Estimating The Cost Of Concrete Driveways

 

If you are planning on building a driveway there are several factors you need to consider with the type of primary material to be used being the most important. Nowadays, there are several options available; however, most people will narrow the choice to one between concrete and asphalt. As price tends to be a significant issue, you will need to estimate the cost of each type of driveway. This article will provide information on how to effectively determine the overall cost of concrete driveways.

The biggest aspect to consider when estimating the cost of a new concrete driveway is the amount of concrete to be used. This may be a fairly simple point to examine as all you need to do is figure out how many square feet the driveway will be. It is basic mathematics in the majority of cases, but if you have an oddly-shaped driveway the estimate may be more complicated. You can check out Concreters Melbourne Website

It is also important to take into account how thick you will need the driveway to be. The standard thickness for concrete driveways is four inches; however, if you will be parking heavy-duty vehicles such as trucks on the driveway, it may be better to opt for six inches. Using simple math, this is a simple calculation – all you need do is multiply the square footage of the concrete driveway by its overall thickness in feet. The result will be the amount of concrete you will need in cubic feet. Due to concrete being normally priced by cubic feet, you will need to divide the number by 27.

Of course, there is far more to building a concrete driveway than the cost of the concrete material; You need professionals check out Concreters Melbourne website, you will also need to take into account the cost of the sand. Sand is necessary as a base material on which the concrete will be poured and typically three inches of sand is required for an average driveway. The standard cost of sand is $15/cubic yard, so the average price would be approximately $275. Furthermore, you should consider the cost of the cement used to combine the concrete and sand, with the delivery service if you are not fetching the sand yourself.

So far, in the estimation of concrete driveway costs, it has been assumed that you will be building the driveway independently. This means that the forms, mixing the cement, and pouring the cement will be completed by you. If, however, you have chosen to hire a professional to complete these tasks, it is recommended that you take the cost of this service into account. This additional expense will affect the price of the concrete driveway dramatically.

In addition to the laying of cement, sand, and cost of services, the amount of base building needs to be taken into account. Before a person can begin to pour concrete for a driveway, it is necessary to lay a base. This base needs to be excavated to an average depth of 8-20 inches, but the depth will depend on the climate and then you will need to place gravel on top to compact the area. The average cost can be between $1,500-$5,000 according to the depth and if any pipes need to be moved.