Planning on Redoing Your Driveway This Fall?

Redoing DrivewayIf your driveway looks like it needs some tender loving care, you may be wondering if it’s time to replace the driveway completely, or whether you can just repair it or refinish it. Many homeowners will try to do whatever they can to avoid having to replace their driveways, since driveways can be very expensive to have installed. Instead, they’ll try to patch cracks, repave the exterior surface or have it refinished.

While it is up to you to decide what’s best for your driveway and your budget, it’s important to note that sometimes your driveway gets to a point where it’s beyond patching. Since homeowners in New York and New Jersey have to deal with repeated freeze-thaw cycles year after year, small cracks can eventually turn into more serious issues that require more than just a quick patch.

Once cracks are larger than about a quarter inch wide, even if you use a patching material to fill the cracks, water will eventually seep into the crack, which will open up the crack again. This means that the temporary fix you do now is just that – it’s temporary. So although it costs less to patch a driveway than to replace it, the money you spend now may soon be wasted when you realize that your driveway still needs to be replaced. Repairs will buy you some time, but will not completely solve your problem.

If you are ready to completely redo your driveway, you are in for a relatively hefty bill. Installing a new driveway is rather pricey, especially when you have to factor in the cost of ripping out the old driveway. One factor that will have an impact on price is the type of material you want to use to finish your driveway, whether pavers, asphalt or concrete. That’s not the only cost, of course. You’ll also have to factor in materials that will be needed for the base layers, such as dirt, sand, crushed stone and gravel. And if you want to finish the driveway off with a flair, you may also want to consider touches like a Belgian Block edging. Then of course, there’s the cost of labor if you’re not doing it yourself and any equipment that needs to be rented if you are.

If you’re planning on hiring a professional to redo driveway, all you need to do is decide on the finishing material and any options you want. Then the installers will likely provide one price that includes the cost of materials, labor and equipment. If, on the other hand, you’re planning on tackling the job yourself, you’ll have to consider the cost of each material you need, any equipment or tools you need to rent and then factor in a cushion for miscalculations or mistakes. It can be difficult to complete this task on your own, especially if you have a large driveway, but it can be done.

For more information about bulk delivery of materials you may need for your driveway, such as dirt, sand and gravel, contact ATAK Trucking at 917-912-2900.

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