Using asphalt for your driveway is definitely a practical alternative than concrete. It is commonly used by more people in Arizona because it is easy to install and cheaper than concrete. Asphalt is hot and sticky when poured onto the pavement and solidifies when it cools off. What makes it more practical is that when a crack appears it can be repaired with minimal cost. You don’t have to replace the whole driveway. One thing to remember though is that it won’t last as long as concrete driveways do.
The cost of an asphalt driveway basically depends on the following;
- Materials and finish grade that will be used
- The size of the area and volume of materials it will consume
- The preparation and extra work needed to address certain concerns
- The labor cost.
The cost of an asphalt driveway including transport of materials, to the actual spreading of asphalt over the aggregate base on the driveway lane to the connected parking lot would cost around $2.66 per sq. ft. Say you have a 2,900 sq.ft. of the driveway, then your total cost would be $7,707.
- There will be additional costs to consider, namely;
- Permits, licenses, and taxes required for the work needed. These are usually added on top of the total cost of the asphalt driveway.
- You can also be charged extra for added hand excavation which is around $50 per cubic yard.
- There is also the additional site clearing and preparation task that ranges from $0.50 to $1.50 per sq.ft.
- Additional charges from the Engineer should there be any curves or inclines in the area where you plan to place the driveway.
There are so many things you can attempt to DIY but this is not one of those. This work requires special skills and tools to perform. It also involves highly technical that procedure that may result in a lot of delays if it’s not done correctly.