echotrail Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 I'm looking into replacing my 39 year old concrete driveway this spring or summer and I'm considering using pavers vs. concrete. I found a site that gives a price per sq. ft. based on your zip code, but the price range was $10 - $50 making it hard to budget. Has anyone had any experience with paver vs. concrete cost estimates in the TC area. It's a two car driveway and I'm not looking for fancy patterns to be laid down. I'm probably have an area of 500 sq. ft. but have not measured it yet. It won't be DIY job.Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockin Randy Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 Concrete is easier to clean the snow off in the winter. My buddy was a concrete finisher too, he did a Exposed Aggregate drive and hated it for that reason. The pavers sure look nice tho. If you go with colored concrete, have the color mixed in, that way if there are any rock pops the color will be the same. Have your guys bid it with half inch rebar 2 foot on center each way and with just roll mesh. I would recommend rebar and 5 inch thick, no more than 10 foot square saw joints, and you should have no problems. Any cracks that are outside of the control joints stay tight.Rockn Randy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MN Shutterbug Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 If you get some pretty pavers, the salt from your car in the winter will eat right thru them and they won't stay pretty. A friend, who is experienced at this, helped me with a couple paver patios. They look real nice. He then did his driveway the same way and his driveway no longer looks nice due to the salt eating through some of them. Pavers are concrete but at least if you go with just plain concrete, a little pitting won't be that noticeable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheers Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 snow clearing with a scraper is tough with pavers as the shovel catches every joint Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MN Shutterbug Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 snow clearing with a scraper is tough with pavers as the shovel catches every joint Notice that on my patio with the shovel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoey Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 A quote from last summer was $18/ft for brick (not concrete) pavers, installed. $7.10 for high test 4,500# 4 inch thick, granite rock mix concrete with 3/8 rebar 3ft OC. Quotes did not include rough grading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delcecchi Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 Of course if you live in a decent climate.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom7227 Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 Why don't you go with concrete and put off the paver decision until this replacement wears out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlwaysFishing23 Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 (edited) Concrete. Way easier to plow. My parents have a gravel driveway WORST THING EVER! Impossible to snow blow because of all the rocks always wet and muddy. Sure it's cheaper but in the long it's not worth the cheaper price. Edited March 30, 2017 by AlwaysFishing23 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoxMN Posted April 3, 2017 Share Posted April 3, 2017 (edited) I know people will say if it is done right, pavers will NOT sink... but I have yet to see a paver driveway that does not have sunken tire ruts, if even just a little bit. We had one as a kid, using big old granite pavers that came from downtown St. Paul streets, and I hated that darned driveway when it came to shoveling time... Edited April 3, 2017 by BoxMN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nofishfisherman Posted April 3, 2017 Share Posted April 3, 2017 For all the reasons stated I'd go concrete. If you're looking for a little fancier look than just plain concrete you can look into all of the various finishing options (texture and color) for a concrete driveway. It doesn't have to be the plain gray traditional concrete. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moon Lake Refuge Posted April 3, 2017 Share Posted April 3, 2017 Well, 2 years later, what did you go with and how did it turn out?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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