Paving Costs

JimMorrissey · Nov 6, 2005

I'd like to pave the bottom portion of our new road next spring and I'm sure this has been discussed, but I'd like a late price on what it costs to have a drive/road section paved. I've never had anything paved and have never spoken to a paving salesperson so I'm clueless.

-How do they base their price and in what format is it generally quoted (per square foot or yard or by the mile)? I'd image the prep work they need to do and the thickness and quality of the asphalt are important variables.

-What is a rough guesstimate to pave a 16' x 100' section of road? No prep work required. It's graded and the base is perfect for pavment. Some minor grading details I suppose, but nothing major.

Egon · Nov 7, 2005

Guess may not even be close. Too many variables involed.Haul distance for materials and equipment. Contractor schedule. Asphalt plant availability. Size of job. Subgrade suitability for good compaction.

For your situation you would probably get a lump sum quote.

Just make sure the packed depth and density of the asphalt is specified.

Have you considered concrete paver blocks for an area of this size?

Egon

JimMorrissey · Nov 7, 2005

I suppose so. I'll have to make some calls.

Concrete paver blocks.....no I didn't. Sound great, but also sounds expensive. What benefits are to be had?

EddieWalker · Nov 7, 2005

Here in East Texas, for 2 inchs of blacktop your looking at around a dollar a sq ft. If you have a large job, the price will go down as much as 20 percent. Your job isn't very large, so I wouldn't expect any sort of discounts.

Those were prices I received awhile ago, cost of oil and fuel will change them some.

Another option is oil sand. The county uses it on their less important roads. No rock in the mix and it's usually quite a bit thinner. Price is less, but I'm not sure since I need the extra strenght of asphalt.

Some people have suggested using concrete with the price of oil rising. But I'm not a big fan of concrete roads and the math doesn't work for me either.

As for pavers, you're talking about allot more money, time and prep work. Nice for a patio, but a driveway will really eat up some cash.

Eddie

Dmace · Nov 7, 2005

Everyone around my area (Southern NH) gives free quotes/estimates. We plan on paving our driveway next spring once the garage is done and I already have a list of about 10 different pavers that will give a free estimate when the time comes.

They price on sq./ft. , so your best bet is to let them know on the phone what size you are doing (1600 sq.ft.) and see what they say.

Just make sure they do it before the ground frost sets in. It really affects compactness of the ground. Think frost heaves.

Good luck !

Toiyabe · Nov 7, 2005

It's really too late in the season to be laying down hot-mix, at least in VT. If it's delivered too cold it can't be compacted. On the plus side, it may be cheaper to pave this time of the year because the state/local highway agencies know it's too late and the contractors are looking to keep busy by doing work for people who don't know or don't care.

I would never have an asphalt paving job done for me personally. I know of too many ways that the contractors can screw you over if you don't have good inspectors. They'll diesel up the truck beds, bill you for more than they deliver, lay down too cold and not compact properly. They may not even be conciously screwing you over, but placing AC is difficult to do right even when every one is on the ball. For a driveway it's maybe not so important to get everything right, but I hate to see a job not done right.

Pavers are cool - ususally see them for decorative effect, or at port facilities where containers get stacked for a long time (AC will flow under a static load). For a small job like yours, they may be cheaper because of the cost of mob/demob of asphalt paving equipment.

Another option is a chip seal (variously known as "Oil and Stone", "Tar and Chip" and a million other permutations). Again, mob/demob may kill you on such a small job. You can get screwed over with that too - The chips have to be layed down and rolled before the emulsion breaks, which often won't happen unless someone's there watching.

DMF · Nov 7, 2005

We are putting down what is know around here as "re-ground"; basically re-ground asphalt from other road jobs. They lay it down with a paving machine and roll it just like asphalt; much cheaper though. Our driveway is 1500' long, 10' wide and they will lay it 4" thick for $4800. I'm thinking this is a deal. I asked the guy (half jokingly) about real pavement, he said that they are doing an 800' long driveway right now and the cost is over $20K at the "road rate"...

TC18guy · Nov 7, 2005

Around here the asphalt plants will close a couple of weeks earlier for the small jobs (driveways, etc.). All the big construction projects are always rushing this time of year to get their pavement in before the weather changes.

JimMorrissey · Nov 7, 2005

Just so folks are clear. I have no intention of laying asphalt this season. My post says next spring /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I will definitely look into some of the other suggestions.

JimMorrissey · Nov 7, 2005

Yeah, there's no way I can get down on my hands and knees and lay thousands of pavers.....Would be nice and look fantastic, but it's for the folks who'll throw $50 a foot at their driveway. That's not me.