[jhein]

New driveway going in today. Today is prep, tomorrow asphalt. I can't believe I'm saying this but it's just about as exciting as the new car. No more gravel. No more dust.

It's about 1000 linear feet of driveway, plus another 1500 sq ft or so around the garage and shop area. I'll post some pics later.

[1965gp]

No more dust has to have you extremely excited!

[Firedup6975]

I was so excited and happy to get our driveway done. Congrats you’ll love it! We didn’t do in front of the shop yet.

[jhein]

Originally Posted by Firedup6975

I was so excited and happy to get our driveway done. Congrats you’ll love it!

What a beauty to behold!

I can't wait. I've been having to restrict when I can drive the TA when it's dry enough to kick up dust.

[dataway]

Going to have our small drive repaved this summer ... could you say what it cost per square foot?

[jhein]

It's $2/sq ft. I have 11500 sq ft total. That's for all the prep (I didn't need any new base material, just grading and rolling/compacting) and 3.5 " (rolled/compacted) asphalt. I think I'm getting a pretty good price based on how relatively big the project is, and the guy and his crew are local, literally right down the road from us. So far prep is looking very good.

[dataway]

Certainly less than they want in my area .. course absolutely everything costs more in NY for some reason.

[jhein]

here's the prepped driveway

[Half-Inch Stud]

Yes, it is exciting.

"How exciting is it?"

Is was so exciting, that I was compelled to manually shovel (scrape) the driveway every time this winter. Had snowblower help a few times, but still.

On occasion I can be seen vacuuming the concrete Garage apron.

The driveway is so smooth, that the first hard rain had the water drifting into our front patio. I made videos, and placed a long thin wood slat to optimize the curbing effect. We had the Asphalt folks add a small curb, and, no more tears.

[burd]

I’d like to get rid of the black top I have hate it. I’d like to do in concrete.
I didn’t put it in, it was the PO dumb asphalt.

[Half-Inch Stud]

Originally Posted by burd

I’d like to get rid of the black top I have hate it. I’d like to do in concrete. I didn’t put it in, it was the PO dumb asphalt.

$5,200 vs $18,000

[TAKerry]

Originally Posted by burd

I’d like to get rid of the black top I have hate it. I’d like to do in concrete.
I didn’t put it in, it was the PO dumb asphalt.

Only drives I have every had were concrete. My current is going on 20 yrs and the only maintenance I have ever done is to use my blower to get the leaves and dirt off.

[Greg Reid]

I guess I'm a dumb as(phalter) too because I know exactly how the OP feels!
I got my dirt driveway paved 2 years ago. I was real happy about it after 19 years of dust and sand getting tracked into the house and cars. Also, after cutting grass in my yard, I'd have to cut it in my driveway!
The deer eat everything that grows around here except that grass in the driveway and the weeds in my flower garden!
It did wonders for my curb appeal..if I had a curb. I live out in the woods. I would have loved to do concrete but it would have cost me about $25,000 just for what I did, which was basically pave the circular drive in front of my house, abutting the concrete pads in front of my garage and carport. He took the leftover and laid it at the street where there's a slope and used to wash out all the time. I have another 100 yards or so between the two points that is still gravel. I may get that done soon. I just can't afford a 150 yard long, 10 foot wide concrete driveway.

[jhein]

Originally Posted by burd

I’d like to get rid of the black top I have hate it. I’d like to do in concrete.
I didn’t put it in, it was the PO dumb asphalt.

Yep, concrete is king, no doubt. This job is costing me $23k. It would have been $70k for concrete. That just wasn't in the budget. Even if I have to do it again in 20 years, it's still less than concrete

[TAKerry]

I Didnt mean to come off that way. Your new drive is great and I know how much of a difference something solid vs mud and dirt is.
Im a contractor and we did all of our custom homes with concrete drives. I poured mine myself so all it cost was material. In my case, it was cheaper than having a guy do asphalt. We even did a couple in brick, one was all pavers that was about 1500 feet long!

[Sirrotica]

Originally Posted by TAKerry

I Didnt mean to come off that way. Your new drive is great and I know how much of a difference something solid vs mud and dirt is.
Im a contractor and we did all of our custom homes with concrete drives. I poured mine myself so all it cost was material. In my case, it was cheaper than having a guy do asphalt. We even did a couple in brick, one was all pavers that was about 1500 feet long!

Good to know, I never realized how much of the cost was labor. I'm going to have 1800 square foot building built. Today I'm meeting with a contractor to get an estimate and I'm betting the floor is going to be a major portion of the cost of the building.

[Greg Reid]

Originally Posted by TAKerry

We even did a couple in brick, one was all pavers that was about 1500 feet long!

That's the look that I really love. In fact, I'm toying with covering my CRACKED CONCRETE walkway over with bricks.

[jhein]

Originally Posted by Sirrotica

Good to know, I never realized how much of the cost was labor.

My contractor had 6 guys out here yesterday. 3 were operating equipment and 3 were doing hand work. They worked from 7:30 until 2:30 and got all the prep done except for the herbicide.

[jhein]

Originally Posted by Sirrotica

...I'm betting the floor is going to be a major portion of the cost of the building.

Yes, but lumber prices here are sky high too right now. I am going to add on to my shop but I'm waiting. I built my shop for $30/sq ft. I just got a bid to add 2 bays and it was $65/sq ft!!!!! He said it was the lumber cost due to a construction boom. I can use the extra space but I'm gonna wait until prices come down.

[jhein]

Originally Posted by TAKerry

I Didnt mean to come off that way.

No offense taken. It is a fact that concrete is better, and brick is the best looking!