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Repair or replace? Your driveway fix starts here

Published 7:35 am Monday, July 20, 2026

Northwest Washington company answers common questions about driveway installation, repair and maintenance

Driveways take a lot of punishment – rain, ice and snow in our Pacific Northwest winters, baking heat come summer, and the year-round wear and tear from our vehicles. 

If your driveway has seen better days, it’s important to understand the options, including whether to resurface or repair and what materials work best for our climate. 

To get the answers to these and other common questions, we checked in with local expert Jack Harrison, from Coastal Asphalt, serving communities throughout the region.

Should I resurface or fully replace my driveway?

Often, it depends on what the driveway base is composed of and what shape it’s in, Harrison says. If the foundation is still structurally safe and problems are surface level, resurfacing or overlay is the most cost-effective choice.

What is grading and why is it important?

Grading involves creating a gentle slope so water drains off the sides of the driveway instead of sitting on the top. Ideally water will flow to existing ditches and culverts when possible.

What are the benefits of asphalt?

Asphalt is the toughest, longest-lasting surface for the Northwest. For Coastal Asphalt, that means hot-mix asphalt machine-laid over a base built to handle our rain, runoff and freeze-thaw cycle, then hand finished.

Warm, dry stretches are the best for paving as asphalt needs a dry, well-built base to bond and compact properly.

How do I maintain my asphalt driveway?

The company suggests regular seal coats and crack filling as needed, typically every three to four years. If you’re thinking of doing it yourself, Harrison recommends leaving the work to a professional for the best results.

What does the sealing process look like?

Before sealing, Costal’s team will clean the surface, cutting back and removing any vegetation.

Next, after power brooming and power cleaning, any patchy spots are fixed and cracks filled with a rubberized filler.

Finally, after masking and taping off trim, they apply a brush coat of sealer.

Visit Coastal Asphalt’s service finder page to find out if they cover your area. For a free quote, visit coastalasphaltpaving.net, call 360-340-1200 or follow along on Facebook.