What’s the Cost of a New Driveway in Texas?
Replacing a crumbling driveway and cracked sidewalks on your property will do a lot for the appearance and the value of your home, as well as protect you from liability should someone fall because of unsafe conditions. You’ve got several attractive options for your new driveway and sidewalk too. Even concrete offers exciting options rather than the old standby finished look. This Remodeling Cost Guide informs you about your options and gives you accurate information about what your costs will be.
How Much Does it Cost for a New Concrete Driveway?
Concrete is always an option for driveways and sidewalks. Standard finishing is still very popular, but a range of new techniques is giving concrete fresh and interesting looks. For example, the concrete can be tinted to produce almost any color you want. Now your driveway and walkways can match your home or provide a nice contrasting look. Stamping concrete will give it the look of paver stones or bricks. This technique is used as the concrete is curing, though after it has stiffened up a bit.
Concrete driveway prices
The price per square foot for a concrete driveway ranges from $8 to $18 depending on the decorative colors and treatments. whereas the installation cost of a gray plain concrete driveway is $5 to $7 per square foot. For a low cost alternative to pavers or stone, concrete is suitable. There are several options, so you may acquire a distinctive driveway that improves the curb appeal of your house.
Concrete staining uses acid to stain the surface. Patterns may be used that produce a brick appearance, or a technique can be employed that stains the entire surface to give it an appearance similar to granite. While this technique is often used indoors, it can also be a great outside remodeling project and make for a unique driveway or walkway too.
Standard concrete driveways cost $6-$10 per square foot. Sidewalks cost $1-$2 more per square foot because there is more labor per square foot involved in making the frames. Stamped or stained concrete walkways and driveways cost $9-$18 per square foot, with stamping more expensive because it requires more labor. Aggregate concrete is a less expensive cement-like material, but it’s not as durable as standard concrete. It costs $4-$7 per square foot.
For walkways, there are several materials in use that aren’t suitable for driveways because they are not quite as strong. These include attractive bluestone, a general name that covers several types of natural stone mined in Pennsylvania and New York. Bluestone is expensive at $15-$25 per square foot installed. Flagstone is a less expensive option at $10-$15 per square foot.
For driveways, an asphalt is an option too. While not as durable as concrete, it will last longer. Asphalt costs $2-$3 per square foot installed.
Brick Paver Driveway Installation Costs
Paver stone and brick remains a popular material for driveways and sidewalks, and looks very good in front of upscale homes. These stones come in a variety of colors, with red, gray and off-white the most popular. The costs for these materials range from $10-$20 per square foot based on the type of paver or brick that is used.
The great looks and competitive price of brick pavers make them an attractive option for new and remodeled driveways. This price guide to brick pavers helps you estimate your costs for the material and for installation. If you choose a paver stone driveway, you’ll enjoy the upscale appearance for many years to come. It’s one of the top outdoor projects to do when you want a high return on your investment.
Brick Paver Driveway Options
When you shop for paver stones, you’ll find an excellent variety that will allow you to select the best look for your driveway. Sizes vary from fairly small pavers of about four inches by four inches to larger brick pavers as big as six inches by eight inches. Colors range from classic brick to dark gray. In between, you’ll find lovely shades of tan, brown, off-white and lighter gray.
Reasons to Choose Brick Pavers for your Driveway
The handsome appearance of pavers is the primary reason most homeowners give for selecting them for their homes. They have a “wow-factor” that supersedes asphalt, concrete and most other high-end driveway materials.
Secondly, paver stones offer outstanding durability. You can expect your brick paver driveway to last 40 years or more with maintenance that includes keeping weeds out of cracks and occasionally adding masonry sand between pavers or replacing a damaged brick. There are many paver driveways that have been in use for more than a century and are in good condition today.
Brick Paver Driveway Installation Costs
When getting brick paver driveway estimates, you’ll discover that the material is relatively affordable and the labor is where the higher costs are. It’s a labor-intensive project, and doing the job right is essential to the looks and durability of the driveway.
First, the old driveway, if one exists, must be successfully removed. The area where the pavers are to be installed must be carefully graded and rolled to ensure an even, compacted base. Failure in this step will lead to dips and rises in your driveway down the road that will be expensive to remedy. Your yard will be torn up in the area immediately around the driveway, so combining this project with installing a new yard makes very good sense.
Then, the pavers must be laid in straight lines to ensure an attractive appearance, and the space between them must be filled with the right amount of masonry sand or other appropriate material.
Here is a breakdown of the cost of installing a brick paver driveway.
- Driveway Pavers Material Costs: Depending on the style you choose, they’ll cost $3 to $5 per square foot.
- Brick Paver Driveway Labor Costs: The cost depends on the amount of preparation work that needs to be done and the intricacy of the pattern. Labor costs will range from $4.50 to $12.50 per square foot.
Total Costs for a Brick Paver Driveway: With installation as the biggest variable, your total costs for a paver stone driveway will be $7.50 to $17.50 per square foot with an average cost of about $13.50 per square foot.
DIY Installation or Hire a Pro?
Labor is the greatest part of the cost for both driveways and walkways. You can save 50%-70% by doing it yourself. A DIY concrete driveway might be tough, since it usually takes at least 3 people working the concrete to finish it as it hardens.
But doing your own sidewalks is something you might want to try if you’ve got good DIY skills or have experience. You’ll need a Bobcat or similar skid loader to remove the old walkway or to remove top soil and prepare the ground where no walkway existed. Then, you’ll need to build forms to shape the concrete or give the basic layout to a paver, brick or stone sidewalk. Installing these items by hand can be time consuming, but the finished product can also be very rewarding.
If you decide to have your driveway or walkway professionally installed, you’ll find the best prices if you get at least 3 written estimates. This process also allows you to learn about the contractors and determine which one has the best experience. While low cost is important, the skill of the installer will play a role in how good the finished product looks and how well it holds up in the years ahead.
This driveway and sidewalk cost guide outlines your options along with costs. Our goal is to help you find the right material to meet your budget and the look you want for your home.