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- porter@portersealandpave.com
- Licensed · Bonded · Insured · OR CCB #223290
Porter has never published a price list for asphalt driveways, and this guide isn’t going to invent one. Every driveway is different enough that a flat per-square-foot number would be more misleading than useful. What we can do is walk through exactly what a paving crew is looking at when they price yours, so the bid you get actually makes sense.
One thing worth saying up front: asphalt is usually significantly less expensive to install than concrete, which is a big reason so many Portland homeowners choose it for a driveway in the first place. But “cheaper than concrete” still covers a wide range, because the six factors below move a bid more than the material itself does.
Six things determine what a paving crew quotes for your driveway. A contractor worth hiring walks you through all six before handing you a number.
1. Size and Shape. Square footage is the obvious factor, but shape matters almost as much. A long, straight driveway paves faster than a shorter one with tight curves, multiple angles, or a turnaround, because curves and edges take more hand work and slow a crew down.
2. Base Condition and Repairs Needed. What’s under the surface matters more than what sits on top of it. A driveway on a solid, well-draining base costs less to redo than one sitting on soft or shifting ground that has to be dug out, regraded, and compacted before any asphalt goes down.
3. Tear-Out vs. Overlay. If the existing asphalt and the base underneath are both still sound, a fresh overlay goes down without removing the old surface, which saves time and cost. If the base has failed, alligator cracking, potholes, or spots that have started to sink, a full tear-out and repave is the only honest option. Our paving crews will tell you straight which one your driveway needs.
4. Access and Slope. A flat driveway with easy access is simpler to pave than a long rural driveway on a steep grade, a tight in-town lot with nowhere to stage equipment, or a site where trucks have to work around trees, fences, or tight turns. Harder access means more time on site, and more time shows up in the bid.
5. Thickness for Vehicle Weight. A driveway that only sees passenger cars doesn’t need the same asphalt depth as one that carries a work truck, RV, or trailer regularly. Thicker asphalt takes more material and more compaction time, and a bid that doesn’t account for what actually drives on your driveway isn’t a bid you can trust.
6. Season and Scheduling. Asphalt needs dry ground and warm enough temperatures to compact properly, so most paving in Oregon happens from late spring through early fall. Jobs booked during that peak stretch sometimes cost more simply because crews are busiest then. Scheduling in the shoulder season, when the weather cooperates, can work in your favor.
Get three bids on the same driveway and you’ll likely get three different numbers. That doesn’t automatically mean someone’s padding the price. It usually comes down to three things.
Scope clarity. A bid that just says “pave the driveway” and a bid that spells out base repair, drainage, and crack sealing as separate line items aren’t the same bid, even when the totals are close. Ask exactly what’s included before you compare two numbers side by side.
Prep quality. Some crews rinse the surface and get started. Others bring machines to scrub moss, dirt, and old sealer off first, which takes longer but makes the finished job hold up. That extra time shows up in the price, and it’s usually worth paying for.
Licensing and insurance. A contractor without an active Oregon CCB number and real insurance can quote a lower price because they’re carrying less overhead, and less protection for you if something goes wrong. Ask for the CCB number on every bid you collect. Ours is CCB #223290.
One Porter customer described exactly this process when he compared bids for sealcoating a five-year-old driveway:
“Impressed. We definitely recommend working with Porter Sealcoating & Paving. The process was simple and easy. We had three companies give us an estimate to sealcoat our 5-year-old driveway that included some seam and alligator crack sealing. Porter came in at a competitive price. We really like the prep work they did to clean the driveway with motorized brushes. Porter was great at communicating. They were on time, quick, and did an excellent job leaving the site looking perfect. Thank you!”
Tony Silva · Google review
Once you have two or three estimates in hand, check these line by line before you pick one.
Same square footage, measured the same way
Same base scope: new base, regraded existing base, or pave-over
Crack, pothole, and drainage repair listed as included or excluded
Asphalt thickness specified, not just called “professional grade”
A start date and a realistic timeline before regular use
The contractor’s CCB number and insurance confirmed, not just claimed
Every factor above changes from driveway to driveway, which is why an honest contractor won’t give you a number over the phone. Porter walks every site himself before he quotes it: measuring the space, checking the base, and looking at access, so the price he gives you is the price you actually pay.
If a full asphalt driveway isn’t the right fit for your budget right now, ask about gravel or recycled millings as a budget-conscious alternative surface. Otherwise, the fastest way to get a real number is to have one of our paving crews take a look. Reach out, or use the form below and we’ll schedule a walk-through.
No guesses. Porter walks the site and gives you a straight answer.
Send us a few details about your driveway and Porter will get back to you within 1 business day to schedule a walk-through. Every estimate is free.
Tell us a little about the project and we’ll take it from there.
