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 typic...
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 f...
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 n...
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 ove...
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 tha...
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 ...
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 — thick...
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 re...
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 addresse...
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.