Driveway Resurfacing in Lincoln City, Oregon: Cost & Process

Should You Resurface Your Lincoln City Driveway?

Resurfacing — laying a fresh layer of asphalt over your existing driveway — can take a tired, faded surface and make it look and perform like new for a fraction of full replacement cost. But it only works when the foundation underneath is still sound. On the Lincoln County coast, where sandy subgrade and constant moisture put extra stress on a driveway's base, that condition check matters more than almost anywhere in Oregon.

If your Lincoln City driveway has surface-level wear — fading, shallow cracks, raveling, minor low spots — but a base that's still solid, an overlay is often the smart move. If water has been working its way into the base for years, resurfacing may just hide a problem that resurfaces in a season or two. This guide walks through how to tell the difference.

Resurfacing vs. Replacement: The Coastal Decision

The core question is always the base. Resurfacing addresses the top; it does nothing for a failing foundation. Here's the quick framework:

Resurfacing usually works when:

• The base is firm and stable with no pumping or movement
• Cracks are surface-level, not wide alligator patterns
• There's no significant settling or large potholes
• The existing surface is structurally intact, just worn

Replacement is the better call when:

• The base has failed from years of trapped coastal moisture
• Alligator cracking covers more than about 25% of the surface
• The driveway has deep potholes or major settling
• Water consistently pools and undermines the structure

Because coastal moisture attacks driveways from below, the decision here leans harder on base condition than it would inland. Our resurfacing vs. replacement guide breaks the decision tree down in full detail.

What Driveway Resurfacing Costs in Lincoln City

Industry baseline ranges shown below. Actual coastal costs vary with surface prep, overlay thickness, and access.

Driveway Size	Approx. Square Footage	Industry Baseline Range
1-car	300–400 sq ft	$600–$1,800
2-car	500–700 sq ft	$1,200–$3,200
3-car / long	800–1,200 sq ft	$2,000–$5,500

Resurfacing typically runs historically reported baselines of roughly $2 to $4.50 per square foot, meaningfully less than full replacement. On the coast, the figure climbs when crews must haul hot mix in from inland plants and when surface prep — crack filling, cleaning, leveling — is more extensive. For a side-by-side with new-driveway pricing, see our asphalt driveway cost in Lincoln City guide.

The Resurfacing Process

1. Surface Evaluation

The contractor inspects the existing driveway to confirm the base is sound enough for an overlay. This is the make-or-break step on the coast — a quick visual check isn't enough where moisture damage hides below the surface.

2. Cleaning and Crack Repair

The surface is cleaned of debris, sand, and vegetation. Existing cracks are filled and any oil-saturated spots are treated so the new layer bonds properly. Coastal driveways often collect more sand and organic debris, so this step takes longer here.

3. Leveling and Tack Coat

Low spots are filled and a tack coat is applied to bond the new asphalt to the old surface. Proper bonding is essential — a poorly bonded overlay can delaminate, especially under the freeze-thaw and moisture cycles common near the coast.

4. New Asphalt Overlay

A fresh layer of hot-mix asphalt — typically 1.5 to 2 inches compacted — is laid and rolled. The surface is graded to drain water away from the home, which on a coastal lot means away from the high-water-table side.

5. Curing

The new surface cures over the following weeks. It's drivable quickly but should wait several months before its first sealcoat.

Why Coastal Driveways Wear Faster

Lincoln City driveways face a brutal combination: salt-laden air that oxidizes the surface, more than 70 inches of annual rain that keeps moisture working at every crack, and temperature swings that drive freeze-thaw cycles. All of this means coastal driveways often hit resurfacing age sooner than inland ones.

The upside is that staying ahead of it with timely resurfacing and consistent asphalt maintenance is far cheaper than waiting for the base to fail and needing a full rebuild. A surface that's resurfaced before water reaches the base can keep going for many more years.

When Resurfacing Isn't Enough

Sometimes an honest assessment points to replacement instead. If your Lincoln City driveway shows widespread alligator cracking, soft or pumping spots underfoot, or chronic water pooling, an overlay will only buy a short reprieve before the underlying failure returns. In those cases, paying once for a proper rebuild beats paying twice. The complete asphalt driveway guide for Oregon covers how climate and base condition drive that call.