Full Answer
How can I do my own driveway paving?
The basic stages are as follows (although these can vary by job and local building requirements):
- Demolition: jack-hammering and removing the old driveway, as applicable
- Design: assessing soil, creating slab specifications and gaining approval from the city
- Excavation: digging out the site to reach solid soil and/or make room for a gravel base
What are the best tips for paving a driveway?
- Lower resale value : Compared to asphalt, concrete typically has a higher perceived value by home buyers.
- Uneven edges : Unless you install concrete edging to hold in the hot mix, the edges of an asphalt driveway tend to be less than perfect.
- Plants : While not a common occurrence, some plants can force up through asphalt. ...
Does driveway paving require a permit?
Important: Constructing, reconstructing (including repaving), relocating or altering a walkway or driveway requires a street work permit that is issued from your District Right-of-Way Management office.
How thick should asphalt in residential driveway?
For a residential asphalt driveway thickness, Colorado Pavement Solutions always recommends 4 inches of asphalt for a driveway. Four inches of asphalt is strong enough to withstand Colorado temperature swings and the weight of most personal vehicles. So, where did the notion of needing 9 inches of asphalt come from?
Is it cheaper to pave or concrete a driveway?
As far as installation costs and concrete costs go, poured concrete is technically the most affordable per square foot. However, even though the upfront cost of pavers is higher, concrete pavers offer greater value and durability than poured concrete and stamped concrete.
What is the cheapest pavement for a driveway?
GravelGravel is the least costly material to pave a driveway. The price ranges from $1 to $3 per square foot.
Which driveway paving is best?
All that being said, block paving is one of the nicest, most welcoming driveway materials you can opt for... providing it has been laid correctly, of course. The range of patterns available means you can put an individual slant on your home, yet keep a traditional feel that will appeal to everyone at the same time.
Is it cheaper to pave or gravel a driveway?
A gravel driveway is a more budget-friendly option than paving with concrete, which runs from $4 to $15 per square foot.
Is there a cheaper alternative to asphalt?
Gravel. This is one of the cheapest alternatives to asphalt driveways by far, costing very little to have installed. The average gravel driveway consists of hard, angular gravel laid throughout the driveway.
What is the best surface for a driveway?
Concrete. Among the most durable options on the market is a concrete driveway surface. Although it provides a hard and stable surface, that is highly dependant on professional installation, high upfront costs, maintenance, and weather conditions.
What type of driveway lasts the longest?
ConcreteConcrete is the old standby for driveways. Most suburban homes opt for this material for two big reasons: Concrete is typically the longest-lasting driveway surface, and, if installed properly, it is practically maintenance-free.
What's better for a driveway concrete or asphalt?
Concrete is more durable than asphalt. Because it is a less flexible material, it cracks in freezing temperatures, and many people turn to concrete patching products. Concrete offers 50+ years of use.
What are the problems with resin driveways?
There are a number of things that can go wrong in the installation of a Resin Bound surface – we will highlight the most common issues and problems and advise you on how to avoid them. Common issues include unexpected rain damage, surface detachment or shading, reflective cracking and iron spotting.
What is the life expectancy of a driveway?
The average life of your concrete driveway will depend on installation methods, environmental conditions and temperatures. However, you can expect your surface to last anywhere from 25 to 30 years with proper care. The key to prolonging the life of your investment is to pay attention to wear and tear each season.
How long do driveway pavers last?
25 to 50 yearsA properly installed and maintained concrete paver driveway can be expected to last 25 to 50 years.
What is better than gravel for driveway?
Asphalt is best for look and longevity but requires maintenance and costs more. Gravel is more affordable but doesn't look as good as asphalt and will wash out over time.
What should be preserved in a driveway?
Aesthetic objects such as trees and rocks should be preserved whenever possible. Care must be taken to locate the driveway away from trees and shrubs whose root system may affect the pavement as they grow. Also, to avoid unsightly cuts in hilly areas, driveways should generally conform to the terrain.
How wide is a driveway?
When both pedestrians and an automobile will be using the driveway, the minimum recommended pavement width is twelve feet (12 ′). For two-car driveways a minimum pavement width of twenty feet (20′) will permit the unobstructed opening of automobile doors on all sides.
What is the minimum width of a driveway?
One of the most important considerations for residential driveways is the width of the pavement. The absolute minimum pavement width for a single automobile width is eight feet (8′), with ten feet (10′) being more desirable. When both pedestrians and an automobile will be using the driveway, the minimum recommended pavement width is twelve feet (12′). For two-car driveways a minimum pavement width of twenty feet (20′) will permit the unobstructed opening of automobile doors on all sides.
How thick should a driveway be before asphalt?
However, before the existing driveway is surfaced with asphalt concrete, the homeowner should do the following: Verify the existing aggregate/gravel layer is at least 4” thick. Make sure the existing aggregate/gravel layer is graded to remove low and high spots in order to provide a level paving surface.
What should be removed before paving a driveway?
The sub grade type and strength will influence the overall pavement structure. Prior to construction of the driveway, all of the top soil should be removed. Additional soil should be removed to accommodate the final driveway pavement.
What is the importance of preparation of existing pavement for overlays?
Careful and correct preparation of the existing pavement, prior to the construction of smoothing or strengthening overlays, is essential for good construction and maximum overlay performance. Requirements for correct preparation of existing pavements for overlays vary with the pavement age, condition, and use.
How much slope should a driveway have?
In flat areas, the driveway should have a minimum slope of two per cent (2%) or a crown not less than one-quarter inch per foot (1/4”/ft.) so that all surface water will drain off. Drainage from roof downspouts, patios, and walkways should, if feasible, be piped well away from the edge of the driveway.
What are the most permeable paving materials?
Loose Stones and Gravel. The most common types of permeable paving materials include loose stones and gravel, which have been supporting traffic of all kinds for centuries. Robert Daly/Getty Images.
How much less runoff is there in a 18 in paving strip?
If you choose the latter, you will still substantially reduce runoff from your property. Two 18-in. wide paving strips produce much less runoff than a single 12-ft. wide concrete slab. The bulk of the driveway will remain grass.
What is a permeable paver?
Permeable Pavers. Permeable pavers can be little more than a concrete version of the plastic grid systems by replacing the plastic with open cell concrete blocks. Other, more traditional types are pavers in brick, solid concrete pavers, and cobblestones. The key to creating permeable driveways with these materials is to fill ...
Can I put grass on my driveway?
A better long-term solution to using grass on a driveway is to just add two thin paving strips to provide a path for car tires. You could use a permeable material such as gravel or impermeable concrete for the strips. If you choose the latter, you will still substantially reduce runoff from your property.
Is a driveway grass covered?
In the early days of automobile-inspired driveways, it was common to run thin paving strips just wide enough to handle a car's tires. The rest of the driveway remained grass covered. Somewhere along the line, folks began upgrading to solid concrete or asphalt driveways.
What should be preserved in a driveway?
Aesthetic objects such as trees and rocks should be preserved whenever possible. Care must be taken to locate the driveway away from trees and shrubs whose root system may affect the pavement as they grow. Also, to avoid unsightly cuts in hilly areas, driveways should generally conform to the terrain.
What should be removed before paving a driveway?
The subgrade type and strength will influence the overall pavement structure. Prior to construction of the driveway, all of the topsoil should be removed. Additional soil should be removed to accommodate the final driveway pavement.
How thick should asphalt driveway overlay be?
It is recommended, however, that the overlay have a minimum compacted thickness of at least one inch (1″).
How wide should a driveway be?
One of the most important considerations for residential driveways is the width of the pavement. The absolute minimum pavement width for a single automobile width is eight feet (8′), with ten feet (10′) being more desirable. When both pedestrians and an automobile will be using the driveway, the minimum recommended pavement width is twelve feet ...
How much slope should a driveway have?
In flat areas, the driveway should have a minimum slope of two percent (2%) or a crown not less than one-quarter inch per foot (1/4”/ft.) so that all surface water will drain off. Drainage from roof downspouts, patios, and walkways should, if feasible, be piped well away from the edge of the driveway.
How many feet should I park side by side?
To park multiple cars side by side, the parking area of the driveway should be increased by 10 feet per car to allow for the opening of doors. For the length of the driveway, the width can vary. In general, the width increases at the parking area and narrows down along the drive length.
What are the two most important considerations when designing a pavement?
Two of the most important considerations in designing a pavement are traffic and drainage . If either is not accounted for in the pavement design, then the pavement structure will either be over-designed (and money wasted) or under designed (and result in premature and continual maintenance).
Why is asphalt driveway good?
Furthermore, with asphalt, homeowners get a smoother and more uniform surface that other pavement materials cannot compete against. Asphalt driveways are advantageous in many ways for homeowners. They require less maintenance, are long-lasting and more weather proof.
How much does it cost to build an asphalt driveway?
A national average cost tells us that a new asphalt driveway would cost you around $4,500. Since this is just an estimate, you can expect the charges to vary depending on your location, choice of material, what quality and depth of material you require, and the size of your driveway.
What is the most important aspect of new asphalt?
Then comes the sub-base, which is the most vital aspect of new asphalt. The sub-base is the stable surface that lends support to your new pavement.
What is the first step in asphalt installation?
Asphalt installation takes place in a stepwise procedure. Let’s take a look at what you can expect when installing your asphalt pavement: Demolition and removal is the first step of asphalt installation. You need to get rid of your existing surface using heavy equipment and machinery and clear off the debris too.
Why is asphalt better than concrete?
Another reason why we rank asphalt superior to concrete is the convenience factor while working with it. You will have to pay 35% more for concrete than for asphalt. For asphalt maintenance, you only have to repave the top later because the base and middle layer are permanent.
How often should I reseal brick pavers?
While maintenance of asphalt is not burdensome and infrequent, pavers, on the other hand, require resealing after every three years or so.
Why is asphalt considered a green material?
People consider it a green technology because they can recycle it so well and many times. When one has to recycle asphalt, they merely ground up the old asphalt and then reuse it.
U.S. Pavement Services is a leading paving company in the country
José R. Mendoza has been working and managing construction projects since 2010 and has focused on building in a sustainable way. His work has been published in Popular Science and HuffPost, and he has written for The Spruce for more than a year.
Best Overall: U.S. Pavement Services
Why We Chose It: U.S. Pavement Services offers top-notch driveway pavement services for both homeowners and businesses.
Best for Asphalt Paving: Fix Asphalt
Why We Chose It: Fix Asphalt is an expert in asphalt paving and offers quick estimates.
Best for Residential Paving: Kane Paving & Sealcoating
Why We Chose It: Kane Paving & Sealcoating provides the best residential paving solutions for your home.
Best for Commercial Paving: Sunland Asphalt
Why We Chose It: Offering a wide range of paving services for commercial properties, Sunland Asphalt only uses high-quality materials and experienced team members for its projects.
Best for Brick Paver Driveways: Wasco
Why We Chose It: Wasco provides top-notch sitescape services, including brick paver driveways, as masonry experts.
Final Verdict
Driveway paving companies often are localized and serve their own states or surrounding states, and offer both concrete and asphalt paving. When it comes to asphalt paving, Fix Asphalt is the way to go. For residential paving, Kane Paving & Sealcoating is a leading provider.
Results
Future
- Saving the world one driveway at a time may not seem like much, but with some areas building new roads, sidewalks, and parking lots with permeable paving materials, the larger benefits start becoming apparent. There are many products that can be considered permeable, some rather high tech and others decidedly low-tech.
Types
- The most common types of permeable paving materials include loose stones and gravel, which have been supporting traffic of all kinds for centuries.
Formation
- Plastic grid systems typically are formed using recycled plastic grids or blocks that form a hard driving or walking surface that allows water to flow through freely. They are long-lasting, easy to install, and maintenance free. Grids can be filled with sand and soil or gravel.
Construction
- Permeable pavers can be little more than a concrete version of the plastic grid systems by replacing the plastic with open cell concrete blocks. Other, more traditional types are pavers in brick, solid concrete pavers, and cobblestones. The key to creating permeable driveways with these materials is to fill the gaps between pavers with sand.
Advantages
- Another approach to constructing permeable concrete surfaces is with open cell concrete blocks. Functioning much like the plastic grid systems, open cell concrete blocks let water through yet still handle heavy loads with ease. Fill the open cells with some topsoil and grass and the blocks themselves can become hard to distinguish.
Quotes
- Paving strips are another old-time approach that seems to be gaining new appreciation in our more environmentally sensitive times. In the early days of automobile-inspired driveways, it was common to run thin paving strips just wide enough to handle a car's tires. The rest of the driveway remained grass covered.
Cost
- Somewhere along the line, folks began upgrading to solid concrete or asphalt driveways. These had their advantages, but they used much more material, cost more to install, and added significantly to rainwater runoff problems.