Driveways can transform your home’s kerb appeal and ensuring yours is well maintained is a great way to boost guest’s impression of your property and can even add a wealth of value. By laying a brand new driveway you can easily clean up the front of your home and help to eradicate messy paths and overgrown weeds.
The driveway will also offer you the chance for a permanent parking space, getting your car off of the road and making it more secure at the same time. Those living on a busy road will immediately see the benefits of this.
Remember though, adding or replacing a driveway is a serious home improvement so you need to make sure your budget will accommodate. Fortunately there are a range of materials to choose when laying a driveway so you can find something that meets your budget and looks great at the same time.
Driveway Prices
The driveway cost will often be reflected by the material you choose and the size of the area that needs to be covered. To give you an idea of the cost you’d expect to pay, take a look at our guide below:
- Gravel driveway cost – £3.26 per square foot
- Blacktop/Asphalt driveway cost – £3.26 per square foot
- Concrete driveway cost – £6.52 per square foot
- Pavers/Brick driveway cost – £19.56 per square foot
Cost of laying foundations
The driveway foundations are very important and they’ll help to support your vehicle and keep it in good condition for a longer period of time. Having just a basic paving won’t last particularly long, so foundations are essential to preserve longevity.
Find some of the average figures for the foundation laying below:
- Mini-digger hire – £130-160 for a week
- Skip hire – £20-80 for a weekend
- Weed mat/geo-textile underlay – £40 per metres squared
- 8-inch hardcore base (either stone or gravel) – £35-65 per tonne
- Compaction Plate – £23-30 hire a day
Remember, all the prices listed above are a guide only. If you want to get a more detailed breakdown of the cost of a driveway then it’s important to compare prices from three of four different companies. This is the best way to get a specific cost and by comparing you can choose the company you feel most comfortable with too.
It’s also a good idea to speak with friends or family if they’ve recently had a driveway installed because you can see the work carried out and ask for recommendations. No matter the company you choose, always get referrals and make sure you’re completely certain on all the specifics.