Paving your driveway helps to protect the area from harsh weather conditions, enhance curb appeal, and increase the value of your property.
To ensure the surface is functional and looks great, you should hire an experienced driveway paver and use quality materials. Taking time to understand the project's cost will go a long way in helping you prepare better.
So how much does paving a driveway cost? Here are some variables that go into the actual paving cost.
The driveway material
The first thing you need to look at to determine how much your new driveway will cost is the material.
Some of the choices you can consider are asphalt, gravel, concrete, brick pavers, tar, and chips.
The material you choose will not only affect how much you will pay to have the driveway paved but also maintenance costs and durability. You will also want to consider the climate in your location when choosing a material.
Size of the driveway
It goes without saying that the size of the driveway will have a direct impact on costs. Long and wide areas will require more material, time, and labor to complete. The cost will also depend on the layout option you choose, whether it is a long straight drive, circular drive or driveway with extended curves.
A professional driveway paver can help you estimate the amount of material required to cover the entire surface.
Load requirements
One of the most important factors you have to keep in mind when planning to pave your driveway is the load requirements to determine how thick the layer of material should be.
Generally, stable and strong paving will work well in areas with high traffic and heavy loads. In essence, the thickness of the material will determine how much of the material you use and subsequently, the cost of the project.
The amount of ground fill
The gradient of the area to be paved will be an important factor in the project's final cost.
A naturally flat surface will cost less to pave than an area with dips, rises, falls, and slopes. To ensure the driveway's structural integrity, the driveway paver may need to do lots of land grading to create a level surface, which is likely to add to the project's cost.
Water drainage solutions
Depending on the slope of the driveway and HOA requirements, it may be necessary to divert water. Water diversion will involve installing drains and several inches of gravel below the driveway material, which can significantly push up the project's cost.
Also, removing possible obstructions to make room for the paving will mean more work and higher costs.
Other costs
There are other variables that you will need to consider when budgeting for your project.
Your geography and climate will determine whether the surface needs to be sealed to withstand the weather conditions. The complexity of the design will affect how much work goes into the project.
Lastly, you have to be mindful of local material costs like fuel and freight.
In a nutshell, driveway paving costs will vary from case to case. As a rule of thumb, however, you should never compromise on quality in a bid to save money.
A properly paved and well-maintained driveway will serve you for decades, effectively saving you money associated with frequent repairs.