When It's Time to Replace Your Keizer Driveway
At some point patching and resurfacing stop paying off and a full replacement is the smarter spend. For Keizer homeowners that point usually arrives when the base under the asphalt has failed — and on the flat valley floor of Marion County, the months of winter saturation tend to wear bases down faster than drier regions.
A full replacement tears out the old surface and base, rebuilds the foundation, and lays new asphalt. It costs more than an overlay, but when the base is gone it is the only fix that holds. This guide covers the signs you need replacement, what it costs in Keizer, and how the process works. For the full checklist, see our guide on 7 signs your driveway needs replacement.
Signs You Need Replacement, Not Repair
- Alligator cracking across large areas — the scaly, interconnected pattern that means the base has failed
- Potholes that keep returning after patching
- Sinking or heaving sections — water is moving under the slab and the ground is shifting
- More than 25% of the surface cracked or damaged — past the point of economical repair
- Age beyond 20–25 years with widespread deterioration
- Drainage failure — water pools and undermines the base every winter
One or two of these may be repairable. Several together, especially alligator cracking and sinking, mean the foundation is compromised and any new surface over it will fail again quickly.
What Driveway Replacement Costs in Keizer
Industry baseline ranges shown below. Actual costs vary with removal, base condition, drainage, and size.
| Driveway Size | Approx. Square Footage | Industry Baseline Range |
|---|---|---|
| Single car | 300–400 sq ft | $1,500–$3,600 |
| Two car | 600–800 sq ft | $3,000–$7,200 |
| Three car / extended | 1,000–1,200 sq ft | $5,000–$10,800 |
The Replacement Process
1. Demolition and Removal
The old asphalt and failed base are broken up, loaded, and hauled off for proper disposal — a real cost line.
2. Excavation and Subgrade Prep
The crew excavates to a stable subgrade and grades it to drain. In Keizer's wet, fine-grained soils, soft spots are over-excavated and the subgrade is shaped to move water away from the garage and street.
3. Base Rebuild
Fresh crushed aggregate base is laid and compacted in lifts. Where the soil is soft or holds water, a geotextile fabric goes between the subgrade and rock to keep clay from migrating up. This rebuilt base is the whole point of replacement — it fixes the foundation the old driveway lacked.
4. Paving
Hot-mix asphalt is laid in a binder and surface course, then compacted to a typical 2.5 to 3 inches on a residential driveway.
5. Edging and Curing
Edges are shaped and supported, the apron transition is finished, and the surface cures before use.
Why Replacement Pays Off in Keizer's Climate
It is tempting to keep patching to defer the cost, but on the valley floor that usually loses. Every wet winter drives more water into a failing base, and each patch buys less time than the last. A proper replacement with a rebuilt, well-drained base resets the clock for 20-plus years.
The real value is fixing the root cause. A driveway that fails in Keizer almost always failed at the base — too thin, poorly compacted, or built on soft, undrained subgrade. Replacement is the chance to correct that for good. Afterward, our asphalt driveway maintenance services keep water out through the wet seasons, and our complete asphalt driveway guide for Oregon covers the rest of long-term ownership.