It’s getting warmer and the weather’s looking great so far, which means it’s time to get your property improvement projects rolling. Warmer seasons are the most ideal time to start on home improvements and other construction projects, precisely because there are far fewer weather interruptions, which means, you can finish your projects better and much faster. So if you want to finish your projects before the start of the cold season, then you better get going.
Now, you might be keen on repairing your asphalt residential driveway paving or perhaps, you’re looking for a commercial paving service for your business. You’ve already spent a couple of hours on the internet browsing through articles and information that might be able to guide you on how to choose a paving contractor or estimate your plausible expenses.
And a lot of articles would have probably given you an idea of how much it’s going to cost. Some, actually, might even have a cost calculator ready on their site; others would have shared their paving ideas, but very few would tell you that aside from the obvious factors (like your drainage, total square foot, type of material, etc.) there are other critical factors that can affect the cost of an asphalt paving project.
Geography
Elevation
Your location actually affects how much you will be spending on your paving project. For one, the general topography of your area will determine how easy or difficult it is to lay the base structure for your pavement. For instance, if you’re located in a hilly or mountainous area, naturally it will be more laborious to grade the surface for construction and it would also require a larger amount of materials or mix aggregates to achieve the level of elevation that you want.
Soil Type
Additionally, the type of soil would also vary depending on where the site is located. You need to have a strong base that can support the asphalt layers above and so, it is the job of the paving company to ensure that the soil is firm and stable.
The thing is, certain types of soil might require more compaction than others and if this is the case for you, your contractor might need to carry out a soil stabilization process in which the soil is treated by adding a mix of lime and concrete to compress it, enhance its overall strength, and make it suitable for paving. However, that doesn’t end there because you’d also need a thicker base of asphalt to make it more secure which would of course, raise your material and labor expenses.
Climate
Climate is another crucial factor that can affect your costs. Normally, colder states have higher rates as it is much harder to pave in colder regions since the asphalt tends to cool down much faster and if your contractor isn’t quick enough, you might end up with an unfinished pavement.
Like what we’ve mentioned earlier, the best time to pave your driveway or parking lot is during spring or summer.
Transportation Costs
Very few resources would mention this, but honestly, transportation expenses is definitely a point of concern. Basically, the farther you are from the asphalt plant, the higher they’re going to charge you for fuel costs. And this is exactly why we suggest that you pick a local contractor in your area. For instance, if you’re living in Norfolk, Virginia, then hire a local paving company in Norfolk VA because this will make things much simpler and much more convenient for you.
Asphalt Mixture
There are three main types of asphalt mixtures that you can select from and each one has a unique characteristic and a distinct price tag.
Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA)
Hot Mix Asphalt is the most commonly used material in the United States, and it’s probably the one you usually see when you’re driving past paving projects in your neighborhood or local mall. HMA is heated and poured at increasingly high temperatures ranging from 300 to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. It is a popular choice for most people because it’s water-repellent and it’s also weather-resistant.
However, HMA is also the most expensive variety of asphalt mixture. But considering all its features, it’s definitely worth the hefty price tag.
Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA)
In contrast to HMA, Warm Mix Asphalt has a slower cooling process thus allowing it to be transported over longer distances. It’s the next best option to HMA and the unique thing about it is that it can be applied even during lower temperatures, plus, it’s cheaper than HMA.
Cold Mix Asphalt (CMA)
Cold Mix Asphalt is the cheapest asphalt mixture among the three. It’s typically used for temporary repairs such as for patching up potholes and filling in small cracks. You can purchase it in smaller quantities and you can use it even during winter. However, the downside to this is that it’s not as durable as the first two.
There are definitely more aspects to consider if you’re trying to compute the possible expenditures you’d incur for your paving project, but these are some of the less discussed yet vital information that you shouldn’t miss out. Take these into account when you’re face-to-face with your spreadsheets so that you’ll come up with more accurate numbers.