asphalt driveway

[SimonCX]

Anyone know what a asphalt driveway costs? I'm considering doing asphalt instead of adding more rock on top on my driveway, it's about 3000sq ft and straight no curves or bends with a rock base already there.

[wnwniner]

Not sure about asphalt prices in NJ, but in this area (Central OH), asphalt is about 75/cy. I'd use 3" of aspalt for a normal driveway; if you are going to be driving heavy equipment on it, add another 2 or so inches. Also, a 4 inch concrete drive at 3500 psi would also work. 4" concrete is about 6/sf here, and in either case you need to make sure the subgrade is compacted and not too wet or dry. I manage large scale asphalt/concrete construction projects, so i know this stuff pretty well-let me know if you have any other questions.

[SimonCX]

Thanks for the help, it would only be used for cars or pickups because the heavier stuff uses a different drive on the side of the property. I'll have to add base and compact because there are some low spots and uneven so all the prep would be done by me. I thought about concrete, I'm not planning on doing this until summer so I still have some time.

[wnwniner]

I would suggest getting at least a plate tamp for the subgrade; also, if you use asphalt, you'll need to get that compacted well enough too, or it will rut with use. Most driveway contractors (around here) have small 3-8 ton rollers they use on driveways.

If you go with concrete, you'll need to stay off of it for a week or so to let it cure enough to drive on. You can walk on it with 36 hours or so, but a car needs about 7 days. Hope this helps.

[SimonCX]

We have plate compacters and tlb so leveling it out and compacting isn't a problem, but I don't really want to mess with asphalt and rollers. Concrete I could do myself but I'm leaning towards asphalt because it looks like it would be cheaper and no heavy trucks or equip would drive on it away. Thanks for the help.

[richsealcoating]

In my area asphalt would run appr. $2-2.50 a sq ft to regrade and pave... price also depends on 1 lift or two...total thickness....and if any of the subgrade needs to be corrected if there is not enough stone(typically "6-8" is good for drives) or any soft places to be dug out.... rolled with a roller...not a vibrating plate!!!