Resurfacing an asphalt driveway in Ottawa costs roughly $2 to $4 per square foot, while a full repave — tearing out the old asphalt and laying new — runs about $3.50 to $7 per square foot. For a typical two-car driveway of 600 square feet, that's around $1,200–$2,400 to resurface versus $2,100–$4,200 to repave. Resurfacing (an asphalt overlay) leaves the existing base in place and adds a fresh layer of blacktop on top, so it's cheaper and faster — but it only works if the base underneath is sound. Repaving is more expensive but the only real fix when the base has failed, the grade drains poorl...
Resurfacing is roughly 40 to 60 percent cheaper than a full repave because it reuses your existing base. Here's how the two compare in the Ottawa market: • Asphalt resurfacing / overlay — $2–$4 per sq ft ($1,200–$2,400 for a 600 sq ft driveway) • Full repave (remove and replace asphalt, keep base) — $3.50–$5.50 per sq ft ($2,100–$3,300) • Full replacement (new base and new asphalt) — $5–$8+ per sq ft ($3,000–$4,800+) • Crack filling and sealing only (interim maintenance) — $300–$700 for a typical driveway Resurfacing lays 1.5 to 2 inches of new hot-mix asphalt over the cleaned, prepped existing surface. Repaving removes the old asphalt down to the granular base, checks and regrades it, then paves fresh. Full replacement goes further and rebuilds the gravel base itself — necessary when the base has heaved or washed out. The bigger the problem underneath, the further right on that list you have to go, and the more it costs.
Per-square-foot pricing depends on driveway size (larger jobs cost less per foot), thickness of asphalt, ease of access for paving equipment, and how much prep or removal is involved. Small driveways carry a higher per-foot rate because mobilization — getting crew and equipment to your site — is a fixed cost spread over less area. Long rural driveways cost less per foot but more in total. Always compare quotes on total price and scope, not just the per-foot figure, because what's included in 'resurfacing' versus 'repaving' varies between contractors.
Resurface when the base is solid and the problems are only skin-deep. An overlay is the smart, economical choice if your driveway has surface cracking, fading, minor ruts, or a worn top layer but the underlying gravel base is stable and the driveway still drains properly. In that case, 1.5 to 2 inches of fresh asphalt restores the surface for a fraction of a full repave. Good candidates for resurfacing share a few traits: cracks are thin and shallow rather than wide and alligatored; there are no significant dips, humps, or heaved sections; water runs off rather than pooling; and there are few or no potholes. A driveway that's simply old and tired on top, but structurally intact underneath, is exactly what an overlay is for. One caveat specific to overlays: a resurface bonds to the existing surface, so any prep matters. Existing cracks should be cleaned and filled, and badly deteriorated spots patched, before the overlay goes down — otherwise old cracks telegraph up through the new layer within a season or two.
Repave when the base has failed, because no amount of new asphalt on top will fix a problem underneath. The tell-tale signs that resurfacing won't work: widespread alligator cracking (interconnected cracks that look like reptile skin), deep or numerous potholes, sections that have heaved or sunk, standing water that won't drain, or asphalt that's crumbling to the base in multiple places. These indicate the granular base has shifted, washed out, or been damaged by freeze-thaw — and an overlay over a bad base simply cracks and fails again quickly. Age is also a factor. An asphalt driveway that's already been overlaid once, or is 20-plus years old and never rebuilt, has usually reached the point where a full repave or replacement is the more economical decision over its next decade of life. Paying for a second overlay on a failing base is the classic false economy. When the base itself has heaved or eroded — common on older Ottawa driveways and on rural lots — full replacement that rebuilds the granular base is the only lasting fix.
Ottawa's winters are the single biggest reason driveways fail here. Water seeps into cracks, freezes, expands, and pries the asphalt apart; repeated freeze-thaw cycles widen cracks and push up heaved sections. Poor drainage accelerates all of it. This is why base condition matters more in Ottawa than in milder climates — a compromised base traps water that freezes and destroys whatever you pave on top. It's also why sealing and prompt crack repair extend a driveway's life so effectively: keeping water out is half the battle.
A quality full repave lasts roughly 15 to 25 years in Ottawa with proper maintenance, while a resurface typically adds 8 to 15 years — provided the base stays sound. The gap comes down to what's underneath: a repave (or replacement) that addresses the base resets the clock, whereas an overlay is only as durable as the base it was laid over. Maintenance strongly affects both. Sealcoating every few years, filling cracks as they appear, and keeping water from pooling can push either option toward the top of its range. Neglect — letting cracks open up and water infiltrate through a freeze-thaw winter — cuts lifespan dramatically. In this climate, a driveway that's sealed and crack-filled on schedule can outlast an identical one that's ignored by a decade. The practical lesson: resurfacing buys you a strong decade or more for a modest price if your base is good, but it's not a permanent solution. Repaving costs more upfront and delivers the longest service life. Match the spend to how long you plan to keep the home and how much life the base has left.
Beyond resurface-versus-repave, several variables move your quote: • Driveway size and shape — larger and simpler is cheaper per square foot. • Removal and disposal — tearing out old asphalt and hauling it away adds cost to a repave. • Base work — regrading or rebuilding the granular base is a major line item on replacements. • Drainage corrections — fixing slope or adding drainage where water pools. • Access — steep, narrow, or long approaches slow paving equipment. • Asphalt thickness — thicker mats cost more but last longer, especially where vehicles are heavy. • Season — paving needs adequate temperatures; Ottawa's paving season runs roughly spring through fall, and late-season work can be limited by weather. Get quotes that spell out thickness, prep, base work, and disposal, so you're comparing the same scope. Interlock and concrete are alternatives with different cost and lifespan profiles worth weighing if you're already spending on a full replacement.
The frequent errors: resurfacing over a failed base to save money now, only to watch the overlay crack within a year or two; skipping crack filling before an overlay so old cracks reappear; ignoring drainage, which is the root cause of most freeze-thaw damage; and neglecting sealcoating and crack repair, which shortens the life of any driveway. Hiring on lowest price alone is another — a thin asphalt mat or skipped base prep is cheaper today and far more expensive over the driveway's life.
Hire a paving contractor who inspects the base and tells you honestly whether an overlay will hold. A good contractor won't just quote what you asked for — they'll assess drainage, probe for base problems, and recommend resurfacing or repaving based on what your driveway actually needs. Be wary of anyone who quotes a cheap overlay sight-unseen without checking the condition underneath. Ask about asphalt thickness, prep steps (crack filling, patching, cleaning), whether the base will be addressed, and disposal of old material. Confirm the crew uses proper compaction equipment, since under-compacted asphalt fails early. Check that the contractor carries liability insurance and has a track record in the Ottawa area — door-to-door 'leftover asphalt' offers are a well-known source of poor work. Get at least three itemized quotes and compare scope, not just price. The cheapest number often reflects a thinner mat or skipped prep that costs more within a few Ottawa winters.
Have a paving contractor inspect the base and drainage before you decide. If the base is sound and the damage is surface-level, resurfacing is the cost-effective move; if there's alligator cracking, heaving, potholes, or drainage failure, budget for a repave or full replacement instead. Line up several itemized quotes that specify thickness, prep, and base work, and consider whether interlock or concrete makes sense if you're already committing to a full rebuild. Timing the work for Ottawa's paving season will also help ensure a quality result.
Resurfacing (an asphalt overlay) lays 1.5 to 2 inches of new asphalt over your existing surface, reusing the base underneath — cheaper and faster, but only durable if the base is sound. Repaving removes the old asphalt down to the granular base, checks and regrades it, then paves fresh. Full replacement goes further and rebuilds the base itself. The condition of the base decides which option your driveway actually needs.
A full repave in Ottawa runs about $3.50 to $5.50 per square foot, or roughly $2,100 to $3,300 for a 600-square-foot two-car driveway. Full replacement that rebuilds the base costs more, in the $5 to $8-plus per square foot range. Resurfacing is cheaper at $2 to $4 per square foot. Total cost depends on driveway size, removal and disposal, base work, drainage corrections, and asphalt thickness.
A resurface typically adds 8 to 15 years, provided the base stays sound and you maintain it — sealcoating every few years and filling cracks promptly. A full repave lasts longer, roughly 15 to 25 years. Ottawa's freeze-thaw cycles are the main factor: water in cracks freezes, expands, and destroys asphalt, so keeping water out through sealing and crack repair is what pushes either option toward the top of its range.
Repave when the base has failed. Signs include widespread alligator cracking, deep or numerous potholes, sections that have heaved or sunk, standing water that won't drain, and asphalt crumbling to the base. These mean the granular base has shifted, washed out, or been damaged by freeze-thaw, and an overlay laid on top will simply crack and fail again quickly. A driveway already overlaid once is usually also a repave candidate.
Asphalt resurfacing runs about $2 to $4 per square foot in Ottawa. Smaller driveways sit at the higher end because mobilization is a fixed cost spread over less area, while larger driveways cost less per foot. The figure depends on asphalt thickness, how much crack filling and patching the surface needs first, and access for equipment. Compare quotes on total price and scope, not the per-foot number alone.
Not reliably. Deep cracks and numerous potholes usually signal base problems, and an overlay laid over a failing base cracks through within a season or two. Existing cracks should be cleaned and filled and bad spots patched before any overlay, but if the damage is widespread — alligator cracking, heaving, poor drainage — resurfacing is throwing money away and a full repave or replacement is the right call.
Resurfacing is cheaper upfront — roughly 40 to 60 percent less than a full repave — because it reuses your existing base. But it's only economical if the base is sound; over a failed base it fails fast and you pay twice. Full replacement costs the most but lasts the longest. The cheapest option over the driveway's life is the one that matches its actual condition, which is why a base inspection comes first.
Asphalt paving needs adequate temperatures for the hot mix to compact properly, so Ottawa's paving season runs roughly spring through fall. Late-season work can be limited by cold weather, and paving in freezing conditions risks a poor bond and early failure. If you're planning a repave, book early — reputable contractors fill their season quickly, and rushing a job into cold late-autumn weather can compromise the result.