Hire Pavers for a Brand New Driveway

There are many reasons you may want to create or repave an existing driveway. You may want to build a brand new home, or you may want to give the exterior of your existing home an upgrade. Selecting the right driveway pavers and the right company to install your driveway is beneficial in several ways. The new driveway can enhance the look of your home. Increased curb appeal means increased value and attention when you sell it. It also improves functionality. A nice new driveway has fewer ruts and cracks than an older one. Therefore, your vehicle is less prone to damage. You are also less likely to trip and fall when walking in your driveway.

Whatever your reasons are for wanting a newly paved driveway, you have multiple options in terms of type, design, and company. Exploring all of those choices thoroughly is the best way to make a selection you can live with on a long-term basis. Begin by learning the types of pavers available to you and their advantages.

Poured Concrete Versus Concrete Pavers

One option you have for new driveway construction is concrete. It is one of the most used construction mediums worldwide. It is a hard, resilient substance perfect for driveways. If you are wondering what concrete is made of, it is an amalgamation of materials, also known as aggregate. Concrete usually includes a combination of several of the following substances:

• Sand

• Gravel

• Rock

• Cement

• Water

Poured concrete, as the name suggests, is usually poured in a wet state. As it dries, it hardens to form a solid surface. Concrete pavers come pre-poured and hardened. They are laid by hand to create the shapes and patterns desired. As a result, laying pavers takes more time and effort on the part of the paving company crew. Therefore, it tends to cost more money. Nevertheless, the end result is usually more stylish and eye-catching. That is why concrete pavers are popular.

Other Types of Pavers

If concrete does not interest you, there are other paver options. The first is stone, including fieldstone, bluestone, and flagstone. Stone pavers are strong and durable. They also absorb moisture well, meaning they are good for use around swimming pools. However, they can sometimes break when too much pressure is applied to them. When considering choosing stone pavers, ask the pavement company experts how long they are expected to last and if they come with company guarantees of any sort. Here is some information on specific types of stone pavers and their properties:

• Flagstone when laid resembles a puzzle with pieces of varying sizes that fit together to form unique patterns. It is usually preferred for foot traffic areas, such as patios. Although, it is sometimes used for driveway construction.

• Bluestone is a popular driveway stone for its durability, as well as its many forms. Its shapes are varied, and is even sometimes used in a gravel-like form. Bluestone is often copied using less suitable materials, so make sure your paving company offers authentic bluestone when choosing this option.

• Cobblestone is popular worldwide and lasts for an extremely long time. However, it requires careful, precise, time-consuming installation. Therefore, it is among the most expensive of the stone paver options.

Another option is to install brick pavers. Brick pavers are slightly misleading because some are actually concrete pavers dyed to give them their well-known brick appearance. Others are true brick pavers created using clay mixed with varying aggregate materials. One advantage of brick driveway pavers is they come in an appealing range of colors. They are also quite durable and long-lasting.

The Cost of Paving Your Driveway

One aspect of driveway paving costs is labor. The amount of labor you must pay for depends on the scope of the project. As of 2021, the average labor cost to pave 120 square feet is approximately $700. However, certain types of pavers take longer to install than others, so that can also impact the total cost. 

In addition to labor, you must also pay for the pavers you select, the cost of which varies by type of material selected and number of pavers needed. You may also need to pay for special installation equipment or supportive materials. According to the popular home improvement website Fixr, the total to pave 120 square feet with pavers ranges from $1310 to $1770. In contrast, a poured concrete driveway of the same size costs approximately $865 to $1,085.

How to Find Paving Services

The first thing to know about finding paving services is finding one is not enough. Not every service provides the same level of professional installation. You need to find one that is reliable. Most paving companies serve specific local areas, so a good first step is to look at your neighbor's driveways. If you like the work done to them, ask which companies performed the jobs. You can also find local paving services on websites like Angi or Yelp.

Once you have a short list of paving companies make sure they are reputable. Contact each one for more information regarding company operations, standards, and services. Make sure you learn the following about each company:

• Available Materials and Services Offered

• Length of Time in Business

• Number and Experience Levels of Crew Members

• Estimated Time Window for Starting the Project

• Estimated Total Cost of the Project with Breakdown of Expenses

• Warranties/Guarantees Offered

Signing the Contract with Your Paving Company

The final step in choosing a paving company is signing the contract. Never work with a company that does not supply a written contract. Also, never sign a contract with a paving company until you read it thoroughly. Before you sign it, make sure it lists all details of the job, including start and end date estimates, costs, and warranty information. Keep in mind start and end dates are not always specific in paving contracts because driveway paving is an outdoor process that requires certain weather conditions. Some schedule flexibility is required. Once you are happy with the contract terms, the company can begin the process of giving you the beautiful, functional driveway you desire.