Concrete Pavers Guide

The cost of your new cement driveway will depend on a number of factors. Before describing a cement driveway cost, a few definitions are in order. Your driveway, if you choose this option, will be made of concrete. Cement is a substance that ‘binds’ the aggregate (sand, gravel, rocks, recycled concrete, etc.) together to form your cement. In other words, concrete = cement + aggregate. So when we talk about cement driveways, we are really talking about concrete driveways.

Now that some definitions are out of the way, let’s talk prices. Your cement driveway cost estimate will depend on a number of factors, so it’s hard to account for all of them. Still, a few general points can be made about the general price range you might expect:

• The general price range for your cement driveway will be around $3-$8 per square foot. This does not include the cost of excavation, if necessary, and installation of a new gravel base, if necessary. This includes both materials and labor costs.
• The price per square foot does depend on the size of the overall project. For instance, if the project is quite huge, you might pay less per square foot than someone who has a very small installation, as the contractor has fixed costs that must be met. If you have a bigger project, these fixed costs are lower per unit than if they were if the project were small.

The specific price you’ll pay within that range will depend on a number of factors, including:

• The quality of the materials. If you get more heavy duty and higher quality cement and concrete, you’ll pay more overall. However, if the driveway lasts longer, you’ll pay less over the lifetime of your home, so it may be a good trade.
• Your geographical area. If you live in a more expensive area, you’ll generally pay more.
• The company or contractor you hire. Some simply charge more than others, and this may or may not correlate with the quality of the job and the speed at which it is installed.
• The season – expect to pay more during peak times.
• Any strange or unusual features of your driveway or front yard that require special or additional work; for instance, if an area sinks a lot, or if you want to put in a special apron.
• If you get stamped or colored cement or concrete, expect this price to increase further due to the increased cost of the materials.
• If other materials are included in the concrete to make it stronger, such as bars or mesh, you’ll pay more for the materials and labor.

One of the greatest expenditures you need to make when installing your next driveway, patio, walkway, pool deck, or other paver project is the cost of the pavers themselves. The price of the pavers will vary on a lot of factors, but the more you can save, the better the price per square foot that you’ll have to pay. This can truly add up if you have a large project or multiple projects that you want to install. In fact, the more square footage you install at a time, the more overall you’ll save, as you’ll make the installation process more efficient than if you have contractors come back multiple times to do separate jobs. Note that the same pavers can be used multiple projects – driveway pavers are the same as pool pavers and so on.

Some Tips to Buy Pavers

Often the contactor will offer to buy pavers for you, with you paying the materials cost.  However, you may have more motivation to find a better deal for the pavers, as the contractor will probably just buy from wherever he or she normally purchases pavers, and may not try hard to get you a deal. For this reason, it may be prudent for you to purchase concrete pavers yourself. This is true regardless of what kind of paver material you are looking for. Finding natural stone pavers or brick pavers for sale follows the same logic as described below. However, you may have no idea where to buy pavers if you’ve never had to do it before. Thus, here are some places to find cheap pavers for sale:

1. First, consult with your contractor, if you have one. He or she may be able to get you a good deal on pavers, such as wholesale, or from their own sources, especially if he or she has any leftovers from a previous job. You might be able to get used pavers for sale in this way. However, always compare prices with other contractors to see which one gives you the better offer. Some may give you a break on the total price if you buy materials through them, so don’t automatically assume that you’ll get a better deal on paving stones by getting them yourself.
2. If you’d like to try buying pavers for sale by yourself, find the local mason supply yards and home supply stores in the area. You’re more likely to get a good deal with a local mason yard, though you might also get lucky at a chain store occasionally. See if the yards have any deals available, such as damaged or ‘seconds’ product available. If you’re more concerned about function, and not necessarily about looks, you may be able to get a great deal. Otherwise, shop around and see which yards and stores will give you the best deal on the quantity you want to order.
3. If you’d like to go off the beaten path to look for patio pavers for sale or any other product, journey to the internet. There are plenty of resources available there that can guide you in the right direction. Here are some of the major ones:
4. First, check sites like Craigslist and other classified ads. You may find that local individuals are selling leftover or used pavers for a great price. In fact, you might even get them for free, as long as you go to their home or business and remove them yourself. Other places for free stuff are sites like Freecycle. You might be surprised at what you find, actually. Of course, you’ll want to see the material in person before you agree to take it, because it may be in very poor condition, and you’ll want to make sure you’re satisfied before making a commitment to remove it.
5. You can also check out online dealers for paving stone products. This may be a good way to learn about the concrete and brick pavers for sale, different brands available, and the local dealers that supply them, just in case you may have missed some in your initial search. Overall, however, you’ll probably have more luck sticking locally than trying to use the internet to find paving stones from official manufacturers.
6. Check around your own house or your friends’ and family’s houses. You may find pavers that you can ‘recycle.’ The only cost you’ll have to pay is the time needed to move the pavers to their new location.
7. Note that the above also applies if you’re looking for other materials, such as grass, landscape, and thin pavers for sale.

If you have any other ideas or sources, leave them in the comments!

Using paving slabs for your next project – walkway, driveway, patio, and more – is a great idea, but the material is indeed expensive. The labor costs are expensive enough, so if you can get paving slabs cheap, you’ll benefit greatly. Here are some basic tips for getting the cheap materials that you need:

1. Before beginning your search, narrow down what kind of paving slabs you want in terms of size, color, quality, material, etc. This will help you focus in on the slabs that are most appropriate for both your project and budget. However, keep an open mind – if you find a great deal, you may want to be more flexible.
2. Before you look outside, consider if there are any paving slabs that you own that you can cannibalize. In addition, perhaps friends and family have cheap concrete paving slabs that they would be willing to part with. Keep your eyes and ears open constantly for picking up cheap materials that neighbors, friends, and family don’t want – you never know when you’ll want to use that material in the future.
3. Next, move your search to local mason supply yards and homeowner supply stores. You’re more likely to get lucky with mason supply yards, however, as you may be able to make a deal with a local store rather than a chain. Call all the yards in your area and ask for quotes on the number of cheap patio slabs that you need. If you look hard enough, you may be able to negotiate and use leverage to get a great price. Some may even let you get them for a steal if they are chipped or defective in some way. If your project is small, or you only need them for functional reasons, you may benefit. Also keep an eye out for deals for ‘seconds.’
4. If you’ve exhausted the local options, consider going global – in other words, try the internet. First, start with websites like craigslist, Freecycle, and any other classified advertisements on the internet. (You could also supplement this with looking at local newspaper ads as well, though you’re probably going to have more luck online these days.) Some people will be offering their paving slabs for free, as long as you come and remove them yourself. Others will be offering cheap concrete paving slabs, but they’ll certainly be cheaper than the normal routes even though you have to pay.
5. Of course, always be careful when dealing with other individuals online. You never know when there may be a scam involved, so always get everything in writing. In addition, the quality and condition of the slabs may be questionable, so always check them out first before agreeing to take or buy them. Pictures can be deceiving, as the particular color and quality of the bricks can look different in an image than in real life. Still, even with all these risks, finding your materials online may be the cheapest way to find them.
6. You can also check companies online that sell paving slabs, but unless you can find a great deal, this is not recommended. It could help you find more dealers in the area, though, so it’s at least worth a shot.

If you have any other ideas, leave them in the comments!

If you want to use brick pavers for your next hardscape installation, such as a driveway, patio, or walkway, you are probably wondering what the price ranges for this work can be. The final brick pavers cost will depend on a number of factors, but a few general points can be made about the price before some of these specific factors are discussed. First, brick pavers prices will vary depending on the type and quality of brick paver you select; in general, the material will range from $5 to $15 per square foot. This brick paver cost does not include the cost of other materials, such as the sub-base, sand, mortar, etc. or anything else that might be needed to complete the job.

If you install the brick pavers yourself, your price will be somewhere in that range. However, if you get a contractor to install the bricks, expect a total price somewhere between $10 to $20 per square foot.

As for where your price will fall within that range, a number of factors are important to determining the final brick pavers cost. The surest way of getting a firm price is to get a free estimate from multiple contractors. Before you go on this step, here are some factors which will affect the total price you pay:

• Geography and location. As with any product or service, if you live in a more expensive area, you should expect to pay more to account for hire materials and labor costs.
• New or used. If you purchase used brick pavers, you’ll obviously get a lower price than if you buy them new. However, you may have to deal with lower quality brick in this case, so be sure to inspect any used brick pavers for sale before you go ahead and purchase.
• The specific contractor. Some contractors will charge more than others. Usually, the higher price of a contractor will correlate to better work, as he or she will take more personal care with the project. With a lower price, the contractor may just drop off a bunch of low-paid (and perhaps low-skilled) workers.
• The types of pavers you select. As mentioned above, the materials price will range depending on the quality of the brick paver you select.
• The actual design. If the design you want is complex, or requires lots of curves and thus lots of cutting, expect the price to be higher as it will take more time and labor for the job to be successfully completed.
• Required prep work. If the contractor need to excavate a previous installation or needs to do other special work to get the area ready for the new project, you may have to pay more. Sometimes the excavation cost is not included in the final ‘per square foot’ price, as it is seen as a separate job, entailing its own costs for labor and materials.
• The season. Generally, spring and summer are peak times for hardscape work. If you manage to get a contractor during the fall or winter, you should expect better prices.

More information on general pavers cost can be found by following the link.

If you want to install a new driveway at your home, you are probably most concerned with the cost. Due to the high square footage of most driveways, and the need for a base that can handle vehicular traffic, driveway paving costs are usually higher than for other hardscape projects (like walkways, patios, and the like). However, this large square footage can decrease the total cost per square foot, simply because it’s more economical to install the driveway over a larger area (the fixed costs are more widely distributed.)

Before we draw out all the different costs for different materials, there are a few general factors that will affect the driveway paving cost estimate.

Factors that Affect Driveway Paving Costs

• Your location. If you live in a more expensive area, your price will be higher, and if you live in a lower cost area, your price will be lower. This is a factor that’s obviously out of your control. However, if you are able to combine with other homeowners on your street to get multiple jobs done, you may be able to save money as a whole due to the convenience you offer a potential contractor.
• The contractor you hire will have an obvious effect on the price you’ll pay. If you consult with different contractors, you’ll get different bids for the job. Usually, quality will correlate with cost – in other words, you’ll get what you pay for. When searching for contractors, make sure to get three bids. Most people default to the middle bid, but don’t necessarily do this without carefully evaluating what the contractor is offering – and, more importantly, what he may be leaving out!
• The driveway materials you choose. This will be discussed in more detail below, but your driveway paving cost will depend on what kind of material you want to pave your driveway. In addition, there can be some variation even within materials, depending on the manufacturer and type of material you choose within a certain category. Don’t forget that there may be maintenance costs associated with the material and project. For instance, asphalt will require periodic resealing to look nice; concrete pavers, on the other hand, are near maintenance free.
• Obviously, square footage will matter. The more you want to get paved, the higher the price, of course. (See the note above about large v. small jobs and the effect on the prices per square foot.)
• The design/pattern. The more complex the design, the higher the price, as it will require more skill on the part of the contractor. Let’s take concrete pavers, for instance – the more complex the pattern, the more cuts need to be made (usually). Cuts take FOREVER to complete, just because they need to be marked, cut, and replaced individually. This will add to the expense of your project.
• Time of year. The paving driveway cost will be lower if you get the work done during non-peak times of the year. Shoot for the fall and winter if possible, as the spring and summer are quite popular (especially after tax season when everyone is flush with checks).
• Details of installation. If there are some difficulties in excavation, or if something else makes the job more difficult than a standard job, you may have to pay more. For instance, if your driveway area needs to be regraded in order to prevent flooding, this will be an extra expense on top of what you’d normally have to pay.
• How much you do yourself. If you are able to do steps of the process by yourself, you’ll save on labor costs. In addition, if you can obtain the materials yourself, you might be able to get a better deal on the materials, thus saving you money overall.

Given these general factors, a number of estimated conclusions can be drawn about the price of driveway paving:

First, you’ll have to pay to have the sub base excavated and installed. This will cost anywhere from $1 to $3 USD per square foot, obviously with some regional variations. This is also subject to how difficult or easy this step of the process is. This does not include any other work (like grading) that may have to be done in special circumstances.

The next major factor that determines the price is the material you select. The more expensive materials will look nicer and will also require much more labor on the part of the contractor and his or her team. The most expensive kind of driveway paving material is cobblestones or other natural stones. These are very expensive to purchase individually, and also must be laid by hand. These can run you anywhere from $10 to $50 USD per square foot or more!

Brick and concrete pavers are next. Driveway pavers must also be laid by hand, but since they are manufactured they are cheaper, running about $8 to $20 a square foot.

Next comes concrete, both regular, stamped, and colored. If you go with regular concrete, you could pay anywhere from $3 to $10 a square foot. If you want to get the concrete stamped or colored, expect to pay a few dollars more.

Asphalt paving driveway cost is next – look for around $1 to $6 per square foot for this.

Finally comes stone and gravel driveways. These are the cheapest, running from $.50 to $4.00 a square foot. (A more detailed discussion of the pros and cons of different materials, such as stamped concrete vs pavers, may be found here.)

You also need to factor in replacement and durability. If a driveway cracks easily, requires heavy maintenance, and needs to be replaced more often, it may still cost a lot of money even if the initial installation is cheap due to all this additional work down the line. It may be worth it to pay more up front for a product that will last a long while.

The Verdict

The final estimate you get will have to come from a contractor, as there are too many factors involved (as you see above) for me to give you a specific price on your job. A cost calculator can help you get a rough estimate, but it’s not something to totally rely on.

In addition, a funny thing often happens when you want to get a simple driveway installed – other things and projects have to be done sometimes in order for the original project to be completed. For instance, the installation of retaining walls, changing of grades, and other adjustments may have to be done to ensure that the project is done right. This is impossible to predict without being able to see your particular job. That’s also why it’s so important to get a honest contractor who will be up-front with you on this – you don’t want to find out that you have to add a retaining wall before it’s too late!

Perhaps you are looking to build a stoop, walkway, or other masonry project, and you’re looking for bricks for sale at an affordable price and easy availability. Where do you turn? There are many places that sell brick of different materials, quality, colors, and designs, so do your research before making your final choices. Hopefully this article will give you ideas and tips to help you make the selection that’s right for you.

Picking Your Bricks

First, you need to decide what kind of brick you want to purchase. Looking for paving bricks for sale, for example, will require different research and questions than looking for concrete pavers or natural stone brick. Each type of material has its advantages and disadvantages, many of which are covered in other places in this website.

Start Searching for Sources

Once you’ve decided what kind of material you’re looking for, you can start checking the different sources available locally and over the internet. The first obvious choice to look for bricks for sale is at your local hardware store, such as chains like Home Depot and Lowe’s or more mom-and-pop locations. While you may find some  brick here, the selection and prices may not be great. However, it’s usually a painless place to visit, is homeowner friendly, and you can easily find customer service to help you out.

For those who want more options and better prices, a mason supply yard may be another good bet. These yards cater primarily to business owners like masons and other contractors, but homeowners can also buy materials from them. These places carry more selection at better prices than hardware stores, and you can often get certain types of brick ordered from the manufacturer through the supply yard. They will also deliver the material to your house for a fee. However, mason supply yards can be somewhat intimidating for the homeowner, but don’t sweat it – just ask for help and you shall receive.

Using the Power of the Internet

Another popular option is to resort to websites like craigslist to find brick pavers for sale and other materials. The advantage of this option is that the supplies will be local, plentiful, and often in good condition. Best of all, you can get a great deal on these pavers; sometimes you can get them for free as long as you remove them from their home site on your own dime. There are some disadvantages, though. These bricks will often be used, and thus could be in questionable condition. Also, you have to be careful about dealing with scammers and other questionable people on sites like craigslist. As long as you are OK with the risks, you may be able to get an excellent deal.

If you are buying used bricks, always find out what they were previously used for, their current condition, and their age. You need to make sure you are getting quality material if you want to build a quality project.

You can also check general internet sites for bricks for sale. There are some websites that purport to sell bricks and slabs of various types, but it’s usually better to deal locally whether you go the offline or online route.

Some Final Tips

In general, it’s a good idea to get recommendations from friends and family. If someone you know has recently bought brick, ask them for recommendations or help. You can also call a local mason or contractor for help; they will often deliver brick to you and help you obtain what you need, for a small fee, even if you are installing them yourself. You may find, though, that you would rather have that contractor install your bricks too!

Always make your final selection after looking at the product in person. Pictures can be deceiving no matter how much the manufacturers try to make the images match the products. Make sure you buy extra brick for cuts and waste, so add some extra brick in to your calculations when you figure out how much material you’ll need for your stoop, patio, walkway, steps, driveway, pool deck, barbecue pit, garden, landscape, retaining wall, or some other project.

Installing concrete paving stones is not cheap. This is certainly what many homeowners have found while doing their research. The short term cost of pavers is usually around $10-$15 per square foot, while other options like concrete and asphalt are less than a third of that cost. Thus, it may seem like concrete pavers and other paving stone options are only within the realm of those who have disposable income to spend on home improvements.

However, looking at installing pavers simply as some sort of cosmetic improvement only is missing out on the major benefit of using the material. While the initial outlay of cash may be larger than for other options (like poured or stamped concrete, asphalt, or stone), the cost of pavers over the lifetime of the installation will usually be cheaper, with  much less maintenance. Asphalt and concrete may have to be replaced multiple times during the course of your ownership of the home, unless you don’t mind having cracking or fading materials in your front yard driveways, walkways, patios, pool decks, and other projects. Pavers, on the other hand, will last you for many decades – in fact, you may never have to replace the driveway again. Thus, it is a battle between quality and quantity. (A comparison of the different material types can be found here.)

Another major reason to not worry as much about the short term costs is that concrete pavers can represent a solid investment in the value of your home. The actual percentage will vary, but many homeowners will appreciate a modest gain in the value of their home when they install a new concrete paver project. Thus, a short term investment, may yield long term profits down the line if you ever decide to sell your home or tap into its equity.

Factors that Affect Pavers Cost

The actual costs of concrete pavers are hard to estimate for you unless we actually went to your home and examined your project specifications. However, we can give you some general guidelines so that you’ll know where you’ll fall within the $10 – $15 range. In addition, you’ll know the factors that go into the price you’ll pay, and thus you might be able to help reduce or make up for some of those costs. Concrete pavers cost depends on many factors, including:

• Geographical location. Some areas are more expensive than others. Fuel costs, standard of living, material costs, and average salaries can all affect  the prices of materials and labor. If you live in a more expensive area, especially in an area with higher than average home prices, you will probably feel the effects of market forces on the price you’ll have to pay.
• Brand. How much pavers cost depends on who’s selling them and the relative quality of the pavingstone. In general, though, the differences between pavers are quite minimal, regardless of the premium you’ll have to pay for a particular paver. Thus, its better to go with the choice of paver with one of the lower or medium prices unless you have specific reasons (aka colors or designs) that make you go with the more elite options.
• Square footage. Obviously, the bigger the project, the more expensive the job (usually). Paring down on your square footage can do a lot to lower the total costs of the project. Note, however, that if you go with a very large job, you may save more per square foot. In other words, a simple 200 sq. foot walkway may run you $12 per square foot, while a super 5000 sq. foot job may run you $10 per square foot. The reason for this is that the fixed costs of the project can be spread over a larger area, thus lowering the total price you’ll have to pay.
• Project type. Walkways, patios, driveways, pool decks, and garden installations all have their particular quirks.
• Design. Some paver designs are simpler than others, and thus have lower costs, square footage being equal. For instance, a job with many curves will require more cuts and thus will waste more brick than a job with straight edges. In addition, fancy paver patterns and designs can increase the time and effort the contractor needs to expend, increasing the cost of the labor on your project. Other options, like waterfalls, stoops or steps, or firepits may also increase the cost of the job. This also includes the pattern selected, or if you want to add a border to your project. This could be a great way to save some money on the project – go with a simple, streamlined design.
• Contractors. Some contractors charge more than others. Be careful when dealing with estimates by paver installers. If the concrete pavers price is too much of a bargain, you might find the work to be substandard. On the other hand, exorbitant prices don’t necessarily imply exquisite work. The best practice here is to get the estimate from three different contractors. Most people default to picking the ‘middle’ price as it seems the most ‘reasonable,’ but don’t automatically default that without reading the fine print. What is each contractor charging for? Is there a guarantee? For more information on hiring a contractor, check out this article.
• Other materials and preparations. If your project is going to be installed in a sub-optimal area, preparatory work may be needed in order to properly do the job. This may require increased labor and materials costs which will raise the total pavers price. For instance, if there needs to be heavy excavation of an old patio or other project, or if the ground below the area is made of clay and thus shifts and settles a lot, you may have to pay extra. Another example would be if grading of the property needs to be done in order to correct water flow. This is where some wiggle room can come in – don’t be tempted to take the lower price if the contractor isn’t properly addressing issues like these that must be addressed in order to protect your property and your investment.

The Verdict

In the end, as stated above, you will need to hire a contractor to get a specific breakdown of the costs of your project. There are also other articles on this site you can read to learn about the price of other materials besides concrete pavers:

http://www.concretepaversguide.com/an-asphalt-driveway-cost-estimate.html

http://www.concretepaversguide.com/asphalt-prices-a-guide.html

http://www.concretepaversguide.com/brick-pavers-cost-estimate.html

http://www.concretepaversguide.com/a-rough-estimate-of-driveway-paving-cost.html

http://www.concretepaversguide.com/flagstone-cost-estimate.html

http://www.concretepaversguide.com/a-general-paving-cost-breakdown.html

If you have any questions or any experiences to share, leave them in the comments!