Considering a Driveway Remodel? Know These Before Commencing

Driveways offer more than just a route for cars to enter your garage. A neat, good-looking driveway enhances curb appeal, and some are also used as play areas.

But after some time, they begin to show their age through cracks, spalling, and other unattractive signs of prolonged strain. The next thing that may pop into your mind is a driveway remodel.

Driveway Remdodel

Before picking up your shovel and asphalt, here are some things to note.

When does a driveway remodel become necessary?

When your driveway develops some potholes and cracks, it’s more cost-effective to repair rather than replace the entire thing. And you can repair a driveway DIY. Simply get concrete or asphalt and patch up the bad areas.

However, if your driveway is crumbling or heaving significantly, a replacement — remodel — is always the best option. Repairing such a damaged driveway may become wasteful as it would likely crumble again within months.

Should you replace a driveway DIY or hire a contractor?

Going for the DIY option demands that you have the required skills for the job. Even at that, you’d need assistance.

It’s recommended to hire a qualified professional to replace or remodel your driveway to ensure top-quality work.

What’s the contract like?

Remember that the beauty and quality of the finished work are only as good as the contractor you hire. So when hiring, see what other projects they’ve done within 4-5 years ago. This is to assure yourself of the quality and durability of their driveway remodel.

Furthermore, ensure the contract guarantees the work for a minimum of two years. Additionally, it should state that only a third of the total cost should be paid upfront, and your lawn be restored to pre-construction condition.

What is the average cost of a driveway remodel?

According to Forbes, the average cost of a concrete driveway is between $2,400-$4,800. The cost per square foot ranges between $4 and $8.

However, several things go into the total cost of your driveway remodel, including size, process, material, and contractor(s) involved.

For example, it is cheaper to hire a demolition specialist who will also haul away the destroyed concrete to enable the concrete pourers to get on with their job easily. Other contractors who specialize in concrete pouring may charge you exorbitantly for driveway demolition, and concrete removal as this isn’t their area of expertise. They often spend part of the fee to subcontract a demolition expert.

All that is done before they begin their actual job.

What are the driveway surface options available?

There are basically five driveway surface options to choose from, including concrete, asphalt, gravel, pavers, and cobblestone.

Each comes with its pros and cons:

• Gravel is considered the cheapest but can scatter and develop ruts quickly.
• Pavers and cobblestone last around 100 years but are the most costly.
• Concrete can last between 15-50 years (which is desirable) and allow easy snow removal but require expert installation.
• On the other hand, asphalt resists cracks but can deteriorate within five years if not properly drained; grass from your lawn can as well grow on and damage it.

Wrapping up

Remodeling your driveway is a great way to scale up your curb appeal. But to get the best value, it’s wise to contract the right professionals who will ensure a quality job at a reasonable cost.