How Much Will a Driveway Cost Me?
A driveway can make a big difference to your home. As well as being a convenient and safe place to park, it can improve the look of your home.
The days of black tarmac and grey concrete are gone, and modern driveways come in attractive colours and stylish materials. The question many people ask of course is how much does a driveway cost?
As with many home improvement projects, budget is inevitably a factor when looking for local driveway installers.
But don’t be tempted to go with the cheapest as you could regret it very quickly. A quality driveway will not only last for decades and be easy to maintain, but it will also set your home off at its very best. Factors that influence how much a driveway costs include work to prepare the base, the area covered and the surface.
Let’s consider the base first of all, and this is where groundwork may be required. If your driveway is old and in a poor state of repair you may have to strip back and excavate the area before installing a new surface.
This can be expensive as it may involve diggers, skip hire and other costs. Labour is a large part of the cost of replacing a driveway, and it’s best to invest in a good company that will use experienced tradesmen for this.
Drainage is a key factor and this where ‘cowboys’ cause a lot of problems! If there is nowhere for water to run away to it can build up and lead to serious damage.
When it comes to driveway surfaces, asphalt is usually cheaper than concrete. Tarmac is the cheapest driveway surface because it’s the quickest to install.
Gravel and stone driveways are at the top end of the pricing, but they really can add to the appeal of a home. There’s also the lovely sound a gravel driveway makes, and there’s some evidence it can deter burglars.
The downside of gravel driveways is they require more regular maintenance and the surface isn’t great for bikes. Rolling your ‘wheelie bin’ down a gravel driveway can be a bit of a challenge too!
If you really want to add a wow factor to your home, consider a block paving driveway. They come in a huge variety of colours, styles and shapes, and can be matched with the front of your home perfectly.
The surface is highly durable and they last for decades. If you do choose block paving it’s essential that you hire a reputable driveway installation as it requires design, preparation and skill to fit properly.
When considering the cost of a driveway bear in mind that it’s an investment and can add up to ten per cent to the value of your home.
The Registered database has vetted and checked driveway companies in your local area.