Resurfacing puts a new layer of asphalt over the existing surface. Repaving removes the old asphalt, repairs or rebuilds the base, and starts over. The difference between them is almost never the surface you are looking at — it is what is underneath.
When resurfacing is usually reasonable
- The base is stable and the driveway does not flex or rock under vehicle weight.
- Cracking is surface-level, narrow, and not arranged in an interconnected pattern.
- Drainage works, with no standing water after a rain.
- Edges are intact rather than crumbling away.
When resurfacing usually will not hold
- Alligator cracking, where cracks form an interconnected pattern. This normally signals base failure, and a new layer over a failing base fails with it.
- Potholes that keep returning in the same spot.
- Areas that hold water, which points to grading rather than surface wear.
- Soft or pumping spots that move when driven over.
Why the freeze-thaw cycle matters here
In the Ohio Valley, water that enters a crack and then freezes expands and widens that crack. The same driveway that looks acceptable in September can open up noticeably by March. Sealing small cracks early is inexpensive maintenance; ignoring them is how a surface repair becomes a base repair.
What a site visit should determine
A useful assessment looks at base condition, drainage patterns, edge support, existing thickness, and how the driveway is actually used — passenger vehicles behave very differently from delivery or equipment traffic.
Ask for the recommendation in writing, with the reasoning attached. If someone quotes an overlay without evaluating the base, that number is a guess.