Paving your driveway is not a task for the lazy. It is a task that is a bit time consuming, but well worth the benefits once the task has been completed. If you don’t plan to pave your driveway on your own then you should know that to hire a company it can be quite expensive, so before you even get started you will need to check out the companies that are available in your area and look at the pricing and reviews. One thing is for certain, having a brand new driveway will make your lawn, and the overall look of your home look renewed and refreshed. Having your driveway paved will also be a bonus added to your property, increasing the value of it.
Choose your Pavement
When it comes to having your driveway paved, you will find that there are many driveway paving options to choose from. Of course with these options, the pricing is also going to vary. The higher quality the paving option is that you choose, the more money you will be paying per square foot. Let’s take a look at some of the options that most companies offer to choose from:
Asphalt
Asphalt is a very good, common option that you can choose to pave your driveway with. It does well when there are various changes in the temperature outside. Its dark color does a great job at preserving heat as well as melting snow and ice since is holds heat very well.
You can expect to pay anywhere from $3 and $5 a square foot for Asphalt paving.
If you are on a budget you can go with purchasing recycled asphalt for your driveway; it is the cheaper option to go with. Asphalt is quite easy to repair from the cracks and chunks that can go missing over a long period of time of use; this is another reason why a lot of people go with asphalt as their choice for paving their driveways.
Gravel
How about some gravel to be used as your next driveway pavement?
Now gravel isn’t one of the best options to go with for paving your driveway, but it is an affordable option, and there are many people who are on a budget that go with this option.
You are looking to pay anywhere between $1 and $5 a square foot for gravel.
Now, although it is cheap, gravel can last for a very long time, but it is looser than asphalt. It is also a bit of a challenge to care for gravel because weeds can grow through the cracks of it, and snow is a bit hard to remove from it since it is loose. A lot of people who live out in the country use gravel since their driveways are typically really long, and the longer the driveway, the more you will pay per square foot for the installment of the material.
Concrete
Concrete is the third option, very sturdy and solid. You should not have as many issues with concrete cracking as you would with asphalt. It holds up pretty well and you would be looking at a lifespan of 30-40 years.
You are looking at an estimate between $2 and $4 for the cost per square foot for your concrete pavement.
With concrete, you can even have it customized with a symbol or pattern engraved into it. Colors and finishes for concrete also come in a variety of different options. The different things that you can do with your concrete paved driveway are simply endless.
The downside about concrete pavement is that oil marks and spills are quite difficult to remove. You would most likely have to hire a professional to have the stains power washed away. If your concrete driveway is exposed to road salt then it can very easily start to erode. However, the concrete option is popular amongst many buyers and you will find it used for many residential neighborhood driveways.
Pavers
Last, but certainly not least, we have the pavers option up for your consideration. This option is going to be the most expensive option out of the rest, but it is quite appealing to the eye and there are many benefits in its use.
Firstly, to cut to the chase, you are looking at paying $5 to $60 per square foot for pavers. It is expensive unless you find out somewhere to purchase it at a lower price. Mostly people who have high paying jobs and live in high class neighborhoods purchase this type of paving for their driveways. However, anyone that really desires this type of pavement can shop around for the lowest prices online or locally.
For pavement damages over time, it might be a good idea to look into your homeowner’s insurance to see what they cover for your pavement.