Overlay or repave?
The honest decision tree.

An overlay mills or preps the existing surface and paves 1.5–2 inches of new hot mix over it — new surface, existing structure, roughly half the cost. A repave (reconstruction) removes the old pavement, rebuilds the base, and starts the clock at zero. One renews a surface; the other replaces a structure.

1. Does it drain? Standing water means grade problems an overlay inherits. 2. Any alligatored areas? Scale-pattern cracking is base failure — overlay over it telegraphs through in 1–3 years. Isolated patches can be cut out and repaired first; widespread alligatoring means rebuild. 3. Soft spots underfoot? If the surface moves, the base has failed — full stop. 4. Edge and height constraints? Overlays raise the surface; garage thresholds and gutters need milling to land flush.

Rule of thumb we quote by: under ~25% of area showing base failure → repair those areas + overlay. Over ~25% → rebuild. Between? The site walk decides.

In 2026 Central Valley terms: overlays typically $3–$6/sq ft; reconstruction $7–$14/sq ft depending on base work and haul-off. On a 600 sq ft driveway that's roughly $2,500 vs $6,000; on a 20,000 sq ft lot, $80k vs $180k — which is why answering the structural question honestly matters more than any discount.

Overlaying a failed base wastes the whole overlay — you'll pay twice. But rebuilding a structurally sound lot 'to be safe' wastes half the budget for nothing. The tell of an honest contractor is that they recommend the cheaper option when it's right — and show you the specific failures when it isn't. Photos, measurements, in writing: that's the standard to hold every bidder to, including us.