A beautiful driveway is an excellent first introduction to any home. But do you know how to build a driveway? It’s a pretty simple concept: a path leading from the street to your house or garage, giving cars a space to pull in without driving over your front lawn. With such a simple purpose, building a driveway at a new or renovated home should be easy, right?
While it may not be the most complex construction project, adding a driveway still takes some consideration — especially if you aren’t used to doing the work yourself. Here are the steps you should follow when building a driveway, plus key considerations to keep in mind.
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Can I build my own driveway?
Depending on the materials you’re using for your new driveway, the price can be expensive. Then, you’ll have to hire contractors to finish the job for you, leaving a big dent in your wallet.
So, how can you minimize some of those costs? You can build your own driveway. If you’re used to acting as your own contractor, this is a great choice to save some money.
Concrete is one of the most common driveway materials, so we’ll use it for our example. However, other driveway materials use similar methods. Let’s look at how to build a driveway by yourself.
How to build a driveway, step-by-step
Here are the major steps involved with building a driveway yourself.
Step 1: Check local ordinances
Before starting your new driveway project, see if you need any permits. Depending on where you live, your state or town may have specific guidelines you’ll need to follow when building a driveway.
Plus, if there’s a homeowner’s association in your neighborhood, they may have rules regarding your project. Always double-check the legal requirements or local regulations by heading to your state or town’s website and checking with your homeowner’s association.
Step 2: Plan your driveway’s look
Once you get all the necessary permits for your driveway project, need to plan how your driveway will look. Do you want a simple, straight path from the road to your garage? Or maybe you’d like a horseshoe shape, so you don’t have to back your car out into the road.
Keep in mind how much space you’ll need for your cars and how your new driveway will look with the style and design of your house and front lawn.
Figuring out a plan for your new driveway can be challenging, so getting a detailed site plan of your property can help you decide on the right design.
Step 3: Preparing for your new driveway
After figuring out your driveway design, you now have to prepare your your property for building your new driveway. To start, lay out the shape of your new driveway with wooden or metal stakes to make sure it matches your plan.
Keep an eye out for any holes in the ground surface that need to be filled. If you find any, you can fill them with road base, a mixture of crushed gravel and granite. It helps stabilize the ground before pouring concrete over it.
Step 4: Reinforcing your concrete
Reinforcing your concrete driveway isn’t necessary, but it is highly recommended. It helps strengthen your driveway and evenly distributes the weight of your vehicles.
You can use steel reinforcing bars, rebar, or wire mesh to provide extra support for your driveway. Another reinforcing option is to add polypropylene fibers to the concrete mixture.
Step 5: Pouring & curing
Now, it’s time to pour the concrete over your driveway. You’ll need to do this part relatively quickly because concrete dries fairly quickly.
If you’re building a small driveway, you can use a wheelbarrow to pour your concrete. If not, you can rent equipment that will allow you to handle the task efficiently. If you’re pouring lots of concrete for a big driveway, consider renting a concrete mixer, a concrete pump, and a rebar cutter or bender if you’re using reinforcement.
After you’ve poured the concrete, use a broom to create texture lines on the surface of the wet concrete. This helps your tires gain traction during wet weather.
Then, it’s time to let your concrete slab cure. You can do this by adding a chemical curing compound or covering the driveway with a plastic sheet to create a moisture-retaining barrier. During this process, do not park your cars on the driveway.
Step 6: Parking on your new driveway
Once your driveway is done curing, you can park your car on your new driveway. As you’re parking the first time, keep an eye out for cracks in the concrete. If cracks appear, don’t worry, you can repair them easily.
Curing should take a minimum of three days. However, weather conditions can prolong the curing process. To be safe, wait at least seven days before parking your car on the driveway.
How do you build a driveway that lasts? Keep these things in mind
When you factor in maintenance, need, location, weather, and aesthetics, you can build a lasting driveway that will increase your home’s curb appeal and value. If budget is a significant factor in how you build your driveway, you’ll need to weigh upfront building costs against long-term maintenance of your driveway.
Here are some key considerations to keep in mind when you’re planning to build a driveway.
1. Figure out your budget
In 2024, driveways cost an average of $7,000 for a 24-by-24-foot design. The length, shape, conditions of the land, and materials all factor into the cost of your driveway.
The material you choose to build your driveway out of will ultimately play a significant role in the final cost of the project. Here are the average costs of some of the most common driveway materials:
Asphalt - $7 to $13 per square foot
Concrete - $9 to $24 per square foot
Gravel - $1 to $10 per square foot
Pavers - $10 to $50 per square foot
Because materials will be your biggest expense, you may want to get several bids to find the best contractor for the job.
2. Maintenance costs
Notice that we only mentioned the “up-front” cost above. That’s because different materials are going to require different types of maintenance, which could cost you time and money in the long run.
Each material has its set of maintenance requirements. Some are more cumbersome and costly than others. For instance, pavers are going to require less regular maintenance than gravel, so you may find that the up-front cost is actually worth it for you.
Concrete is the most common driveway material. You’ll need to seal the concrete to prevent cracking, and you should never salt your driveway. Salt can compromise the driveway’s material and will deteriorate quickly.
3. The size of your vehicles
The size and cost of the driveway will depend on the number of cars you own and whether you plan to park them in your garage. You’ll also need to evaluate the space and needs of your vehicles.
A one-car driveway should be about 10 to 12 feet wide. Have two cars you want to park side-by-side? Then, your driveway should be 20 to 24 feet wide. Want space for more cars or space for guests to park? A 30 to 36-foot driveway will let you park three cars next to each other. However, it’s worth checking that your town allows driveways this wide — some don’t!
And if you own another large vehicle like a boat or an RV, it’s a good idea to add some space for them when building your driveway. You can add a concrete pad for these types of vehicles to keep them off your grass.
4. The road in front of your house
The street you live on factors into the design of your driveway. If you live on a quiet street, backing your car out of your driveway shouldn’t be that hard. However, if your house is on a busier street or a narrower lane, backing out could be more of a challenge.
If you live on a busier street, you may want to build a T-shaped or horseshoe-shaped driveway so that you can easily turn around in front of your house before entering the road. While this may add more cost to your driveway, you’ll be grateful for the ease and safety it provides.
Not sure what shape your driveway should be? Try out a few different options by seeing how they look on a site plan of your property.
5. Style of your house
If you’re not constrained by your budget, you may want to choose a driveway material that matches your house’s architecture to improve your home’s curb appeal.
For example, a brick driveway might look nice for a more traditional-looking house, while gravel might work well for a house with a more rustic look.
6. Climate
When building a driveway, don’t forget to think about the weather where you live. Different driveway materials behave differently in fluctuating climates. You’ll want to consider the seasons and how they will wear on your driveway:
Concrete may crack during freeze-thaw cycles.
Asphalt will hold up better to temperature fluctuations.
Gravel is prone to erosion, which can be an issue if you live somewhere that gets a lot of rain, snow, or hail.
Be sure to read up on the pros and cons of each type of material before deciding what to use for your driveway.
Get ready to build a driveway with My Site Plan
Now that you know how to build a driveway by yourself and some key considerations for building a driveway, you’re ready to get started. My Site Plan can help you get the ball rolling on your driveway project by providing a detailed plan of your property. Our site plans can help you design your driveway and apply for any permits you might need. To learn more, check out our site plans today.
FAQs
How much does it cost to build a driveway?
Driveways can vary wildly in cost based on their size, complexity, and the materials used. Driveways can cost between $600 to $23,000 — that’s a big difference! Most people will pay around $7,000 for a driveway wide enough for two cars.
Which driveway material is most durable?
Pavers and concrete are considered some of the most durable options for driveways, offering a long lifespan if properly maintained. However, if you live in an area with extreme weather, concrete may not hold up over time. Asphalt is a better choice if you live in an area with large temperature fluctuations.
What maintenance does an asphalt driveway require?
Asphalt driveways should be resealed every three to five years to prevent cracking and degradation.
How do I choose the right contractor for my driveway?
Look for contractors with good reviews, proper licensing, and a portfolio of completed projects. And always get multiple bids to compare.
This post was originally published on July 2, 2014. It was updated on August 15, 2024, to reflect the latest information.
