Driveway Resurfacing in Happy Valley, Oregon: Cost & Process

Driveway Resurfacing in Happy Valley: A Cost-Effective Refresh

When a Happy Valley driveway is showing its age — faded, surface-cracked, a little rough — but hasn't fallen apart, resurfacing is often the smart fix. An overlay lays a fresh layer of asphalt over the existing surface, restoring a clean look and adding years without a full tear-out. In a city built largely on newer hillside subdivisions, where many driveways are still relatively young, an overlay is frequently all a worn surface needs.

This guide explains what resurfacing involves, what it costs in 2026, and how to tell whether an overlay will hold — especially important on Happy Valley's slopes, where drainage and base condition drive the decision.

What Driveway Resurfacing Costs in Happy Valley

Resurfacing, or an overlay, installs a new layer of hot-mix asphalt — usually 1.5 to 2 inches thick — over a driveway with a sound base. Because the old pavement stays as part of the foundation, you skip excavation and base rebuilding.

Industry baseline ranges shown below. Actual costs vary based on driveway size, surface prep, slope, and current market conditions.

Driveway Size	Approx. Square Footage	Industry Baseline Range
Single-car	400–600 sq ft	$1,200–$2,800
Two-car	600–900 sq ft	$1,800–$4,200
Three-car / hillside	1,000–2,000+ sq ft	$3,000–$8,500+

Per square foot, resurfacing has historically been baselined around $3 to $5, versus roughly $7 to $13 for a full replacement. How much crack repair and prep your driveway needs, plus slope and access, sets the final number. Happy Valley's larger hillside driveways raise total square footage, and slope can affect prep. For help deciding between an overlay and a tear-out, see our resurfacing vs. replacement decision guide.

The Resurfacing Process Step by Step

A professional overlay in Happy Valley follows this sequence:

1. Cleaning — The surface is swept and pressure-cleaned of dirt, moss, and loose debris. The metro's damp shoulder seasons leave moss on shaded, north-facing driveways.
2. Crack and pothole repair — Cracks are cleaned and filled; potholes are cut out and patched so they don't reflect through the new layer.
3. Edge milling when needed — Where the driveway meets a garage slab, walkway, or street, the edge may be milled so the new layer ties in flush.
4. Tack coat — A bonding agent is applied so the new asphalt fuses to the old.
5. Paving and compaction — Fresh hot-mix is laid and rolled to thickness while hot. On a slope, a traction finish keeps the new surface usable in winter.
6. Cure time — Foot traffic within a day, vehicles typically within two to three days depending on temperature.

When Resurfacing Is Right for Your Happy Valley Driveway

An overlay works when the trouble is on the surface and the base is sound. Good candidates show:

• Surface cracking and faded, oxidized asphalt rather than structural failure
• Even settlement without major heaving or sinking
• Cracks that are mostly hairline to moderate, not widespread alligator cracking
• A base that still drains and supports weight without soft spots

Many Happy Valley driveways are relatively new, so the wear is often genuinely on the surface — making them good overlay candidates. But slope changes the math: if hillside drainage has been washing out the base, an overlay won't hold no matter how good the surface looks. Our asphalt driveway overlay guide covers the thickness and prep that make an overlay last, and our paving a steep driveway in Oregon guide explains how slope affects everything.

When an Overlay Won't Hold Up

Skip resurfacing if your driveway shows:

• Widespread alligator cracking across more than about 25 percent of the surface — a sign the base has failed
• Recurring potholes that keep returning after patching
• Standing water or erosion channels pointing to drainage problems — a real risk on slopes
• Heaving or major settlement from an unstable or washed-out sub-base

In those cases, replacement is the better long-term value, and our resurfacing-vs-replacement guide walks through the decision.

Happy Valley Climate and Timing

The Willamette Valley's wet winters and dry summers set the resurfacing calendar. Hot-mix asphalt needs dry weather and surface temperatures above roughly 50°F to bond and cure, which makes late spring through early fall the working window. The metro's reliable summer dry spell is excellent for curing, but the season books up — lining up an overlay in spring for early-summer work usually gets better scheduling.

Resurfacing also resets the maintenance clock. Sealcoat the new overlay after it's cured for six to twelve months, then keep it on a regular rhythm. Our asphalt maintenance services protect the new surface, and the complete asphalt driveway guide for Oregon folds resurfacing into the full maintenance plan.

What a Contractor Can't See Until Work Begins

Even a thorough inspection has blind spots, and on a hillside the stakes are higher. A few conditions only surface once work starts:

• Hidden base erosion from drainage that's been quietly undercutting the slope
• Old patches that never bonded and are lifting beneath the surface
• Drainage that undercuts the edge of the driveway over time
• Thicker-than-expected old asphalt that affects milling at the tie-ins

This is why an on-site assessment beats any online estimate. A contractor who walks your Happy Valley driveway, probes for soft spots, and checks how the slope drains will give you a far more reliable quote — and an honest answer on whether resurfacing will last.