Asphalt driveway In North Seattle area (Renton, Lynnwood: contractors, minimum wage, property tax)

[tom331]

We are widering our asphalt driveway in North Lynwood area. I receivd a quote for the job in the size about 400 sqft. The quoted price is much higher than I expected. I thought the price per sqft should be in the range of $ 3 to $5 for the asphalt surface. it is a slopped driveway, but should not be a difficult job because I just wide the original driveway. What is the normal rate for such a job in Seattle area? Do you have any reliable Asphalt companies to recommend?

I also consider to put a concrete driveway instead of asphalt because there should be more contractors available to handle the concrete work even it might cost more. In this case, I need to remove the original asphalt and put a 20X30 feet concrete driveway. What would be the price I expect for this size of concrete driveway?

Thanks!

Tom

[oregonwoodsmoke]

Asphalt is a petroleum product. It has to be heated the entire time it is being transported and installed. It must be handled by qualified personnel. The ground must be properly prepared. It involves several types of heavy equipment, meaning several heavy equipment operators that are not working for minimum wage.

It is not cheap to have asphalt installed.

Concrete is generally less expensive.

Check your property tax laws. In some places, any time you install impermeable ground cover, your storm water bill goes up steeply. The asphalt guys (some of them) can install a product that allows water to go through it and thus does not increase your storm water fee.

[tom331]

Thank you for the information. I thought that the concrete driveway costs more. If the concrete cost less and easier to install, I might call the concrete contractor to request a quote.

Thanks!

Tom

[mkarch]

Wait a second, I though in Lynnwood people just park their cars on the lawn. When did this driveway thing get popular up there?

[Botev1912]

The "tourists" from Renton who "visit" downtown Seattle park on the lawn