creek and Low-Lying Ground

Durham sits along Fanno Creek and the Tualatin River, and the low ground near the water holds moisture and can have a high water table in places. Building on damp, low-lying ground takes a base that drains and a grade that pushes water away. Pave over soft, wet ground without proper base work and the driveway settles and cracks. On the lower properties, drainage is the heart of the job.

Willamette Valley Rain

The valley gets a long wet season, and standing water is the enemy of asphalt. Water that soaks into the base softens it and lets the pavement flex and crack. The job here is to grade the driveway so water runs off and to build a base that drains rather than holds. Pavement built to shed water survives the wet season; pavement that traps it does not.

Tight Metro Lots

Unlike the open acreage of farm country, Durham properties sit close together with limited room to work. Driveways are often shorter but access can be tight, with fences, structures, and neighboring properties to work around. That calls for careful staging and equipment that fits the space, which a contractor used to metro work handles routinely.

Permits and Site Work in Washington County

Durham is an incorporated city in Washington County, and city and county rules apply. Work that ties into a public road, affects right-of-way, or involves significant grading can require permits, and the metro setting tends to bring more oversight than rural work. Stormwater management is a real consideration given the creek and the rain. Before any digging for base work, Oregon law requires calling 811 for a free utility locate, which is mandatory and especially important in a built-up area with many buried lines. A contractor who knows the local process handles the permitting and access.

What Affects Asphalt Paving Cost in Durham

Paving prices depend on the project and the ground. Industry baseline ranges exist for driveway paving, but a given Durham job can sit outside them. The factors that move the number most:

• Base and drainage — Low, damp ground near the creek often needs more base work and drainage, the biggest hidden cost here.
• Lot access and staging — Tight metro lots can take more careful staging than open ground.
• Size and use — A small residential driveway versus a commercial lot built for traffic.
• Site prep — Removing old pavement and shaping the ground adds to the job.
• Permitting — City and stormwater requirements can add steps in an incorporated setting.

We never quote a firm price without seeing the property, because the ground conditions and access usually decide the real cost. Owners can also compare our nearby Tigard asphalt paving and Tualatin asphalt paving overviews for the neighboring markets.

Build It for Creek-Side Ground

A Durham driveway or lot built on a proper, draining base, graded to shed the valley rain, and maintained with crack-sealing and sealcoating holds up for many years. One that skips the base and drainage work tends to settle and crack on the low, damp ground near the creek. The smart investment here is in the foundation and drainage you do not see once the pavement is down. If you are paving a driveway or a small-commercial lot in Durham, we can build it to handle this ground and this weather.