While many homeowners would love to have a beautiful stone driveway, many are concerned about costs.
Paver driveways are striking, unique and can add a significant amount to your home’s resale value, but they generally cost more than asphalt alternatives and are certainly costlier than a simple solution like pea gravel.
However, they also perform better and provide a great boost to your home’s curb appeal.
Paver driveway costs are influenced by a range of factors, including:
- The quality of the raw materials and the nature of the supplier
- Labor rates
When you’re comparing quotes, you’re essentially trying to find the best balance of quality, trustworthy workmanship and affordability. Understanding how to evaluate each of the three main factors is essential in getting the best possible value for your money.
Paver Driveway Costs: Materials and Suppliers
Not all pavers are made equal, and you’ll pay a slight premium to get better products and products that have been specially treated to create a unique appearance.
Since you’re already making a major investment in your paver driveway, it isn’t a good idea to try to cut corners. Always choose quality raw materials supplied by a reputable, dedicated provider.
To that end, it is recommended that you source your raw materials from a company that quarries its own stone. This reduced distribution, supply chain and “middle man” costs, helping you get the best possible quality for the lowest possible prices.
The essential raw materials you’ll need to build a paver driveway include:
- Quarry process (QP) or recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) for the base (raw material)
- Concrete sand and/or poly sand as the supplemental foundation layer and joint stabilizer (raw material)
- Plastic edging to complete the perimeter
- Paver stones
Using a paver calculator is an excellent way to ensure you don’t purchase more materials than you’re actually going to need. These calculators consider the size and depth of your project area, then tell you exactly how much of each material you’ll need to buy.
Paver Driveway Costs: Labor Rates
Labor rates are a tricky consideration, as highly reputable contractors with strong track records of excellence generally charge a premium for their labor. The size and scope of the project also affects labor costs, since it takes longer to complete larger jobs.
One technique you can use to get a good labor rate is to let each of the contractors you’re considering know that they are entering into a competitive bid for your project. If they know they’re going to be competing directly with other local contractors, you may be able to secure better quotes from the businesses who really want the job.
Paver Driveway Costs: Reduce Yours by Shopping at Braen Supply
Braen Supply is a leading direct-to-market supplier of high-quality concrete and clay paver products. The company offers everything you’ll need to create a striking, beautiful and high-performing paver surface, with excellent prices on foundational materials, pavers and a wide range of other construction materials.
As an added bonus, the stone pros at Braen Supply offer extensive knowledge and highly specialized expertise you just won’t find at a big-box retailer. Visit Braen Supply online to request a quote or arrange a detailed project consultation.
