The Paving Blog

Generally speaking, driveway paving cost varies between locales and within even the locales themselves. A remote home, tucked into some cozy forest 25 miles from the nearest town will cost more to install than one inside the town itself. Among other possible variables is the soil condition, any drainage issues, enough area for the storage of on site materials, and the compliance laws of various communities while under construction (including noise and dust bylaws). However, all things being equal, there are some available parameters for all this.

Bear in mind, we are assuming “normal costs” for the professional and proper preparation of the sub base beneath these finishing surfaces. Typically the dub base work runs about $1.50-$2.50 a square foot. I have included the $2.00 in the following prices, simply because I have hardly ever encountered a driveway project not requiring it..

Asphalt -$3.00-$6.00/square foot, sub grade included

Asphalt work in 3 of the cities I have worked in all come in at around the same prices. As do cement and interlocking pavers costs. The only true qualification, bearing the above-listed items, deals with the sub grade or subsurface which will require excavation and refilling with proper base materials. 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.

Asphalting typically costs about $2.00-$4.00/square foot for the materials and installation itself. There are different grades of asphalt as well, depending on the granular structure. But this is an adequate representation, I would think. Nor does this include the aforementioned base work. 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.)

Cement work comes in a few different categories as well. Your broom-finished concrete is about the cheapest. This can run only slightly higher than asphalt but it does give a better and somewhat non-slip surface with a lighter or more varied color possibility. Other finishes are slightly more money, such as “swirls” or even glossy sheen finishes. These exotic but interesting and fairly cool finishes can add $1.00/square foot.

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. And when I speak of color and texture, it is frankly pretty mind-boggling now what the technology for this product has gone and done. 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. I have installed interlocking brick pavers, (including the base work ), for as little as $6.00/square foot to $20.00/square foot depending on the materials (some of which are very pricey). There is an insanely wide range of colors, patterns, designs and possibilities in these interlocking pavers, even including custom coloring of an amazing variety. 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, including those that appraisers run in.

Each of these products is obviously ranged on an increasing scale. There are obvious reasons for this in terms of aesthetic effect and durability and practicality. Having said that, any choice is a good one, as long as it is done the right way. On that level, like for any other service you spend thousands of dollars on, make sure you are confident about your contractor.