Portland Driveway Coatings for Bungalow and Ranch Concrete

We cross the I-5 or I-205 bridge for Portland work, a trip of 20 to 40 minutes based on the neighborhood. Most driveways we see here are short and narrow, running along the side of a 1920s house to a detached garage in back. A lot of them are two concrete ribbons with grass in between. Some were poured so long ago that they are cracked in a dozen places and sloped toward the house.

A coating can make an old driveway look far better, but it cannot make broken concrete whole. Before we talk about color or finish, we look at every section to see whether it is solid, whether it has sunk or lifted, and whether the cracks are moving. That tells us whether a coating is worth your money.

What Works on Century-Old Concrete

Old Portland driveways are often harder than you would expect, but the surface has worn away over decades. Sealer alone just makes the wear look shiny. So on most of them, if the slab is sound, we grind the surface and lay down a polymer-modified overlay. It covers exposed aggregate and old patches, and we add grit so it is not slick under the drizzle that lasts from October to May.

On newer east-side driveways, like the 1950s and 60s ranches in Montavilla and Lents, the concrete is often in better shape, and a densifier and an oil-resistant sealer may be all it needs. It is also cheaper. Either way, we fill hairline cracks. Cracks that open and close with Portland's wet clay soil are going to come back, and we tell you that.

Our Driveway Coatings System

Materials: Polymer overlay or densifier + acrylic sealer
Thickness: 40-100 mils
Install time: 1-2 days
Walk on it: 1-2 days after
Drive on it: about a week after
Warranty: 8 years

Salt and deicer resistant.

Clay Soil and Old Slabs

Portland's clay soil holds water, and poor drainage around old homes means driveways stay damp. That damp soil swells and shrinks, which is why so many old driveways in Sellwood, Woodstock, and St. Johns have cracks that have opened and shifted over the years. Near Mount Tabor and in the West Hills, the driveways also tend to be sloped, sometimes steeply. We look at drainage, slope, and crack movement during the estimate. If the slab has heaved or is crumbling, we will recommend replacement rather than sell you a coating.

Portland Neighborhoods We Cover

Sellwood, St. Johns, Montavilla, Woodstock, Lents, the West Hills

What a Portland Driveway Coating Costs

A side-yard driveway to a detached bungalow garage is often only 200 to 350 square feet. At $3 to $7 per foot, that is about $600 to $2,450. East-side ranch driveways usually run 400 to 550 square feet, or $1,200 to $3,850. Older driveways that need grinding and patching typically land near the upper end.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you coat a Portland ribbon driveway with grass down the middle?

Yes. We coat the two concrete strips and leave the grass alone. The edges need a little extra care where the concrete meets the soil. Ribbon driveways are small, so they tend to be inexpensive, but they often have edge cracking that we will point out before we start.

My Sellwood driveway is sloped toward the house. Will coating fix the drainage?

No. A coating follows the shape of the concrete underneath. If water runs toward your foundation, that is a grading or slab problem, and it needs to be fixed first. We can coat after the drainage is corrected, and the grit in our top coat helps with footing on a slope.

Is it worth coating a 90-year-old driveway?

If it is still in one piece and not heaving, often yes. Old concrete can be very hard. If it has broken into loose chunks or has sections that rock when you step on them, no. Replacement is the right call there, and we will say so.

Does the bridge trip add to the cost of a Portland job?

Not as a separate charge. Depending on the neighborhood, we spend 20 to 40 minutes on the road getting to you. We try to schedule Portland driveways on consecutive days so we are not making extra trips during the cure.

How soon can I drive on a coated Portland driveway?

People can cross it on foot within one to two days of the crew leaving. Cars wait about a week for a full cure. During Portland's cool, drizzly months that week can run a little longer. In July and August, two is usually enough.

Nearby Cities Where We Also Install Driveway Coatings