Paving

Paving

Material Comparison

	Asphalt Driveway	Concrete Driveway	Pavers Driveway
Cost	$2.50 - $4.00 /sq.ft.	$4.00 - $6.00+ /sq. ft.	more expensive than concret
Durability	Less durable. Cracks from freeze-thaw, settlement and deteriorates from de-icing salts.	More durable. Cracks from freeze-thaw, settlement and deteriorates from salts.	More durable.
Weather Issues	Softens in high heat	Cracks in freezing temperatures	more resilient
Longevity	20 years+	40 years+	longer than concret
Maintenance	Resealing every 3-5 years	Sealing optional; occasional degreasing	coating Optional
Finishes	None	Multiple types	Many types
Colors	Primarily black	Multiple color options	Many choices
Resurfacing	Yes	No	No
Repairs	Easy	Difficult	Easy

Concrete

Pros

• Longer lifespan than Asphalt
• Can withstand great centralized loads
• Spills rarely damage it

Cons

• More expensive than Asphalt
• Can crack due to settlement

Asphalt

Pros

• Easy to shape
• Cost effective
• Can set up quickly

Cons

• The edges are fragile and can break away easily unless edged with curb.
• Roots of trees and shrubs can crack and heave asphalt.
• The homeowner sealers don't perform as well as the commercial sealers
• Spills of oil or gasoline can eat away the sealer leaving behind nothing more than crunchy gravel.

Pavers

Pros

• Many patterns and colors to choose
• Easy to replace

Cons

• Expensive

Preparing the area for concrete

• Level of difficulty: Hard
• Estimated time taken: 4 hours
• Tools required:

1. Wood or plastic forms
2. Level
3. Gravel
4. Water
5. Tamper

Step 1: Lay your forms

1. These can either be plastic or wood
2. Ensure your forms are level

Step 2: Lay gravel

1. Pour about 1" of gravel and compact with a tamper
2. Mist the gravel

Example Video:

Pouring a concrete driveway

• Level of difficulty: Hard
• Estimated time taken: 1-2 days
• Tools required:

1. Grass seed
2. Fertilizer
3. Soil
4. Water

How to:

Step 1: Lay concrete

1. Start on the side closest to the building/house
2. Slowly add concrete and use a concrete rake to ensure it stays relatively even during the pouring process
3. Pour a few feet of concrete, the spread it out, pour a few more feet, then spread it out
4. Once you have about 15-20 feet of concrete poured, begin leveling it by hand with a concrete putty knife, beginning at the perimeter and working your way inward
5. Then use a jitter bug to push the concrete down while keeping it level
6. Following the jitter bug, use a bull float to flatten it
7. Continue until you have reached the end of the drive way

Step 2: Edging

1. Use an edger to begin the edging, flattening, and smoothing on the perimeter

Step 3: Cut control joints

1. Every 10 feet or so, make a slice in the concrete to create two separate slabs
2. Use a long board you can lay across and also use as a straight line guide
3. Smooth out the concrete as you go

Step 4: Continue flattening

1. Finish flettening and smoothing on the boards you lay across for your control joint cutting
2. Continue until you have a completely smooth surface with the exception of the control joints

Step 5: Texture

1. Add any texture or design on the concrete as you please
2. Finish with edging around the perimeter of each slab

Step 6: Seal the concrete

1. Apply sealer to the concrete and let dry over night

Example Video:

Experiences shared by trusted users

A nice backyard paving project finished in time with no extra cost, in May, 2015 (a private review worthy of login to see)