Driveway Replacement in Hood River, Oregon: When It's Worth It & What It Costs

Driveway Replacement in Hood River

Some driveways reach a point where patching and resurfacing only delay the inevitable. When the base has failed, cracking covers the surface, and — on a Gorge hillside — runoff has been undermining the structure for years, full replacement is the honest answer. For Hood River homeowners, the sloped terrain and wet Columbia Gorge winters can push a driveway toward that point faster than on flat ground, and the area's haul distance from asphalt plants makes planning the rebuild correctly all the more worthwhile.

This guide explains when replacement is justified, what a full tear-out and rebuild involves, what it costs, and what Hood River's terrain and logistics mean for making your new driveway last.

Signs Your Driveway Needs Replacement

Resurfacing extends a sound base. Replacement is the answer when the structure itself has failed. Look for:

• Widespread alligator cracking — interconnected cracks across large areas signal base failure
• Settling, dips, or heaving — the surface is no longer level because the ground beneath shifted or eroded, common where slope runoff has undermined the base
• Soft or spongy spots — areas that stay wet and flex mean water has compromised the base
• Recurring potholes — holes that keep returning in the same places point to a deeper problem
• Eroded edges — on slopes, runoff that crumbles the downhill edge signals a drainage and base problem
• Age — a driveway past 20 to 30 years failing in multiple ways is usually beyond economical repair

Our signs your driveway needs replacement guide covers reading these symptoms in detail. If the damage is surface-level, driveway resurfacing in Hood River may be the cheaper route.

What Replacement Costs in Hood River

Industry baseline ranges shown below. Actual costs vary with size, removal, excavation, slope, drainage, haul distance, and current asphalt pricing.

Driveway Size	Approx. Square Footage	Industry Baseline Range
Small (1 car)	400–600 sq ft	$3,800–$8,000
Medium (2 car)	600–1,000 sq ft	$5,500–$14,000
Large (3+ car)	1,000–2,500 sq ft	$10,000–$30,000+

Replacement costs more than new installation on bare ground because it adds demolition and haul-off on top of excavation, base, and paving. Per-square-foot baselines for full replacement have historically run $8 to $15. Hood River projects tend toward the higher end because of haul distance and the grading, drainage, and retaining work sloped Gorge lots need. See asphalt driveway cost in Hood River for local cost context.

The Replacement Process

1. Demolition — The old asphalt is broken up and removed, ideally recycled.
2. Excavation — Failed base and soft soil are dug out to stable ground. On slopes this includes cut-and-fill work to re-establish a proper, well-draining profile.
3. Drainage and grading correction — The step that justifies replacing over overlaying, and the big one in the Gorge. The crew can re-grade the slope, intercept uphill runoff, add a trench drain or culvert, or lay a separation fabric.
4. New base — Fresh crushed aggregate is laid and compacted in lifts, typically 4 to 8 inches, more on poor soil.
5. Paving — New hot-mix asphalt is laid in one or two lifts and rolled while hot, with delivery timed so the mix arrives at the right temperature given the haul distance.
6. Compaction and cure — Final rolling tightens the surface; cure follows over several weeks.

Why Replacement Is the Chance to Fix the Real Problem

Here's the case resurfacing can't make: replacement is the only time the base and grading get rebuilt. In Hood River, most driveway failures trace to the base giving way or slope runoff undermining it — too thin, poorly compacted, or never properly drained. An overlay leaves all of that in place. A full replacement opens the ground so the crew can re-grade the slope, correct drainage, deepen the base, and build a driveway that survives Gorge winters.

Spending more once to fix the root cause usually beats spending less repeatedly on overlays that fail the same way. When a hillside driveway has failed structurally, a proper replacement with corrected grading is the last driveway project you'll need for decades.

Permits and Local Considerations

A like-for-like replacement on private property often proceeds without the permitting a brand-new approach requires. But if the rebuild changes the connection to a Hood River street or Hood River County road, or alters drainage affecting the right-of-way — more likely on sloped Gorge terrain — an approach permit and a properly sized culvert may be required. A local contractor sorts this out before work starts.

Timing follows the regional rule: late spring through early fall, when it's dry and warm enough for proper compaction and cure. The Gorge's wet season makes quality paving impractical, and haul logistics mean scheduling matters, so the local season compresses and books up early.

Protecting Your New Driveway

A new driveway on a corrected base and grade is a real investment, and basic maintenance protects it: keep water draining away — critical on a slope — seal cracks before winter, and sealcoat periodically once cured. Our asphalt maintenance services page outlines that care. For the complete owner's guide to asphalt driveways in Oregon's climate, see the complete asphalt driveway guide for Oregon.