A paving project is not something we do very often, but when it does come up, we want to know everything involved. This includes the cost of paving, which requires the use of a paving cost estimator.
As a general rule, you can estimate the cost of paving by calculating the square footage of the area. This is done by multiplying the length and width. Asphalt is typically priced per square foot and it may cost anywhere from $.75 up to $2.50 per square foot, depending on how thick you want the new asphalt to be.
We are considering that you want asphalt paving in this article. There are many different types of pavement, but asphalt is the one that is typically considered, especially for driveways.
Other types of paving can include concrete, stone, and brick. Each of these is going to have its own benefits and you may even want to consider going with something different if you want a different look.
Paving Cost Estimator / Calculator
As we will discuss in this article, there are many different factors that need to be considered when doing a paving project. It isn’t just a matter of purchasing the materials and putting them down, you need to think about the preparation and even the location.
This will certainly have an impact on how much you spend on the job. Some other factors that may also affect the job price include how busy the company is that would do the work and if you are going to be doing the work on your own.
Unless you are doing some patchwork in the driveway, you are likely to have the asphalt delivered to your home. You have to talk to the company about the exact way that they sell asphalt, as it may also differ from one company to another.
For example, did you know that the size of the gravel in asphalt can make a difference in how much you will spend? This may also be able to help you to save money if you ask the right questions when you call for an estimate.
One other factor that should not be overlooked is the possibility that you could run out of asphalt before the paving project is finished. This can really be a problem, because you wouldn’t have a seamless look on a new project.
It is always better to estimate about 10% more than what is needed and you may even go higher. In order to keep from wasting that 10%, you can either go slightly thicker with the paving or you can have another area ready to pave, just in case it is needed.
In this article, we are going to consider the benefits of using a paving cost estimator. It will help you know how much you’ll spend, not only for the material but also for the labor that may be associated with it.
Even if you are spreading the asphalt out, you will still pay something to have it delivered. There is always going to be a cost, so knowing how much you will spend is important.
How To Calculate How Much Paving Materials Needed
There may be a number of different calculations that are necessary when doing a paving project but the simplest calculation is to determine how much paving material you need. Here’s how to do it:
To calculate the amount of paving material needed, you should measure the length and width of the area being paved. You should then determine how thick you want the pavement to be. Multiply those three numbers together to get the cubic footage of how much is needed.
There are many different calculations that can be done at this point to determine exactly how much pavement is needed. It sometimes depends upon whether the company is selling it by the ton or if they will break things down into a cost per square foot. Often, it’s just an estimate on their part.
As a general rule, a ton of asphalt will cover about 80 ft.² to a thickness of 3 inches. This number may differ, depending on the type of material that is being used and even how much is compacted.
It is always best if you talk to the asphalt company before you come up with your final plan. Using a paving cost estimator is a good idea because it gives you an estimate, but then you need to figure out the nuts and the bolts, which are the details.
It can be difficult when you are working in cubic feet and the contractor or asphalt company is working in tons. It’s best if you are on the same page because cutting down on that confusion can really make a difference in getting the job done.
How To Calculate Cost Of Paving Materials
Now is the time when we talk about the cost of paving. This is going to be the cost of having the paving delivered, and it is a relatively straightforward calculation.
Multiply the length by the width and depth (L x W x D) to get the cubic feet of asphalt you need. A cubic yard of asphalt weighs approximately 2 tons and there are 27 ft.³ of asphalt in a cubic yard. Multiply the cubic feet by the cost per cubic foot to get the estimate.
This is where it can get kind of tricky because there are going to be differences in how much these companies charge. They may try to pad the price to a certain extent, especially if it is a small job or if they don’t have any other work in the area.
It costs a lot of money to deliver asphalt, especially when you are delivering it to a remote area. If you live out in the country and are doing a small driveway job, you may find that you either have to wait until they have work in the area or you will spend more for it.
In addition, they may not be willing to mix a partial batch for your project. You may find that you have to buy it by the ton and they will not do a partial ton.
If that is the case, you should plan on changing the depth of the asphalt to match how much they will deliver. You can also have areas ready to cover with asphalt, just in case you have some left over.
As a general rule, you will pay about $60 per ton of asphalt. Doing the math, that means you will pay about $1.75 per square foot if the asphalt is a few inches thick.
Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on January 2, 2023.
How To Calculate Cost Of Paving Installation (Cost Of Materials, Labor, Incidentals)
If you are planning on doing the paving job as a DIY project, you will have to factor in the cost of installation. This will include labor as well as some incidentals that may go along with the estimate.
For the most part, you will spend up to $5 per square foot on labor to have asphalt paving installed on your driveway. You can add that to the cost of the material and then throw in about 20% overage for incidentals.
Generally speaking, there will not be many unknown factors that will affect the price of the paving job. Unless there are large holes in the driveway or if you are extending it, then it should go smoothly without any problem.
The major factor that will affect the cost of installation is the size of the project. Smaller projects will likely cost more per square foot because of setup charges.
If the project is far away from the company doing the work, they may also charge a premium because of travel expenses.
Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on January 2, 2023.
If you purchase the asphalt through the contractor, you may find that you are getting a better deal. They work with the asphalt companies regularly so they can get a bargain and they can pass on some of those savings to you if you have them do the work.
Other Things To Consider When Estimating A Paving Project
We discussed the cost of paving and installation and now we will take a look at some of the other things that may need to be considered. These may very well impact the estimate considerably.
1. Drainage – One of the big issues that go along with having a paving job done is for new drainage to be considered. Depending upon the size of the project, you may even have to get an engineer involved to calculate the drainage and make sure that the local circumstances can handle it.
2. Inspections – Various inspections may be necessary, depending upon where the job is done and the municipality where it is being completed.
3. Survey – One other thing to consider is the possibility of having a survey. This will help you determine if there are any encroachments with the new pavement.
A paving cost estimator will consider everything necessary to give you a good price for your paving job. After filling in the length and width of the project, it will estimate how much you will spend for the asphalt, as well as for labor.
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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on January 2, 2023.