Driveway questions

[RomaVicta]

My girlfriend has purchased a large lot on which to build a house. She will need a longer driveway than usual because she must build at the back of the lot to take advantage of the view.

She is wondering if using pavers for the driveway would be cheaper than concrete or asphalt. Anybody had that done or done it themselves? Any advice about how she might approach the problem? We are in Austin if there is a resource someone wants to recommend.

Thanks for any responses. This is a great board, I just noticed it for the first time.

 

[BigWill]

Concrete is at historic high price levels.

It's still cheaper than pavers

Expect asphalt to cost about 30% of what you will spend on concrete or pavers.


And tell her to sell the lot and buy a house that she likes. That will make your life a lot easier.

 

[RomaVicta]

Thanks, Big Will. She searched and researched the market, pursued property that wasn't even on the market and got a great lot with a rich man's view for a great price. She would likely part with me before she parted with that lot, and she is quite fond of me.

Useful information, thanks again.

 

[ldogg53]

real pavers are very expensive to do/have done... you could do those cheap Home Depot ones, but don't think that would be good for cars to drive on..

 

[washparkhorn]

1. Dump her if she won't give up the lot, of expect to be her general contractor.

2. Look into patterned concrete if she wants the driveway to be more decorative. We did it and love the look.

3. Asphalt will, in the long run, cost more than a properly poured concrete driveway. Also, with the Texas heat, her floors may be a mess with the Asphalt if it is poured too soft. I would bite the bullet and dump the new house building girlfriend - uh, I meant to say, she should opt for patterned concrete.

Good luck. You are going to need it. Building a new home (for a girlfriend) has nightmare written all over it. Tell her to get a general contractor to handle these details.

 

[RomaVicta]

Thanks for the new entries and the laugh. She will have a builder for the house, I am just looking around to see about a cheaper option for the long driveway.

And y'all are scaring me.