Paving & Driveways
Paving Your Driveway - the Asphalt Asset
Driveway Materials - Advantages & Disadvantages
Cost Estimates for Paving Options
Cost Estimates for Paving Options
These estimates include $1.50-$2.50 a square foot for the sub base required regardless of what materials you choose. Remember, these are only estimates and very general ones at that. Contact a professional to get specific pricing for your particular project.
Asphalt -$3.00-$6.00/square foot, sub grade included
The good thing about asphalt is that it requires a fairly minimal amount of time to install and to cure. In most applications, you should be able to drive on asphalt within 3 days of its having been laid. Asphalt comes in one color: black.
Cement (Regular, broom finish): $3.00-$6.50 including sub grade work and the finish If you want it colored, typically, add $.50-$1.00/square foot. If you want to seal it, add another $1.00-$1.50/square foot. (This may be especially important with colored cement, simply for protection and ease of cleanup from grease and spills in general.)
Stamped Concrete - $6.00-$9.00 with sub base work included.
Stamped concrete is making headway as a decorative product and typically runs about $2.00 - $3.00 more per square foot than broom finished concrete work. It has the virtue of great texture and color. New patterns develop daily and the installers just get better, the more they use this relatively new product.
Interlocking Brick Pavers - $6.00-$20.00
Interlocking brick pavers are pretty much the most expensive alternative at least regarding standard paving practices. Your granite stones and the exotic embeddings and fancy alternations of cement and pavers can be much costlier owing to the handwork and crafting and cutting of the materials, naturally. But interlocking brick pavers have many virtues, perhaps foremost among them durability, and not far behind, beauty. Retail, pavers tend to run from $2.50/square foot to a maximum of about $4.00/square foot for some real sizable and gorgeous ones. Interlocking brick sidewalks, patios and driveways also have the one true merit many homeowners crave: instant value upgrading. These products are supremely appreciated in real estate circles.
As in any other service you spend thousands of dollars on, make sure you are confident about your contractor.