Driveway Resurfacing in Tualatin, Oregon: Cost & Process

Should You Resurface Your Tualatin Driveway?

Resurfacing puts a fresh layer of asphalt over your existing driveway. It is the middle path between filling cracks and a full tear-out, and for many Tualatin homeowners it is the smart, cost-effective choice. The deciding factor is the base. If your driveway sits on a sound base and the damage is on the surface, an overlay delivers a like-new driveway for far less than replacement. If the base has failed — often from wet soil or root heaving in these mature neighborhoods — an overlay only delays the inevitable.

Tualatin driveways take a beating from the long Portland-metro winters, and the big firs and maples common around town add a wrinkle, since roots can lift and crack the surface from below. Knowing whether you have a surface problem or a structural one is the whole question. Here is how to read your driveway.

Resurfacing vs. Replacement

It comes down to the base. Resurfacing works when the structure underneath is intact and the damage is shallow; replacement is needed when the base has given out. Our full guide to driveway resurfacing vs. replacement covers the decision in detail. Here is the quick read for a Tualatin driveway.

Resurfacing is usually a good fit when:

• Cracks are surface-level, not wide structural splits
• The driveway is faded, rough, or oxidized but holds its shape
• There are no major potholes or sunken sections
• Drainage works and water is not pooling
• The base feels solid with no soft spots or root heaving

You likely need replacement when:

• You see alligator cracking, the interconnected reptile-skin pattern
• Sections have sunk from wet soil or lifted from tree roots
• Potholes keep returning after patching
• More than about a quarter of the surface is badly damaged
• Water pools and undermines the pavement after rain

In Tualatin, lifted or cracked sections directly over a tree root, or sunken areas where wet soil has shifted, usually point to a base problem an overlay will not fix.

The Resurfacing Process

When your driveway qualifies, the overlay is quick and far less disruptive than a full replacement.

Cleaning and Inspection

The crew clears debris and loose material, then inspects to confirm the base is sound — and checks whether tree roots are involved. This is the go or no-go call. Overlaying a root-heaved or failing base wastes your money, so a reputable contractor will tell you straight.

Crack Repair and Patching

Existing cracks are cleaned and filled, and any soft spots or potholes are patched, so the new layer goes over a stable surface. Skip this and old cracks reflect up through the fresh asphalt within a season or two.

Leveling and Tack Coat

Low spots are leveled and a tack coat is applied to bond the new asphalt to the old. Leveling also corrects minor drainage issues so water sheds properly — useful given how much rain Tualatin sees.

New Asphalt Overlay

A fresh layer of hot-mix asphalt, commonly around an inch and a half to two inches, is spread and rolled. You get a smooth, sealed driveway that looks and performs like new.

Cure Time

The overlay needs a few days before regular driving and several weeks before heavy parking. Hold off on sealcoating until it has cured for a season.

What Resurfacing Costs in Tualatin

Resurfacing costs less than replacement because the existing pavement stays in place as part of the base. Industry baseline ranges for driveway resurfacing have historically been reported around $2 to $5 per square foot, though actual costs vary with surface condition, the amount of crack and pothole repair needed, and access.

Tualatin factors that move the number:

• Prep work — A driveway needing extensive crack-filling and patching costs more than a clean overlay.
• Root-related repair — Localized root damage may need patching before the overlay.
• Slope — Steeper driveways take more care to level and roll evenly.
• Access — Tree-lined or narrow approaches that slow equipment raise labor.

These are industry baselines, not a Cojo price. Even at the upper end, resurfacing typically runs well below a full replacement, so it is worth confirming whether your base qualifies before assuming you need to start over.

How Long a Resurfaced Driveway Lasts

A quality overlay over a sound base can add roughly ten to fifteen years of life to a Tualatin driveway, depending on traffic, drainage, and maintenance. Staying current with sealcoating and crack-filling through our asphalt maintenance services extends that further. In this wet climate, maintenance matters more than in drier regions, because every untreated crack lets water reach the base.

The key point is that resurfacing renews the surface, not the foundation. Over a good base, you get years of like-new driveway at a fraction of replacement cost. Over a questionable base — or one being lifted by tree roots — the money is wasted. An honest base assessment is the most valuable thing a contractor brings to the table.