Concrete is one of the most favored material choices for a driveway for several very good reasons. A concrete slab is very strong and durable and requires very little maintenance. The combined attributes of strength and durability make concrete a relatively good value for large paved areas-such as driveways. As a driveway surface, concrete is more expensive than gravel or asphalt, but costs considerably less than a driveway of cobblestone, paving stones, or brick. Best of all, a properly maintained concrete driveway will outlast all of the other options by a wide margin.
A concrete driveway has an expected service life of 25-50 years. The variability in this range takes into account how well the driveway was built and how well it has been properly maintained. Obviously, a well built and maintained driveway will last longer. It is the prospect of a lengthy service life that makes concrete a very attractive value proposition for a residential driveway. If you drive large vehicles, concrete holds up to the weight much better than other driveway surfaces.
A professionally installed basic grey concrete driveway with a gravel base currently costs about $6-$14 a square foot depending on location, and other variables. The national average price in 2022 has risen sharply and is currently about $8 square foot, meaning a typical 16 x 38 driveway is about $4900 nationally, on average. If you decide to go with colored concrete, or concrete with a stamped finish, these decorative options significantly increase the cost. Expect to pay $12-$25 a square foot, or more, depending on which options you choose.
Keep in mind that the above figures do not take into account site preparation, or the demolition of an existing driveway, which will add additional costs. If excavation for site preparation is needed, it is not unusual for these costs to add $1-$2 per square foot to the project total. Demolition of an existing driveway could easily add $2-$4 per square foot.
Because of the significant durability advantage, a concrete driveway may very well be the best value option for your home because the driveway is likely to outlast your tenure as a resident in the home. This service life diminishes somewhat with decorative concrete options, but retains a significantly better service life than the more common asphalt or gravel options.
For more information, Contact ARM Pavement Services today!
