Driveway Resurfacing in Pendleton, Oregon: Cost & Process

Is Resurfacing Right for Your Pendleton Driveway?

Resurfacing — laying a fresh layer of asphalt over your existing driveway — is the value option when the surface is worn but the base underneath is still solid. In Pendleton, the climate works on both layers at once. Hot, dry summers oxidize and crack the surface, often leaving a driveway faded while the foundation holds. But winter freeze-thaw can undermine a base from below, and the town's hillside lots can develop drainage issues. So before paying for an overlay, the smart move is to confirm the base is still solid and well-drained.

When it is, an overlay gives a Pendleton driveway years of new life for far less than replacement. When freeze-thaw or drainage has compromised the base, resurfacing just postpones the inevitable — the new asphalt cracks along the same lines within a winter or two. This guide explains how to tell the difference and what resurfacing runs locally. For the broader lifecycle, start with our complete asphalt driveway guide for Oregon.

What Driveway Resurfacing Costs in Pendleton

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

Service	Industry Baseline Range
Asphalt overlay (per sq ft)	$2–$5 per sq ft
Typical 2-car driveway overlay	$1,200–$3,500
Crack repair before overlay	Added based on severity
Surface cleaning & prep	Included to moderate add

Resurfacing costs significantly less than full replacement because there is no demolition or base rebuild — the crew preps the existing surface and lays a new 1.5- to 2-inch layer on top. For a standard two-car Pendleton driveway, that puts an overlay in a much friendlier range than tear-out and rebuild. Hillside lots with more prep, and long rural driveways with more surface, can run higher.

These are reference ranges, not a quote. Prep needs, slope, and driveway size move the final number.

When Resurfacing Works — and When It Doesn't

Good Candidates for Resurfacing

• Heat-faded, surface-cracked, or raveled asphalt without deep structural damage
• A base that is still solid, well-drained, and freeze-thaw resistant
• A driveway generally under 15 to 20 years old that has been reasonably maintained
• Minor surface unevenness a new layer can smooth out

When You Should Replace Instead

• Widespread alligator cracking across the surface
• Recurring potholes that signal base failure
• Frost-heaved or sunken sections from winter freeze-thaw
• Standing water or shifting on a slope that points to drainage or base problems

The decision comes down to the base, and in Pendleton freeze-thaw and slope make that especially true. Frost movement or drainage failure that compromises a base won't be fixed by an overlay. Our driveway resurfacing vs. replacement guide lays out the full decision tree, and our signs your driveway needs replacement checklist helps you spot base failure before paying for the wrong fix.

The Resurfacing Process

A typical Pendleton overlay is faster and less disruptive than full replacement, often completed in a single day on a standard residential driveway:

1. Surface cleaning — debris, dirt, and vegetation are cleared so the new layer bonds
2. Crack repair — existing cracks are filled and treated to slow reflective cracking
3. Tack coat — a bonding layer is applied so the new asphalt adheres to the old
4. Overlay paving — a fresh 1.5- to 2-inch layer of hot-mix asphalt is laid
5. Compaction — the new surface is rolled to lock in density
6. Curing — the overlay hardens before heavy use and sealcoating

As with any asphalt work in eastern Oregon, resurfacing happens in the warm, dry months — late spring through early fall — when conditions support proper compaction and curing. The dry summer is ideal.

Why the Climate and Terrain Cut Both Ways in Pendleton

Pendleton's hot summers help many resurfacing candidates: intense UV and heat wear the surface from above, often years before the base gives out, so a lot of local driveways need only a new top layer. But two catches apply here — winter freeze-thaw and hillside drainage. If cold and water have moved the base, or a slope has let water collect under the asphalt, an overlay laid on that movement cracks fast because it is only as stable as what is beneath it. That is why a reputable contractor checks base condition and drainage before recommending resurfacing. On a sound base, an overlay is one of the best-value moves a Pendleton homeowner can make, and timely sealcoating afterward protects the fresh surface from summer heat. See our asphalt maintenance services for the upkeep that extends an overlay's life.

For pricing context across the state, our asphalt driveway cost in Oregon guide compares overlay and replacement economics region by region.

Get Your Pendleton Resurfacing Quote

The smart move is a site assessment before spending anything. Cojo Excavation & Asphalt checks your surface, drainage, slope, and base condition, then tells you honestly whether an overlay makes sense or whether replacement is the better value. We provide free, no-obligation estimates across Pendleton and Umatilla County.

Request a free resurfacing estimate — we respond within 24 hours.

View our completed driveway projects to see the quality Pendleton homeowners expect, and learn about our asphalt maintenance services that extend the life of a resurfaced driveway through hot summers and cold winters.