There are so many benefits to getting a concrete driveway: they add value to your house, are durable and low-maintenance, and their good looks will never fade.
Concrete driveways are ultimately very cost-effective.
But how much does a concrete driveway cost?
It is best to get an in-person quote from a concrete contractor to determine the price of your specific project, but here are the price point breakdowns and how you can determine if your project will cost more or less than a typical driveway.
There are factors to consider that affect the total cost of a concrete driveway:
If your concrete driveway project is a replacement, the contractor must remove the previous driveway. The level of effort for the removal is based on four categories: the depth of the removal, concrete reinforcement, how far the contractor has to travel to dispose of the old concrete, and whether the removal is accessible to equipment or must be done by hand.
Most driveways are poured at a depth of 4 inches and reinforced with rebar. However, a contractor can only determine the exact level of reinforcement once they start the removal process.
The subgrade is the foundation of a concrete slab and plays a critical role in driveway enforcement. It is compacted and improved natural soil or brought infill to help improve the lifetime of the driveway. If the driveway's subgrade is bad, the contractor will need to remove the base and replace it with a road base.
The cost of the driveway will depend on the type of reinforcement required. Concrete contractors can use fiber mesh as an additive to the concrete mix, wire mesh to install in the driveway, or individual pieces of metal installed in a strategic pattern called rebar.
Many contractors use fiber mesh and rebar to reinforce the concrete driveways we pour. This gives you the confidence that your driveway is strong enough to survive weight, wear and tear, and the elements.
The forming of a concrete driveway refers to its shape. If the shape is straightforward, you can expect a normal pricing structure. Some driveways are designed to fit the layout of the yard and require more attention in the forming process. If a special formation is required, the price of the driveway will vary by the form.
Concrete finishing needs skilled laborers to give the concrete form and a smooth finish. The size of the job can affect the number of finishers required.
This is also the step in the process where the contractor determines how much concrete is required to complete the job. The cost of the actual concrete has a big impact on the price of the job, whether it is big or small. If the project is under 4 yards, there is typically a short load fee applied to the cost of concrete. If the length of your driveway is short but requires more depth, you will see a varying price in concrete.
Our concrete experts will explain all these options, answer your questions, and then let you decide on which is the best for your property.
Essential guidelines your contractor should follow during installation ensure your concrete driveway looks great for years ahead. The quality of materials and the application's quality mostly depend on how your driveway performs and looks over time. Refer to the following checklist for details on correct construction to help ensure a driveway without issues.
The thickness of a concrete driveway is the main factor (even more than how strong the concrete is) in determining its structural capacity—Lay concrete with a minimum thickness of 4 inches. Raising the thickness from 4 to 5 inches will increase your concrete cost by about 20%, yet it will also enhance the driveway's load-bearing capacity by almost 50%.
Consider widening the driveway edges by adding 1 or 2 extra inches to give more structural strength to areas where heavy loads are expected. The extended, thickened parts should reach between 4 and 8 inches beyond the edge of the slab.
In some cases, the soil and climate in your region may necessitate a thicker slab for the driveway. Consult a local driveway contractor to receive an expert recommendation.
Using steel reinforcement will offer additional structural capacity for your driveway. This is especially important if the slab will be exposed to heavy traffic. Reinforcement will not prevent cracks, but it will help hold them together if they do happen.
Concrete reinforcement materials include wire mesh or ½-inch (#4) steel rebar. Wire mesh is typically used for driveways 4 to 5 inches thick, while rebar is generally used when 5 inches or thicker. The bar is arranged in a grid pattern, with each bar spaced roughly 12 inches from the next. In either case, blocks should be used under the reinforcement to keep it centered within the concrete.
Synthetic fibers have also proven beneficial in driveways by reducing shrinkage cracks. However, fibers do not provide structural reinforcement.
Regarding soil composition and compaction, consistency is essential for a stable subgrade—one that offers sufficient support, maintains uniform slab thickness, and prevents slab settling and structural cracks. Soft spots, such as gravel or crushed rock, should be replaced with good material. Many western states have expansive soils. Depending on the expansiveness, 2 to 8 inches of crushed rock must be used as subgrade material in these conditions. If you need clarification on the soil characteristics in your area, consult a soil engineer.
Don't tow the concrete on a bone-dry subgrade. Spraying water on the subgrade to moisten it will help keep it from absorbing moisture from the fresh concrete.
Vibration plate compactors and rammers are the most widely used machines for compacting subgrade on residential driveways. Click here to find more information about the different subgrades and subbases used for concrete slabs.
Choosing the proper concrete mix design will significantly affect a concrete driveway's durability and performance.
Here are eight key advantages of having a concrete driveway.
Concrete driveways tend to have a much longer lifespan. On average, a concrete driveway's service life is roughly 50-60 percent longer than an asphalt driveway. This means that more frequent maintenance costs often balance out any initial savings from using asphalt. The binder that keeps the asphalt aggregate together can crack, break down, and warp when exposed to UV rays, oxidation, water, and various chemicals.
Although creative design options exist, the standard light gray surface offers considerable curb appeal for many. Colored concrete is ideal for homeowners who prefer a darker surface appearance. Stamped concrete surfaces offer a delightful texture that can often harmonize beautifully with architectural designs. Exposed aggregates offer a highly textured, three-dimensional look.
Concrete pavements are cooler, since they absorb less UV radiation than their asphalt counterparts. Try walking barefoot on both surfaces on a warm day to feel the contrast. Although asphalt absorption is a benefit in the winter, this cold-weather advantage is countered by the consequences of having a hotter driveway in the summer.
Standard concrete's reflectance also reduces lighting requirements. Since asphalt absorbs so much light, a driveway may require about a third more lighting than concrete. With a concrete driveway, energy savings continue to grow over the years.
Concrete is a solid, non-flexible material supporting heavier loads than asphalt. Since asphalt flexes, trucks or other heavy loads may cause rutting or other damage. In addition to a larger truck, boat, or RV you may own, consider the likelihood of other heavy vehicles driving onto your property.
Contraction joints and penetrating sealers can reduce concrete maintenance costs. Clear sealers protect against de-icers and moisture absorption, while contraction joints isolate cracking that occurs as concrete shrinks.
The binder begins to dry out from the day an asphalt drive is installed. To slow this process, periodic seal coating is required. Even with occasional resealing, an asphalt drive usually does not last as long as a concrete one.
When a new asphalt driveway is initially installed, it releases evaporative oils that can transfer onto the soles of shoes. Should an oily or corrosive compound get on the asphalt surface, sticky, oily material could track into your home or vehicle. This concern is greater in hot weather. The surface of a concrete driveway is not subject to this kind of dissolution.
Since concrete driveways have lower embodied energy costs, they are a more environmentally friendly paving solution. That is, they require less energy overall to produce and place.
On the other hand, a significant amount of energy is necessary to heat hot mix asphalt to the necessary 200-250 degrees Fahrenheit.
Sealcoating an asphalt driveway every 3-5 years consumes more petroleum products. Finally, a driveway that lasts longer consumes less energy through future replacement cycles.
Would you put your home on the market at some point? If so, put yourself in the shoes of prospective buyers for a moment. Would you prefer a home with an asphalt or a concrete driveway? A concrete driveway might make it easier to sell your home in the future, and you'll recover a portion of your investment when you do.
When properly maintained, a concrete driveway requires little maintenance and lasts for decades. Let's examine how to maintain this investment properly.
Concrete requires little maintenance if it is kept clean. Cleaning your plain concrete surface mostly requires clearing it of debris and dirt, either with a broom or a leaf blower. To remove stubborn dirt, you can rinse it with a hose or a power washer.
Cleaning instructions will vary based on the type of concrete surface you have.
Here are a few examples:
Stamped concrete: Thoroughly rinse the concrete using a garden hose set to high pressure, scrub it with a push broom and a little dish soap, then rinse it again to ensure all soap residue is removed.
Stained concrete: Use a garden hose on high pressure to thoroughly rinse the concrete, scrub it with a push broom and a little dish soap, and rinse again to remove all soap residue. If outdoors, follow the instructions for stamped concrete.
While resealing your concrete surface is not necessarily required, it is recommended to keep it in the best shape possible for longer. If the concrete is exposed to heavy traffic or weather extremes, follow a regular sealing schedule every two years. Regular resealing protects your concrete from moisture penetration, freeze-thaw conditions, and de-icing chemicals. While you can reseal a driveway yourself, it's recommended that you set up a schedule with your concrete contractor.
It's generally best practice to avoid using these de-icing chemicals on your concrete surface when possible. De-icers can cause surface damage, and products containing ammonium nitrates and ammonium sulfates will attack the concrete's chemical makeup.
We are here to help you make the best decisions for your concrete driveway. We provide estimates so you can better understand the total cost of your upcoming project. If you are interested in a new driveway, call us! We are genuinely eager to get started on your project. Contact us today so that we can start on your quotation.
Our concrete experts can help you select the right options for your budget, timeline, and needs. We want to earn your business for life!
