A driveway paved with asphalt is a smart purchase regardless of whether you live in a temperate or a frigid area. If it is maintained correctly, an asphalt driveway may last anywhere from 20 to 30 years, and it can also increase the aesthetic appeal of your property. Continue reading if you are interested in learning more about the cost of building an asphalt driveway.
What is the going rate for a driveway?
A driveway paved in asphalt can set you back close to $5,000 on average throughout the country. The price might go up or down based on a variety of parameters, such as the size of your driveway, the location, the quality of the material, and the needed depth of the material.
The cost to construct an asphalt driveway may range anywhere from $2,800 to $10,000 in certain parts of the country, but the national average is $5,000 for a driveway that is 500 square feet in size.
The sum fluctuates based on a variety of criteria like the cost of Labor, the overall size of your driveway, and the general price disparity that exists across states.
It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer number of different statistics. You are in luck since we are here to assist you by supplying you with figures that are precise and exhaustive for a variety of sizes of a driveway.
A brand-new meandering driveway constructed of asphalt.
However, before we get into that, let’s take a quick look at the components that contribute to the final price of an asphalt driveway:
Dimensions of the Driveway
This is the one that stands out the most. Even if you choose a cheaper quality of asphalt, the expense of paving a larger driveway will still likely increase.
It is important not to overlook the fact that the width of a drive is also considered part of its overall dimensions when determining its size.Asphalt-Driveway-Cost
Those who require parking space for a large number of automobiles will pay a much greater cost, as would those whose homes are situated farther away from the road.
If you are a homeowner who has just purchased a new property and your family consists of only one automobile, selecting a driveway that is smaller will result in considerable cost savings for you.
The Cost of The Materials
The raw cost of asphalt may vary anywhere from $5 to $7 per square foot, while the cost of having it placed can be anywhere from $7 to $13 per square foot. Calculating it in tonnes, on the other hand, makes it simpler to obtain a better notion of the entire cost, and that is how these calculations will be carried out.
The cost of asphalt per ton ranges between $100 and $200, on average, depending on the quality. The cost of asphalt follows the ups and downs of the price of oil.
The Thickness of the Asphalt
The most solid kind of asphalt driveway will be produced utilizing full-depth asphalt, despite the fact that an asphalt driveway will often be formed of foundation layers and top layers.
A layer of asphalt that is 4 inches thick is appropriate for most driveways, but a layer that is 5 to 6 inches thick is suggested for supporting larger cars and weights.
This indicates that the driveway is constructed entirely out of asphalt, with no bottom layers made of a material that is not up to the same quality as the rest of the driveway.
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When it is graded, as will be shown in the next section, the whole driveway will be built of the same material, which will reduce the possibility of shifting and movement.
- The process of grading and preparing the base
- The expense of grading and establishing a stable foundation is often overlooked in asphalt construction projects.
- For your driveway to be as stable as possible, you may need to ensure that the top six inches of soil (at least) is stable and add four to eight inches of crushed gravel for a firm foundation. This will allow your driveway to be as stable as possible.
Under no circumstances can topsoil ever be used as the foundation for any constructions that are required to be stable.
The dirt that is used for flowerbeds is known as topsoil.
It is important that the kind of soil you choose to prepare your new driveway be devoid of organic substances to the greatest extent feasible. Fill soil is another name for this material.
The costs of Labor
Generally speaking, the cost of Labor for jobs related to general contracting is from $40 to $55 per hour. There are regional variations in the cost of Labor, and some homeowners may know someone who works in the sector and may potentially provide them a discount.
However, in terms of averages, it is safest to expect that Labor will cost around $40 per hour, and that the majority of contractors would charge between $2 and $6 per square foot.
Removing of the Old Driveway
The removal of an existing driveway will almost certainly result in an increase in the total cost of the paving job. The team may have to spend a substantial amount of time removing the current pavement, which will also generate a big quantity of garbage that will need to be disposed of.
It will cost you anything from $8 to $15 per square foot to replace an asphalt driveway, and the removal of the old pavement will add an extra $1 to $2 to the labor charges.
There is a possibility that you may incur extra fees for disposal; nevertheless, given that asphalt can be recycled, some firms do not charge customers for this service.
How to Determine an Approximate Price for the Installation of an Asphalt Driveway?
Although our asphalt driveway calculator can provide you with an estimate of the prices of supplies and Labor for your project, you can also conduct some rough calculations to get an idea of how much money you will need to spend.
Estimation of a Driveway Project as an Example
Take for instance the cost of estimating the price of a driveway that is 6 inches deep and has a width of 20 feet and a length of 40 feet.
When applied at a depth of 6 inches, one ton of asphalt will cover a driveway area of 26.66 square feet.
To calculate the total area of your driveway, just multiply its length by its width.
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This will give you the square footage. In this particular illustration, the square footage is equivalent to 20 feet by 40 feet, which is equal to 800 square feet.
Next, divide this total by the total square footage to get how much asphalt we need per square foot. A total of 30 tons of asphalt may be obtained by dividing 800 by 26.66.
The price of the asphalt will range from $3,000 to $6,000 per ton, which comes to $100 to $200 per ton for hot-mix asphalt.
When you include in the cost of Labor, the cost of equipment, the cost of grading, and the cost of fill dirt, it is reasonable to estimate that you should put aside at least $8,000 for this new driveway.
Costs of an asphalt driveway, a gravel driveway, and a concrete driveway are compared.
FAQS
Does installing a brand-new asphalt driveway add value to a home?
Your answer to this question will be determined by the region in which you reside, since asphalt is not often utilized in the south. In the north, it has the potential to raise both the value of a property and its curb appeal.
Asphalt or concrete—which one is less expensive to use?
When it comes to driveways, asphalt is often employed in northern regions solely because of its lower cost in comparison to concrete. Concrete is used more often and at a lower cost in the southern states.
What is the cost of one ton of asphalt?
On average, you should expect to pay between $100 and $200 for a ton of hot mix asphalt.
All of the price information that can be found on this page is derived from typical industry expenses; however, these costs are subject to change depending on the unique materials, Labor rates, and needs of any individual project.