If you need help finding a driveway installer, you must know the original cost of the concrete driveways. Knowing concrete driveway costs is crucial for people looking at the driveway’s installation for the first time and not knowing where to begin. A typical 5.5 m2 concrete driveway in the UK charges between £90 and £140 per m2, or between £500 and £800 for a basic quality that can take up to two days to build. In contrast, a 25 m2 concrete driveway assessment may take up to four days and range between £2,300 and £2,700.
If you are searching for concrete driveways and want to know their pricing structure, you need to proceed with some simple steps. However, when selecting the best driveway installers and choosing the most appropriate of them, you should consider affordability and check the quality of services. Just like anything in the home renovations space, choosing the right company to resurface your concrete driveway is a balancing act between price and quality. While it can be tempting to choose the cheapest one, choosing a company like Conker Concreting who prioritise quality over churn and burn pricing means that you’ll get a result that lasts through the years.
Our recommended concrete driveway installers are the ones you will find on Bark. Moreover, they offer the most affordable driveway installers; you can even choose to get free notifications in real-time about their services and availability.
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How Much Does It Cost To Install New Concrete Driveway In 2022?
| DRIVEWAY SIZE | COLOUR OR PATTERN | ESTIMATED TIME | COST OF LABOUR | COST OF MATERIALS | TOTAL COST |
| 5.5 m2 | None | 1 to 2 days | £350 | £325 | £675 |
| 12.5 m2 | None | 2 to 3 days | £675 | £750 | £1,425 |
| 25 m2 | None | 3 to 4 days | £1,125 | £1,400 | £2,525 |
| 50 m2 | None | 4 to 5 days | £2,000 | £2,500 | £4,500 |
| 40 m2 | Yes | 4 to 5 days | £2,650 | £2,300 | £3,800 |
| 60 m2 | Yes | 5 to 6 days | £3,550 | £2,500 | £5,050 |
| 100 m2 | Yes | 7 to 8 days | £3,800 | £4,800 | £8,600 |
Looking at the average cost of different driveways, we know they are quite variable. For example, if you want to install a tarmac driveway, you will have to pay anywhere between £45 to £60 per square metre. The length of the driveway is inversely proportional to the price of the driveway per square metre. Hence, the larger the driveway, the lesser its price per square metre. However, it is only a general rule of thumb, and every company and driveway installation expert has their way of pricing these driveways.
If you plan to install concrete driveway for a single-car driveway, it would be cheaper. Moreover, the material also makes a lot of difference. For example, resin driveways are less expensive than block paving or stoned driveways. However, they are fairly priced in concrete factories, and you will have to pay around £90 if you live in the UK.
It is a green signal if their profiles have a maximum number of positive reviews and testimonials and people are pretty happy with their services. Otherwise, you can easily understand the red flags, especially if you browse their social media accounts and see what people are saying about the level of the services. Moreover, concrete driveways usually require a lot of expertise.
Driveway installation requires some maintenance knowledge and the overall idea of the rates in your area. Also, remember that you will have endless options once you find the right concrete driveway installation experts. However, the primary purpose is to end up with a one-of-a-kind driveway that improves your home’s appeal and overall value.
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Factors Affecting a Concrete Driveway Cost 2022
You can enjoy a lot of creativity with concrete driveway designs, but the rates will also increase as it gets more complicated. Also, some contractors offer a concrete driveway cost calculator where you can estimate the costs for your driveway project yourselves.
We know that more than one factor can affect the total cost of the concrete driveway in 2022. Further, it will help us to evaluate the overall pricing structure and get an idea of how these new concrete driveway installations cost.
Location
Not all places are equally levelled. When you want to proceed with the driveway installation on the curvy or steep planted area, you will have to spend a lot of money. Hence, there will be times when the driveway requires drainage and adjustment. All of these factors that make the site quite challenging to work on enhance the pricing structure of the new driveway installation.
Remember that a cement driveway always requires a pretty flat surface and area. So if you live in a curvy or steep place, you must first invest your money in maintaining exceptional drainage and levelling. After that, you will be able to evaluate the final cost of the driveway.
Size
The size of the driveway affects the price. When you install a plain gray concrete driveway that is enough only for two or three vehicles, then you will have to spend less money than larger driveways. Comparing the size of the driveways usually constructed within the UK, we know that 640 square feet are the most common. However, smaller or medium-sized are also in demand depending on the required extensions. An average driveway measuring 5.5 m2 and big enough to fit one vehicle costs approximately £750, while a driveway measuring 25 m2 and big enough to fit two to three cars costs about £2,500.
Current Driveway Condition
A new asphalt driveway cost is higher than replacement costs. If you already have a concrete driveway and want to replace it, you will have to spend less than installing the new one. This money is required to tear out and remove the previous driveway. However, you may incur additional costs related to the disposal of the material and utilisation of the new material for repair or replacement.
Reinforcement
Thick metal reinforcing is required for pavement in large swaths. Usually, the mesh is priced between £1 and £3 per square metre.
Excavation
Clearing the dirt to prepare for the cornerstone sub-base with a mechanised excavator is easier. The cost of removing soil is £65/m3 plus the price of a garbage skip.
Hiring a Skip Waste
You can always use the leftover material for the installation of the concrete driveway and use it as a foundation. It is only possible when you use the material from the old driveway and are determined to remove the waste. The least expensive size skip typically costs about £120 per load. However, you should verify with your local provider for a more precise quote.
Condition of the Sub-base Foundation
Without a stable base, the concrete driveway can never be as functional as it should be. An instrument called a mechanical compactor is used to maintain a solid foundation, which costs £150/m3.
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An Earthenware Covering
You will require a covering designed to deter the core from interacting with the foundation and letting bushes squeeze through crevices. About £2–£5/m2 is the price of geosynthetic fabric.
Edging
When pouring concrete, an edge is necessary to keep the fluid contained while it dries. You accomplish this by disbanding, a method that uses long sections of wood that are removed once the concrete hardens. However, to create a border that will last longer, use curbstones or an old structure.
Time Of The Year
Concrete driveways are not suitable for areas with intensely cold water conditions. We all know that 4°C is the temperature where the water starts forming ice crystals.
People in the UK pour concrete in the hotter months and during the spring, summer, and autumn seasons. However, if you live in a region where the weather remains cold throughout the year, you need to adjust your timing. Also, warmer months are when you can expect some good deals from concrete driveway installers such as the ones available at Bark.
Colours
The colour of the grain and base used determines the natural look of the concrete. To brighten your pavement road, you can pick from various coloured tints.
Driving Distance
A stable foundation broad enough to endure soil compaction is necessary for a nice entrance. Based on the soil characteristics, this will be at least 150mm of DT Type 1 (MOT) core in the UK, consisting of mixed-up crushed aggregate materials, usually 0-40mm in size.
Accessibility to Equipment
You will need to provide accessibility for loaders, rubbish skips, and cement supplies regardless of how close the driveway is to the main road. Take this into account while calculating concrete driveway cost factors.
Extra Drainage
The importance of drainage can never be denied when it comes to maintaining the concrete drive. However, UK planning regulations do not allow the installation of a separate drainage system. Moreover, due to the non-porous nature of the concrete driveway, there is an increased risk of the discharge of water into public places. Due to this, drainage channels are installed after proper permission from the planning regulatory authorities.
Complex Pattern
As we have already discussed, different designs have different pricing structures. Moreover, a concrete driveway installation is quite a lengthy process. So when you want to proceed with the most stylish design, you will have to spend a lot of money. Nowadays, concrete driveways are available in a variety of design options. People want to have more choices, and they also enjoy different styles and structures.
You must pay according to the parameters if you want complicated stamping, stencilling, or any other design staining. So it is entirely up to you to spend money and choose the design accordingly. It depends on how much you want to spend, your affordability, and which concrete driveway installers you hire.
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Vetting Driveway Specialists
Concrete driveway labor costs vary depending on the professional, location, and effort required to install the driveways. Moreover, it will affect the overall pricing structure. For example, if a lot of labour is needed to install the driveway, you will have to pay a lot of money. Moreover, your location can also make it easy or difficult to establish a particular driveway.
When choosing the right installation professional, the most important thing is to check their consistency and reputation. Moreover, it is also essential to consider how they maintain their highest standards and what level of services they can provide. For this purpose, you can focus on their customer reviews and also decide to see their previous work samples. If you are delighted with their services, and they have many years of experience, you can proceed with them.
Whenever you are looking for a driveway installation professional, especially if you want to install a concrete driveway, you need to see their examples of past work. Moreover, it is also essential to check if they have experience installing concrete driveways. You can see how they maintain their profiles if they have official websites or online presence.
Trade Associations
- Constructionline encourages rigorous criteria among manufacturers of building supplies. Over 3,000 organisations’ safety and accreditation are handled by a sub-organisation called Acclaim Accreditation.
- The premier organisation for designers and professionals working in horticulture is BALI (British Association of Landscape Industries).
- The UK’s trade group for autonomous quarrying operators and related distributors, subcontractors, and advisors is called the British Aggregates Association (BAA).
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Quality of Work
It is crucial to read the evaluations before signing a contract with any driveway installers. Additionally, you want to look at the calibre of their prior work and client testimonials. You can get a sense of the quality of their services by interacting with past customers and viewing examples of their previous projects. So, do not be afraid to ask for more details if you need them to make an educated decision. Checking the services’ reliability is the most crucial element in this connection. Plus, you will be able to complete the transaction once you have found your match.
You would want to employ the best and most experienced after looking at the most attractive driveway builders. Also, you can request free estimates from them to choose the best pavement builders. While some may not give out free quotations, the most economical ones always seem to do.
Lastly, you can select the experts who are the best for the job after getting quotes from your preferred pavement contractors.
Guarantees
Seeking out concrete driveway contractors is the first and most important stage. Then you ought to inquire about their prices and guaranteed services regarding weather damage, work quality, and colour change. You may choose the installers who would be the ideal fit for you by contrasting different installers’ driveway installation and repair operations levels. Further, you can either build the new driveway or fix the old one. However, after giving them specific details on separating your home from the road and other necessary conditions, the most crucial thing is to learn their rates. Hence, you can work with your area’s most reasonably priced, skilled, and fair contractors once you have identified a few.
Quotes
The first and the most crucial step is practically reaching out to the concrete driveway installers. By comparing different installers and the quality of their driveway installation and repairing services, you can decide which one can be the best choice for you. It is up to you to proceed with a brand new driveway or restore the previous one. However, the most important thing is to know their costs after providing them with detailed information about the distance of your home from the road and other basic requirements. Once you find a few of the most affordable, knowledgeable, and reasonable contractors near you, you can decide to deal with them.
Once you have selected the most desirable driveway installers, you want to hire top-quality talent. Moreover, to end up with the most appropriate driveway installers, you can receive free quotes from them. Some may not offer free quotes, but the most affordable ones always provide free quotes. Hence, you can choose the best professionals after receiving quotes from your favourite driveway installers.
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Concrete Driveway Advantages
Price
Usually, concrete driveways are much thicker compared to stone driveways. The minimum length of the concrete driveway should be 4 inches. However, if you want to spend some more money and use them for heavy-duty vehicles, you will have to install stronger and thicker concrete driveways. It is all about how you want to use it. If they are simply for walking purposes, then a 4-inch wide driveway is enough. However, you will have to spend a bit more money when you want to use a concrete driveway to run above-average traffic.
The use of the driveway decides the thickness, which further provides information about the cost. It would be correct to say that the size of the driveway and its thickness are the crucial factors that affect the current price. When a lot of different heavy-duty vehicles are being used by the people, the basic driveway construction requirements have increased.
Skills
Examine demonstrations of their previous projects anytime you are searching for a competent pavement installer, especially if you want to construct a concrete driveway. Further, verifying whether they have prior driveway installation competence is crucial. Also, if they have an online site or any other internet presence, you can examine how they have kept up with maintaining their accounts.
If their websites show that customers are generally pleased and have a high percentage of positive reviews and comments, it is a positive indication. However, if you look through their social media profiles and see what folks are talking about and the calibre of their services, you may quickly spot the warning signs. Usually, having a new concrete driveway installed requires some skills.
Patterns and Colours
If you want to proceed with highly stylish concrete driveways and have a pretty handsome budget, you should proceed with a high-end concrete installation. These types of custom driveways are costly and decorative. Here you will observe a lot of creativity and design from the contractors. Also, professional driveway installers that provide high-end services usually use borders and saw-cut techniques.
Remember that if you love hand-applied chemical stain accents, you will have no option but to choose the high-end driveways. These types of driveways are usually comparable with stoned driveways, and both are highly decorative in their designs, structure, and creativity. Here you can end up with many scoring patterns and stain colours. Moreover, concrete driveways use stencilling techniques. In addition, hand-applied accents are usually part of high-end driveways.
Maintenance
A concrete driveway is a better economical choice because it’s a more durable option. Moreover, you can expect it to last for years and years. On the other hand, if you want to proceed with tarmac or asphalt driveway installation, you may face a lot of trouble after 10 or 15 years.
On the other hand, concrete driveway installation requires less maintenance. It’s necessary to have it checked in 20 years or so. Moreover, the maintenance options available for concrete driveways are cost-effective, and they also help to increase their lifespan.
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Imprinted and Stamped Styles
Image replication and imprinting of different designs using wood, stones, and tiles are very common on concrete driveways.
Common Concrete Patterns
Slate, cobblestones, random stones and herringbone are the most common concrete patterns.
Border And Edging
Victorian edging, old town limestone edging, and old granite paving are the famous border and edging block designs.
Colour Options
Integral colours, acid stain, and water-based stain are some of the major colour options available.
Timelines and Step-by-Step Guide
Set Out the Perimeter
Marking the driveway perimeter is the first and most important step because it will help you estimate the equal spacing requirements.
Shuttering Material
Woods like timber are required as the shuttering material; it provides strength and levelling and maintains the flow of the concrete.
Excavate
The excavation process becomes mandatory when you reach the subsoil.
Reinforcement
On one side, you will have to prevent the mixing of concrete from the hardcore, while on the other side, you will also have to make arrangements that discourage the growth of weeds.
Pouring Concrete
The appropriate consistency of the mixture is essential before you decide to pour concrete. You can also use a pneumatic concrete vibrator to get a smooth flow.
Levelling off
When you get to the end of the aisle, take the wood out and level the area with a trowel. Now is the perfect moment to start a design if you want.
Cut Expansion Grooves
Cut expansion joints throughout the driveway’s width, 1 m apart and approximately 25 mm deep, before the pavement has fully set.
Curing
Instead of evaporating, an electrochemical reaction causes concrete to set. Thus, rather than eliminating the humidity, let the curing process take place when it is ready.
Remove the Shuttering
Remove the shuttering at this stage. Make sure to take care of the edges.
When Can I Use the Driveway?
You will have to wait only two days if you want to walk on a concrete driveway that is newly installed.
Finishing Touches
You can use finishing touches for the concealment of the rough edges.
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Planning Permission and Building Regulations in the UK
Compliance with the Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS) Regulations is vital because it involves permission from the planning regulatory authorities regarding the construction of drainage systems for hard surfaces greater than 5m2.
Compliance with the SuDS Regulations is vital in areas with a high risk of water diversion. However, you will not have to take planning permission for extremely porous driveway surfaces. On the other hand, permission from the council is important if the pavement reaches the road. Moreover, you should check your compliance with the UK building regulations.
FAQs About Concrete Driveway
1. Is the concrete drive installation worth spending money on?
Concrete driveway installation is a long-term investment, and it adds value to your home and improves the overall appeal. If you want to enhance the value of your property cost-effectively, then spending some bucks on concrete driveway installation is a great idea. You can also use substantial material to improve your existing driveway. Hence, if you already have a concrete driveway and want to improve your home’s value, you can consider repairing or replacing it with a new one.
Remember that concrete driveways are very long-lasting. Also, they will accompany you for as long as possible. Many people who have concrete driveways are pretty satisfied with such driveways as they only need simple maintenance.
2. Is it possible to install DIY concrete driveways?
You can consider installing small concrete areas if you have basic knowledge of concrete driveways. For example, you can start by installing a simple slab. If your first experience goes well, you can proceed. However, moving with larger concrete projects on your own is often tricky, especially if you do not have the right equipment.
3. What is the cost of the heated driveway?
Concrete driveways can also be kept safe, and their life can be increased by designing them in a particular manner that prevents the accumulation of ice or snow. In this way, you can also control your concrete from destruction, especially if you live in an area with a lot of snowfall or hail.
Next Steps
The price of the driveway per square metre is negatively associated with the driveway duration, which implies that the longer the roadway, the lower the cost per square metre will be. It is merely a general guideline, though, and every business and driveway installation specialist has their method of estimating the cost of these driveways. However, you should consider the price and examine the level of services while picking the best installers in your area.
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