Driveway Repair in Mulino, Oregon: Crack, Pothole & Resurfacing

Driveway Repair in Mulino: Fixing It Before It Gets Worse

Asphalt driveways in Mulino take a beating. Long wet winters, freeze-thaw cycles in the foothills, clay soil that shifts underneath, and the weight of farm trucks and equipment all add up. The good news is most driveway problems are fixable if you catch them early. The bad news is that ignoring a small crack for a couple of winters can turn a cheap repair into a full replacement.

This guide gives you a straight decision tree: crack-fill, patch, resurface, or replace. Knowing which one your driveway needs saves you from overpaying for work you do not need and from underpaying for a band-aid that fails.

The Repair Decision Tree

Crack Filling

If your driveway has individual cracks under about half an inch wide and the surface is otherwise sound, crack filling is the answer. It is the cheapest repair and the most important one to stay on top of. A filled crack keeps water out; an open crack lets water reach the base, where it does real damage. Our driveway cracking repair options guide covers the products and methods.

Patching

Potholes, isolated soft spots, and small areas of crumbling asphalt call for patching. The damaged section gets cut out, the base is checked and prepped, and new asphalt is compacted in. Patching is the right call when the damage is localized and the rest of the driveway is fine.

Resurfacing (Overlay)

When the surface is worn, faded, and showing widespread minor cracking, but the base underneath is still solid, an overlay makes sense. A new 1.5 to 2 inch layer of asphalt goes over the existing driveway, giving you a fresh surface for a fraction of replacement cost. The catch: the base has to be sound. Resurfacing over a failing base just delays the inevitable.

Full Replacement

If you see widespread alligator cracking (the interconnected pattern that looks like reptile skin), large potholes, base failure, or a driveway that has been patched repeatedly, it is time to replace. At that point the structure is gone and repairs stop holding. Full replacement means new asphalt paving in Mulino with a proper base.

The signs your driveway needs repaving guide helps you tell the difference between a surface problem and a structural one.

What Driveway Repair Costs in Mulino

Industry baseline ranges shown below. Actual costs vary with damage extent, driveway size, base condition, access, and current material pricing.

Repair Type	Industry Baseline Range
Crack filling	$1–$3 per linear foot
Pothole / patch repair	$100–$500 per area
Resurfacing / overlay	$3–$5 per sq ft
Full replacement	$4–$8 per sq ft

These are reference ranges, not quotes. A long rural Mulino driveway, difficult access, or extensive base repair pushes costs above the baseline. The accurate number comes from a site visit.

Why Mulino Driveways Fail

Understanding the cause helps you prevent the next failure:

• Water intrusion. The number-one killer. Water gets into a crack, reaches the base, and undermines the whole structure. The long wet season makes this relentless.
• Freeze-thaw. The foothills see frost. Water in a crack freezes, expands, and widens the crack every cold night. By spring you have potholes.
• Clay soil movement. The valley clay swells and shrinks with moisture, flexing the driveway above it.
• Heavy loads. Trucks, equipment, and RVs on a driveway built for cars cause rutting and cracking.
• Age and sun. UV breaks down the binder over the years, drying the surface out and making it brittle.

Maintenance Prevents Most Repairs

The cheapest repair is the one you never need. A simple maintenance routine keeps a Mulino driveway out of the replacement category:

1. Fill cracks before winter. Every fall, seal any cracks so water cannot get in during the wet months.
2. Sealcoat every 2 to 3 years. A seal coat blocks water and UV. See sealcoating in Mulino.
3. Keep water moving. Make sure the driveway drains and that downspouts are not dumping onto it.
4. Address soft spots early. A small patch now beats a big repair later.

Choosing a Mulino Driveway Repair Contractor

A few things separate a lasting repair from a quick fix:

• They diagnose before they quote. A good contractor tells you honestly whether you need a crack fill or a replacement, not whatever is most profitable.
• They prep properly. Patches and overlays fail when the base is not addressed.
• They are licensed and insured in Oregon. Verify the CCB number.

You can see examples of repair and paving work on our portfolio page and learn more about our professional driveway repair services. Homeowners near the metro often coordinate with the same crews handling driveway repair in Oregon City.