How to Calculate the Cost of Paving Your Driveway - Asphalt Paving Company Ottawa, Commercial & Residential
How to Calculate the Cost of Paving Your Driveway	
For homeowners looking to add some curb appeal and boost the resale value of their homes, a new driveway may be the best fit. Consider how difficult it can be to sell a house when the driveway is cracked and full of weeds.
Whether you want to sell now or later, paving your driveway is a low-cost option for improving your property. But different materials come with different costs and installation processes. While you don’t want to let money be your only guide, many homeowners prefer to stick to a budget for renovations and upgrades. That’s where a paving calculator can be a valuable tool.
Factors that impact the cost of paving your driveway
When it comes time to calculate the cost of paving your driveway, there are several factors you’ll need to consider, such as:
Condition – the current state of your driveway will determine how much a paving job will cost. If your driveway needs to be replaced entirely, it will drive up the cost. However, if it is in good condition, you may only need a minor touch-up to make it look as good as new.
Size – the bigger your driveway, the more time and materials it will take to pave it. If you’re looking at widening or extending your driveway, it may be less expensive than paving the whole driveway. Alternatively, you could opt to resurface it. This means just the top layer will be removed and a fresh one laid down.
Material – what paving material you want to use plays a big role in determining the cost. Some materials are less expensive than others. But, chances are those materials are also less durable and will break down faster over time. You want to pick a strong material to stand up to the extreme weather in Canada, but you don’t have to choose the most expensive either.
Labour – paving your driveway is not a DIY job. You’ll need help. Paving specialists like Black Tar have the skills, experience, and equipment you need to get it done right. Labour can account for about 50 percent of the costs involved in paving. While you may be tempted to cut corners and pave it yourself, nothing beats letting the paving experts carefully and safely lay your driveway.
Benefits of asphalt driveway
One of the most popular materials across Canada is asphalt. Its ability to stand up in any climate makes it an ideal fit for homeowners. Other benefits make it a good choice, including:
Asphalt also has more traction than some other materials. This means you’ll have a little extra safety when driving in wet or snowy weather.
Another benefit of asphalt is that it has higher impact absorption
Asphalt has a reputation for being a durable material
Snow removal can be easier on asphalt
Before using asphalt to pave your driveway, you’ll need to have a good foundation set down first. It will cost less for homeowners who already have a driveway and just need to freshen up the paving. If you’re looking to create a newly paved driveway, you’ll need to budget a little bit more for the extra work involved.
Calculate the size of your driveway
The first step in determining the paving cost is to know how much space you’ll need to cover. Some companies will ask you to find the square footage of your driveway. This means you’ll need to know the length and the width. Once you have these two numbers, multiply them. The product of those numbers will give you the square footage of your driveway. Then you’ll need to take that number and multiply the cost of the asphalt.
That sounds like a lot of work. At Black Tar, we’ve made the process of calculating the paving costs even easier for you.
Using a paving calculator
A quick way to calculate the costs of asphalt paving for your driveway is to use an online paving calculator like the one on the Black Tar website. With this interactive tool, start by entering your address and then zoom in on the map until you see your home.
Once you zoom in on your home, click on the four corners of your driveway to mark the space that you want paved. Click the ‘calculate’ button.
You’ll then be prompted to answer what the current state of your driveway looks like: Are there a lot of cracks and damage? Once you’ve answered that question, you’ll be given a re-paving estimate.
Unlike other paving calculators that use a generic-sized driveway, you can get an estimate based on your property with the Black Tar tool.
It’s a simple as that, but it’s important to remember that this is an estimate. The costs may be different depending on the size of the job. Please contact us to verify the estimate.
As you calculate the costs of asphalt paving for your driveway, you may also want to budget for maintenance and protection. Asphalt is a strong material, but it will need a little care every few years to protect it from wear and tear damage. This includes repairs or resurfacing to keep it strong and looking good. Resealing your asphalt should be done every four or five years.
Using a paving calculator can help you from going overboard with your remodelling budget. Our online tool lets you figure out how much it will cost to pave your exact property, not just a generic driveway. The interactive map allows you to zoom in on your home, using your property as the focus of the calculation.
We created the paving calculator for families like yours. Paving your driveway is one of the best ways to boost your property’s curb appeal. It can also make you happier in your home too. But it shouldn’t have to be painful. Find out the costs involved in paving your driveway in just seconds. Then, when you’re ready to begin, give us a call.
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