Driveways are primarily used to access homes. Apart from this very important function, they are also used to provide a safe playing haven for the kids, a basketball pitch for the teens as well as a lifestyle statement depending on the materials used in its construction. The cost of driveway paving depends on the materials used, the driveway size, labor required and its location.
Types of Driveway Paving Materials
Asphalt paving is the face behind that old and plain black look that characterizes American roads and which keeps this great nation rolling. According to the US Department of Transportation/ Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the vast majority of roads in America and indeed the world over are made of asphalt. It therefore comes as no surprise that asphalt is a leading favorite in the paving of driveways. It is crack resistant due to its high levels of elasticity. This can be traced to oil, which is a major ingredient in its manufacture. Asphalt has a rather hot downside. Driveways paved using asphalt get incredible hot during the hot summer months due to its black color. Asphalt driveways also get brittle with time and need seal coating and semi-annual washing after every 2 to 4 years to maintain optimum elasticity levels. These driveways have a life expectancy of 10-30 years. Asphalt driveway cost range from $1 to $6 per square foot according to FHWA estimates.
Stone paving slabs present another option for driveway paving. Driveways made of stone are considered to be a bit rudimentary. This is because they require frequent maintenance since the stones are prone to moving. However, the stones are available in a variety of colors and sizes that makes them ideal for large driveway construction projects. The stones are supposed to be laid on a well-prepared gravel base and their depth should never exceed a depth of 4 inches. The use of stone in the paving of driveways is prohibited across most US cities due to its loose nature that provides a potential danger to children. Driveways having stone paving can mostly be spotted in rural US where the driveways are quite long such that it would be impractical to use asphalt or concrete. They need constant weed control and re-grading to get rid of loose chippings and stone. Despite their maintenance issues, stone driveways last for a lifetime and cost approximately $1 to $4 per square foot installed.
Brick and cobblestone pavers are the most expensive driveways in the US. This most expensive driveway paving style is accompanied by an intense labor demand. This is inline with the fact that labor and material are the two principal determinants of the cost of paving a driveway. The beauty, grace and elegance that characterize cobblestone and brick paved driveways come with an immense price tag. Each and every piece of cobblestone has to be set by hand a piece at a time. Laying a cobblestone paved driveway is akin to piecing together a huge 10,000 piece jigsaw puzzle. With each cobblestone piece weighing in at 10 lbs and costing approximately $5, paving driveway using brick and cobblestone is indeed pricey and energy sapping. Driveway paving using cobblestone and brick requires that you as the client have a good idea of the design pattern, color and product that you so desire before the contractor can start working on your driveway. They require annual weed control as well as a semi-annual sealing and washing program. The paving cost associated with the installation of this type of a driveway is typically $10 to $60 per square foot but is guaranteed to last a lifetime.
Stamped concrete is the fourth type of paving for driveways. Just like the brick and cobblestone driveways, this type of driveway is also available in numerous colors and styles. They are quick to install unlike the previous brick or paver driveways. They have an intriguing character and beauty that is well beyond what is offered by the standard stone paving and concrete installations. They have an extended life expectancy of almost 50 years and cost anywhere from $6 to $30 per square foot. They require expansion joints during the installation process that will allow for the control of cracks later on. Every now and then, they will require a driveway sealer just to keep them in top shape.
Concrete paved driveways present an extremely durable and cheap alternative provided that they do not crack within their first year of installation. In the Northern United States where the climate is characterised by frost, cracking presents a much more serious problem to these driveways than in the southern states where the climate is much warmer. Cracking in most concrete driveway paving is taken care of by the addition of a wire mesh or the addition of re-bar. The concrete should have a broom finish to prevent slipping when it rains. Plain concrete installations will cost $4 to $8 per square foot to install, while upgrading to a colored concrete will cost $6 to $25 to install.
Other Types of Driveway Paving
- Pervious concrete
- Street print
- Gravel
- Macadam or tar & chip
Driveway Paving
Associated Risks of The Driveway Paving Process
It is important to get an estimate from a reputable driveway paving company before you get into any binding contract. This will give you time to compare the different pricing before making a decision. There has also been an increase in cases of scams involving driveway improvement contractors in several states of the US. In Maryland, the Maryland Home Improvement Commission is advising anyone who wants to repair their driveway to check on the license status of the contractor before they hire them. This advise comes on the heels of some travelling contractors using a mixture of black paint with oil to cover driveways instead of using the recommended driveway sealers. Similar cases have been reported in Pennsylvania and Delaware.