How Much Does a Driveway Cost?
When it comes time to choose the best driveway option for your budget, your first thought may be, “How much does a driveway cost?”. Today, we’re breaking down the price difference between two popular driveway options, as well as other aspects that are important to help you in your decision.
As you choose the right type of driveway for your new or existing home, it’s important to keep several factors in mind. While finding an option within your budget is important, so are factors such as the durability, the required maintenance for each and also how it will look when paired with the aesthetics of your home.
Today, we’re breaking down some of the aspects of the driveway decision process. As you consider each factor and how your personal needs fit into the equation, we’re more than happy to answer any additional questions you may have.
Cost Of Driveway Materials
When it comes to the cost of a new driveway, there are many different variables that go into a quote. Variables like the amount of ground that needs to be covered as well as the existing ground heights are major factors. The existing ground heights of the area may lead to extra excavation or if they are too low, it may need to be built up with AP40 road metal.
For larger areas, the cost will be cheaper as it may be more cost-effective.
Another aspect that can affect the price is access to the area you wish to be covered. If the space is not easily accessible and requires the use of a concrete pump or other equipment, it can lead to a price increase.
Although all of these considerations can affect the cost of a new driveway, generally the cost range per square metre are as follows:
Concrete driveway cost range: $90-107 per square metre
Asphalt driveway cost range: $60-85 per square metre
Bottom line: Budget-wise, asphalt is a more budget-friendly choice.
Driveway Durability
Thickness and durability can also be a large factor when choosing the best type of driveway for your budget.
Concrete is generally much thicker than asphalt, with concrete usually measuring 100mm thick and asphalt usually measuring 25mm thick. This will affect the durability of your driveway for years to come.
Typically, concrete driveways can last upwards of 50 years and asphalt driveways last around 15-20 years.
Bottom line: Concrete is thicker and more durable than asphalt, so a new concrete driveway will cost more, but last longer.
Driveway Aesthetics
Asphalt is predominantly black whereas concrete driveways can come in a variety of colour options. When choosing between the two, it’s necessary to consider which aesthetic you prefer.
Some like a solid black finish where others are more partial to the look of a coloured or neutral concrete driveway.
Another difference between the two is that concrete has the ability to have a different finishing or stampings depending on your preference.
It’s also important to consider how your new driveway will match the style of your home, and the rest of the street for that matter!
Bottom line: This one is up to you.
Driveway Maintenance
No matter which option you choose, it’s important that you are aware that both will require maintenance at some point, which can affect your budget.
Weather issues like high heat or freezing temperatures can have an impact on the materials that may require maintenance.
Asphalt has the possibility of softening in high heat whereas concrete has the possibility of cracking in weather below freezing. Asphalt repairs are more manageable, and concrete repairs are far more difficult.
Possibilities for maintenance overtime include cracks and sealings. Sealings can be done to extend the life of your new driveway upon installation, for an added cost. While concrete driveways don’t require sealings, asphalt driveways do in order to maintain their appearance and durability.
While concrete driveways are initially a larger investment, you might find that asphalt requires more costs through sealings overtime.
Bottom line: Asphalt requires more maintenance when it comes to sealings, but concrete is more difficult to repair.
How Long Does a New Driveway Take To Install?
A new concrete driveway will generally take around 10 days from start to finish. This can be held up for a variety of reasons (generally weather) but the process is as follows:
- The area is excavated and based up with ap40
- It gets boxed up to the shape of the future concrete pad
- The concrete is poured
- A few days later it gets cut to prevent it from shrinking and cracking
Choosing Your Driveway
As you decide which choice is better for your budget and your needs, we’re here to help you along the way. Have a look at our Christchurch driveways page for some examples of our work and the different kinds of finishes we can provide.
Simply get in touch with us for a free quote. We’re happy to discuss all of the above and more to get you the right driveway for the right price.
