With the cost of living on the rise, it’s imperative for many to keep costs down. If you’re thinking of having a new driveway installed, you might be wondering how you can keep your expenses down. Of course, you’ll want to do so without settling for poor quality.
Thankfully, you’ve come to the right place to do just that. Read on to learn how you can save money on a new driveway!
Finding the Best Value for Money
First and foremost, you shouldn’t assume that you’re limited to selecting the first professional you find for the job. It’s worth looking around and getting several quotes before deciding on who is best for the work.
Some quotes will be cheaper than others and some driveway installers will offer special deals in certain cases. Of course, you want to ensure you’re still getting good value for money, so do take the time to look into any customer reviews/ratings said professionals might have online. It’s also worth simply asking your friends or family members for their own ideas, in case they have any solid recommendations.
The DIY Approach
Obviously installing a driveway can be a complex and time-consuming process. So, you should only construct a driveway by yourself if you have the suitable skills and knowledge. It’s important to have an awareness of all the necessary safety steps too. Building a driveway is also highly labour intensive. Beyond that, some types of driveways are easier to install DIY than others. Some work such as installing imprinted concrete can be particularly challenging.
But yes, if you feel comfortable and prepared to do it yourself, you can save plenty of money by removing the need to pay a labour bill. Instead, you’d only need to pay for the materials and any other tools/supplies you’d need for undertaking the work yourself. Ultimately this is not a suitable money-saving approach for most DIY enthusiasts but could apply in some cases.
Working Together with Your Neighbours
One idea worth exploring is asking if your neighbours are considering having a new driveway installed too. If they are, two or more of you could agree to have your driveways constructed at the same time. This could save money overall by having a team of labourers work on your driveways in the same timeframe with you and your neighbours splitting the bill.
If the jobs are quoted and fitted simultaneously, you may be able to avail of a discount. Otherwise, if the labour is charged by the hour, you might save on money because of the work on your driveway being a little quicker with the rate of the workflow involved.
Design and Material Choices
Aside from being savvy when it comes to the hiring and quotes process, you can save money by going with a cost-effective design.
Choosing the right materials can also help. For instance, asphalt driveways are relatively inexpensive while interlocking stone driveways would be among the most expensive options. As for poured concrete drives, their pricing can vary widely depending on a range of factors such as whether you have it stamped or not.
If you do not have a specific layout in mind, you should have a chat with your contractor and ask them for some cost-effective design ideas that meet the general type of driveway you want to go with. Sometimes you can replicate the looks of more expensive drives by having materials used that look like other more costly materials such as different types of natural stone.
Financing Options
Some driveway installation contractors/companies offer homeowners the opportunity to buy now and pay later. In many cases, you are expected to pay a deposit whereas the rest of the balance due can be paid monthly over a one-year period. Interest may or may not apply. The details of financing plans can vary from company to company.
