Fixing a driveway can be a big job and might seem like an intimidating venture. This is especially true when you are not sure of what you should do or how much money you need to spend to get it done. The average cost of similar projects is $1,550. While the typical price range is between $792 and $2,352, some modifications may come in for as little as $300. Others may be as much as $4,500.
Necessary work depends on a variety of factors. Some issues might be easy for you to see and correct yourself. Or, you might need the help of a professional - especially if there are foundation problems.
On This Page:
| Type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Concrete | $300 - $3,500 |
| Asphalt | $850 - $3,100 |
| Brick | $700 - $2,000 |
| Cobblestone | $650 - $2,000 |
| Gravel/Dirt | $40 - $300 |
| Heated | $2,000 - $25,000 |
Concrete is a strong and durable material. Tiny cracks can appear in even the best laid concrete drives. Without proper maintenance, moisture collects and freezes there during the cold winter months. Freeze and thaw cycles widen them over time. Rubberized or synthetic crack fillers are the cheapest and easiest solution at $0.10 to $0.15 per linear foot. Sometimes cracks are a symptom of larger problems with your driveway or apron.
Installing a new concrete driveway might be cheaper than fixing underlying problems. Hiring a professional to do this will be around $2.25 per square foot, or about $1,600 for 750 square feet.
Over time, asphalt will form fissures, often referred to as alligator or spider web cracks. These are cheap and easy to patch. You can do this yourself. Patch material and sealer will cost between $2.00 and $2.50 per square foot combined. You should be able to find an asphalt squeegee for somewhere between $25 and $60. Potholes and sinkholes take more work to repair. They usually happen for three reasons. One reason is unattended alligator cracks. Another is a poorly-constructed foundation. The third reason is the erosion of the base over time because of an improper drainage design. Consult with a professional to determine the cause and how expensive repairing your driveway will be versus replacing it. If you hire someone, plan to spend between $1,000 and $3,000.
Brick is a beautiful and decorative material, but it takes its share of abuse over time. Tree limbs fall and fracture it. Roots grow up underneath and push it upward. Sand layers underneath erode and pull it down. Sometimes the person installing it does a poor job. Broken bricks can be replaced, but do not expect the new brick to be an exact match. You can level sunken areas by temporarily removing the affected bricks and adding sand underneath until the ground is even again. Individual bricks can be found for anywhere from $0.35 to $0.75, while sand is between $20 and $30 per 50 lb. bag. Damages caused by a tree's root system can be rectified two ways. One is by building the driveway up to accommodate a tree's growth. The other way is to remove the tree and fix or replace the affected section. You should speak with a professional to see what the best option is. Budget about $650 for tree removal, and $600-$850 for the brickwork.
For more information, review our brick repair cost guide.
Cobblestone can be expensive to install, but it might be the easiest type to improve and maintain. Issues arise after frigid weather or unusually heavy use. If there are just a few broken stones, pry them up using a screwdriver. Add sand or gravel if the ground underneath is not level. Put the new stone in place, make sure it is level with the other stones, then sweep sand into the cracks around it. How much you spend depends on the number of stones and the amount of gravel and sand needed. Sand is between $20 and $30 for a 50 lb bag, while cobblestone pavers cost anywhere between $10 and $70 per square foot. Sunken areas usually happen when something is wrong with the underlayment. Fixing it is a similar process to replacing individual stones, with similar costs.
While dirt, sand, clay, and gravel driveways are the cheapest to install, they require maintenance and can incur damages during storms. Potholes commonly occur when water gets trapped under the surface. Ensuring that proper drainage measures are taken prior to installation of the top layer can reduce the need for future repairs. If potholes do occur, the process of fix them involves cleaning out the debris from the hole, and refilling and compacting new dirt or gravel. This repair job can be done by homeowners for only the price of the new gravel, which costs about $40 - $45 per ton. This price can vary drastically depending on the type of material, quality, and quantity purchased.
Hiring a professional to evaluate the area for improvements that could be made to minimize the occurrence of potholes can save in future costs and labor. Adding driveway edging, for example, can help keep landscaping water from running down and pooling in the drive.
Heated driveways are convenient for homeowners during the cold winter months. They are also helpful in keeping certain types of maintenance expenses down. Correcting problems takes time and money, though. Consulting with a professional is a starting point. Plan to replace large sections, because reaching the right spot will mean tearing up the driveway and driveway apron. Replacement costs range between $2,000 and $25,000. This depends on the specific problem and what material you install on top of the heating system.
Hire a Driveway Repair Professional
Here is a list of common problems and the average cost of repairs.
Estimate for concrete work: $3-5 per square foot. Estimate for brickwork: $0.35-$0.75 per brick
Spalling (or scaling) happens in colder climates for two reasons - freeze/thaw cycles and deicing chemicals. Fixing concrete spalling is simple. Cover the problem area with a polymer-modified cementitious overlay. Once it cures, add a layer of waterproof sealer. For brick, replace the affected bricks and apply water seal.
Average cost: $3-$5 per square foot.
Some settling is bound to occur as the ground compacts underneath the weight of your driveway. How much it settles depends on the composition of the soil. Other issues responsible for sinking or buckling include erosion and tree roots rotting. If parts have settled more than a few inches, repairs will be necessary. You can repair this in one of two ways. The first is by lifting the slab and shoveling gravel underneath. The second is by drilling holes into the driveway, pumping concrete in until it levels out, and filling in the holes.
If possible, you should hire a professional to correct this issue. They have the necessary equipment and the expertise to ensure it is done the right way.
Expect to spend: $10-$15 per bottle.
Just like spalling, concrete and alligator cracks happen in colder climates during the winter months. Smaller ones are easily fixed with crack filling materials.
Estimate: $2-$4 per square foot.
These are usually a sign of ongoing issues with an asphalt driveway. Repair smaller potholes with aggregate and asphalt patching.
Expense of filling in cracks: $10-$15 per bottle of crack filling material.
While fading color is a common issue as driveways age, it does not mean something is wrong. Set a maintenance schedule, include filling in cracks and resealing every few years to give it a longer life.
Price: $0.35-$0.75 per brick or $3-$5 per sq. ft. of concrete.
This happens on the edges of an asphalt driveway, often near the apron, or the area connecting the public street to your driveway, where the top layer is too thin. It looks ugly, but the main portions of your driveway are fine. Remedy this with an edging of brick, concrete, or other materials.
Consult with a Driveway Repair Specialist
Size
The length and width of your drive is a huge variable. If the damage is extensive, replace it. Repaving is more expensive because of materials and labor. If smaller spots need repair, then you pay less to fill in the cracks or repave that section.
Driveway Landscape
If the driveway is a short and flat expanse of asphalt, restoration is simple. If it is long, curving, or hilly, expect a mark-up. Depending on the difficulty involved, a professional may charge more. Figure on spending more if the lawn or gardens surrounding pavement require clean up.
Repeat damage could be the result of an improper drainage design. If the land on other side is not properly graded, water collects in some spots. In that situation, you need to determine the best way to drain it. Removing standing water costs most homeowners around $3,000.
Extent of Damage
A few small cracks and limited patching takes less time and effort than work on a more extensive area. It's a good rule of thumb that if more than 25 percent of your driveway needs to be repaired or patched, repaving and replacing, or resurfacing, is a better idea.
Sealing a Driveway
Sometimes your driveway only needs to be resealed. This can rejuvenate the look and help protect it for years to come. If you have a cement or asphalt driveway, resealing can repair small cracks and chips by itself. Figure out the square footage, then plan to spend between $0.10 and $0.16 per square foot. Professionals will likely charge between $85 and $100 per 1000 square feet.
Hire a Professional to Repair Driveway Cracks
While deciding whether to repair or replace your drive, there are a few things you need to take into consideration. In no particular order, they are:
- Age: With asphalt and concrete, the average life is between fifteen and twenty years. If you know your is in this age range or older, you should consider replacing the entire driveway.
- Size and number of cracks and holes: If they are large, or appear to run deep, there are likely other problems that should be addressed. The same holds true for potholes.
- Drainage problems: If you notice water standing in spots, something might be wrong with the drainage design.
- Not Keeping to a Maintenance Schedule: Setting up a maintenance schedule is a must. Asphalt and concrete need to be resealed every few years to help prevent cracking.
Another option would be to resurface it. This involves scraping off the damaged layers of asphalt or concrete and replacing with a new top surface. This is an option for homeowners with a damaged driveway thatÂ’s beyond simple repairs but want to save money on a full replacement. Resurfacing, on average, will run you between $1 - $3 per square foot. This is a task best left to professionals.
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Garage floor, not a drive way.
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Patio/ sidewalk not a drivway
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Not a driveway. It is a front patio porch
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patio not a drive way
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sidewalk not a driveway
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These are cracking concrete at the edge of my pool
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It is a cement driveway and walkway not asphalt.
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How much does it cost to have a drain installed?
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Front porch and steps repair. Â Remove separate concrete irregularly shaped slabs from porch and 2 steps, then pour new concrete over the existing concrete that is under the slabs.
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I want to have the driveway to have pavers and have the inside of the garage floor cemented over again.Â
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I'm only interested in an estimate for the step to front porch, not a driveway
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The job I have requires a section of sidewalk 4 Ft. by 4 1/2 lowered so even with rest of side walk. sidewalk not broken and the section raised due to weather winter. 43227
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This site is not providing useful information. I want a step replaced, not a driveway.
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I want the sealer removed.
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re-paint concrete breeze way
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breeze way re paint
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Need my drveway repaired
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This estimate won't work for my enclosed patio.. Thanks.
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Pool deck cracks and dirty
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Sidewalk walkway quote would be more helpful than a driveway...Thanks
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Really needed a price per square foot to install a waterproofing sealer on concrete
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I asked for a garage floor, not a driveway.
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patia floor, not a driveway
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this site does not work correctly, I wanted an estimate on my walkway up to front porch, not the driveway.
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I want my driveway repaired only when weather is good. Â Only (apron) of driveway in need of repair.
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Never said driveway. I want to reveal walkway to my door
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NOT A rush project....do only in good weather
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It might just need to be resealed
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Remove old driveway and replace it
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Not a driveway..... A small patio repair
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Mine is a basement floor not a driveway
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