The paved surfaces around a house, and, more importantly, which way they send water. A driveway is also a $2,500 to $6,000+ line item that buyers forget when it's at end of life.
$4 to $7/sq ft to repave asphalt in the GTA; $2,500 to $6,000+ typical drivewayMonitorExterior
The ten second check
What else is typical in a house this age?
You are reading the driveways & walkways page. Type the year the house was built and I will tell you what else tends to be true at that age, what it costs, and what to ask. One number, ten seconds.
Free. No account. Educational and impartial, not a home inspection.
Why it matters
Flatwork that slopes toward the house or garage funnels every rainfall and thaw at the foundation, it's the paved version of negative grading, and it causes the same wet-basement outcomes. Separately, badly heaved slabs are trip hazards, and "alligator" cracking through asphalt means the base has failed (repave, not patch).
How to spot it
Look down the driveway toward the house, ideally after rain: where does the water go? Check for settled slab sections pooling at the wall, lips over an inch between slabs, wide interconnected cracking, and new asphalt poured up over the base of the siding or brick (a moisture bridge).
What it costs
GTA asphalt repaving runs $4 to $7 per square foot, a typical residential driveway $2,500 to $6,000+. Relevelling or resurfacing individual sections costs less.
What to do
Monitor cosmetic cracking; take slope seriously, regrading or drainage correction where flatwork drains at the house prevents the expensive basement problems. Ask where the water goes in a February thaw if the driveway drains at the garage door.
Education and triage, not a home inspection. Hairline cracks are cosmetic. Slope and base failure are the findings that matter, Casaroo reads both from your exterior photos, and a paving or drainage contractor confirms.
Common questions
Are driveway cracks a real problem or just ugly?
Hairline cracking is cosmetic. Two things are not: wide interconnected alligator cracking, which means the base has failed and the driveway needs repaving rather than patching, and any slope that sends water at the house or garage.
How much should I budget for a driveway at end of life?
GTA asphalt repaving runs $2,500 to $6,000+. Buyers routinely forget it entirely, which makes it a fair line item to raise when the surface is clearly done.
Why does the slope matter more than the cracks?
Because flatwork that drains toward the foundation is the paved version of negative grading, and it produces the same wet-basement outcomes. Look down the driveway after rain and watch where the water actually goes.
New asphalt has been poured up against the brick. Is that fine?
It is worth asking about. Paving run up over the base of the siding or brick creates a moisture bridge into the wall, and it is the sort of thing that gets done for looks rather than for the building.
Last reviewed 2026-07-10.
This guide is general education, not a home inspection and not advice for your specific property. Always
consult the appropriate licensed professional, and get a licensed home inspection before you remove conditions
or buy. Cost ranges are 2026 estimates that vary by region, size, and access; confirm specifics with a
qualified professional.