Driveway Replacement in Cottage Grove, Oregon: When It's Worth It & What It Costs

When Does a Cottage Grove Driveway Need Full Replacement?

There is a point where patching and overlays stop paying off. For Cottage Grove homeowners, that moment usually arrives after the asphalt has failed in more than one way at once — widespread cracking, sunken sections, and a base that no longer drains. Lane County's southern valley sees long, wet winters, and persistent moisture is the single biggest reason driveways here reach the end of the line faster than a price chart would suggest.

Replacement means a complete tear-out of the old asphalt and, in many cases, the failed base beneath it, followed by a rebuilt sub-base and fresh pavement. It costs more than resurfacing up front, but when the foundation is compromised, an overlay simply telegraphs the same cracks back to the surface within a season or two.

If you are still weighing repair against a full rebuild, our guide to the 7 signs your driveway needs replacement walks through the structural red flags in detail.

What Driveway Replacement Costs in Cottage Grove

Industry baseline ranges shown below. Actual costs vary and may be significantly higher based on tear-out depth, base condition, driveway size, slope, and current market conditions.

Driveway Size	Approx. Square Feet	Industry Baseline Range
1-car	400–600 sq ft	$4,000–$8,000
2-car	600–900 sq ft	$6,000–$12,000
3-car / extended	900–1,400 sq ft	$9,000–$18,000+

Replacement runs higher than resurfacing because the price includes demolition, haul-off of the old material, regrading, new base rock, compaction, and full-depth paving. The deeper the base failure, the more excavation the job requires — and in Cottage Grove's saturated river-bottom soils, base rebuilds are common rather than the exception. Long rural driveways raise the total further through sheer area.

These figures are reference ranges drawn from national contractor surveys. Your actual number depends on access for equipment, disposal fees, how much base needs replacing, and the condition of the sub-grade once the old surface comes off.

Why South Lane County Conditions Push Driveways Toward Replacement

Persistent wet-season moisture

Cottage Grove and the surrounding south Lane County valley see long stretches of rain from late fall through spring. Water that collects under a driveway with poor drainage softens the base, and a soft base can no longer support the asphalt above it. That is how you get the alligator cracking and edge crumbling that signal a foundation problem rather than a surface one.

Sub-grade and base failure

When the original base was thin or was placed over compressible valley or river-bottom soil without proper compaction, the surface flexes under vehicle weight. On rural driveways that carry farm equipment or heavy trucks, that flexing accelerates. Once more than a quarter of the surface is broken up, replacement almost always beats chasing repairs.

River-bottom soils and drainage

Lots near the Coast Fork Willamette and the area's low-lying ground can sit on soils that hold water and drain poorly. Replacement gives the contractor a chance to correct the grade and rebuild on a stable, well-draining footing.

The Replacement Process, Step by Step

1. Demolition and removal — The old asphalt is broken up and hauled off. Most existing asphalt is recyclable, which can offset disposal costs.
2. Excavation and sub-grade check — The crew evaluates the soil beneath. Soft or saturated spots are dug out and replaced with stable material.
3. Base rebuild — Crushed aggregate base rock is placed and compacted to the right depth for residential and, where needed, heavier traffic. In wet valley soils, base depth and drainage matter more than almost anything else.
4. Paving — Hot-mix asphalt is laid, typically in a binder and surface course, then rolled to compaction.
5. Cure — The new surface needs time to harden before heavy use, and sealcoating should wait several months.

For the full mechanics of a fresh build, see our new driveway installation in Cottage Grove walkthrough.

Replacement vs. Resurfacing: Making the Call

If your base is sound and the damage is limited to the top layer, resurfacing is the cheaper, smarter choice — read our driveway resurfacing in Cottage Grove guide for that scenario. Replacement is the right move when:

• More than 25 to 30 percent of the surface is cracked or broken
• The driveway has sunken or heaved sections that point to base failure
• Water pools and drains poorly, undermining the foundation
• The driveway is past 20 to 25 years old and has had multiple repairs
• Previous overlays have already cracked through

What a Contractor Can't See Until Tear-Out Begins

Even a careful site visit can't reveal everything beneath an old driveway. Common surprises in Cottage Grove replacements include:

• Saturated sub-grade — River-bottom soils hold water, and the extent of softening often isn't clear until the surface is removed
• Thinner-than-expected original base — Older driveways were sometimes built with minimal base rock, requiring more aggregate than planned
• Buried organic material or fill — Old yard debris or uncompacted fill beneath the driveway has to be dug out and replaced
• Drainage problems — Grading issues that funnel water under the slab may need correcting before new paving
• Sub-grade worn by heavy use — Years of equipment traffic can compact and rut the base in ways not visible from the surface

These unknowns are why a site-specific quote beats any published average. A contractor who evaluates your soil and drainage will give you a far more accurate price.

Budgeting and Comparing Quotes

For broader pricing context, our Cottage Grove asphalt driveway cost page and the complete asphalt driveway guide for Oregon put local numbers in perspective. When you collect bids, make sure each one specifies tear-out depth, base rock depth, asphalt thickness, and what happens if the sub-grade needs extra work. A low bid that skips the base is not a bargain — it's a driveway that fails early.