How much does it cost to have a blacktop driveway put in?

[LostinVA]

I know part of it depends on the cost of oil, but I'm just curious.

Say a driveway approximately 5'x 40.' I'm just curious.

[taterguy]

1. I suspect the price varies tremendously depending on where you live

[MajorChode]

2. A good one costs about $5 per square foot around here

...but that assumes all prep work including putting down a gravel underlay and using virgin asphalt. So you may be able to get out much cheaper if it's just a repave. Beware of companies that bid much cheaper than everyone else as that probably means no prep work and the driveway will turn to shit in a year or two.

If you're not in a hurry, you may be able to work out a deal with the contractor to wait until they are already working in your area. If they are doing a larger job and can just finish yours with the materials they have left over your costs can go down significantly.

[NV Whino]

3. Get bids

Don't take the lowest bid, don't hire the guy who comes around and solicits you, and get references. Blacktop can be one of the biggest scams around. A 40' driveway can be very expensive, but if you are gong to do it, do it right and it will last for a long time.

[LostinVA]

4. My wife just told me I'm wrong: it's more like 6 x 30

[MajorChode]

5. 6' is a bit narrow

You may want to consider the widest vehicle you're going to put on the driveway and then add 2' to the width. If you are constantly driving on the edges you will get cracking and the driveway will start to fail prematurely.

[LostinVA]

12. It can't be wider than that because of certain trees we're not allowed to cut down

Believe me, I'd like it to be two car-widths wide.

[Parche]

9. what does she know

does she have a contact at Exxon Mobil?
:woohoo::rofl: :hi:

[hunter]

6. You MUST research your contractor well on this one.

Asphalt driveways are a common scam. A crooked contractor can cut corners and build one that looks good at first, but it will quickly fall apart.

I remember a story here on DU about a road in Afghanistan that fell apart because the contractor diluted the asphalt with some kind of industrial or food processing waste. But even if the contractor isn't that rotten they can still take a lot of other shortcuts that are not immediately apparant when the driveway is finished.

[Ellipsis]

7. If you have it done and the drive is adjacent to the house...

make absolutely sure when they grade it, before putting down the blacktop they angle the grade away from the house. If you don't, when it rains your basement may flood. If you don't have a basement it can still mess with the foundation in lots of ways... hydrostatic pressure, not fun stuff.


Edited to add:

When it comes to price, the lowest bids on the asphalt itself may not tell you the final price if there is additional landscaping work required.

Therefore, make sure you get price quotes on all the work required for your driveway.

Nearly not all contractors are part of state or national pavement associations, but contacting these associations may provide you with additional information on the leading and reliable contractors in your area.

Additionally, as there are considerable costs to getting asphalt crews (which consists of several workmen and heavy equipment) to your driveway, it might be good idea to contact those asphalt contractors that are currently doing work nearby, in order to lower the costs, as you don't have to pay for the costs that occur when these crews have to move their equipment from one area to another.

http://www.asphalt-guide.com/new-jersey-asphalt-companies.html

[Jamastiene]

8. You might could call around to local paving companies and ask them.

You could get quotes from several different companies and go from there.

[old mark]

10. Look, we just finished a driveway down the block and we have

enough materiel left to do yours right now. It'll only cost $400, but we need the cash up front, and could you let us in your house while you go to the bank we need to use the phone....

mark

[Midlodemocrat]

11. Ours is 16 feet wide and approximately 40 feet long

and we added a basketball pad next to the garage for TM's car.

It was $2600 total. Including tearing up the old one.

Not terrible, I didn't think.

[sasquatch]

14. Thanks for reading my PM

[kentauros]

13. Maybe consider Grasspave

http://www.invisiblestructures.com/GP2/grasspave.htm

:D