What is the Cost of Pouring a Concrete Driveway?

Here are some prices for the different types of concrete.

What factors affect the cost of pouring a concrete driveway?

There are number of different factors which will influence how much you have to pay and these include:-

• The quality or grade of the concrete
• How the concrete will be offloaded
• The time the concrete supplier needs to spend on site
• The size of the area
• The access to the site
• The complexity of the job
• Whether any preparation work is needed
• Where you live
• The distance from the supplier to your home

Labour cost for pouring a concrete driveway

Even if you have prepared the hardcore base yourself, you will need a skilled workman to assist the concrete company. This will cost in the region of £220-£450 per day, increasing your overall cost of pouring a concrete driveway.

The area for the driveway will need to be enclosed with stakes and wooden boarding and the concrete professionally levelled off once it has been poured. This is also the time to add stamping or imprinting if this is what you have chosen for your design.

Finding the right company to pour a concrete driveway

If you have hired a driveway company to install a new concrete driveway at your home, then they will estimate the amount of concrete needed and order it from their usual supplier. However, if you are installing the driveway then you will need to source a local company and order the concrete yourself. The savings from self installing may not outweigh the cost of pouring a concrete driveway if you hire professionals. Here are some things to take into account.

• Research the average cost to pour a concrete driveway thoroughly.
• Obtain two or three quotes to compare prices
• Discuss the right type of concrete for your purposes with the company plus do your own research online
• If you are not sure on volume – and this is not the time to make errors in calculation – then most local companies will come on site and calculate the correct amount for you
• Discuss access to the site and if there are any difficulties that might make delivery challenging
• Make sure the base is completely ready for the delivery date, liquid concrete will wait for no man!
• Find out how long they will be on site

If you have not sourced a concrete company before then ask around friends and neighbours to see if they can recommend one. Haulage is expensive so using a local company will cut down on delivery charges and therefore the overall cost of pouring a concrete driveway.

Have a good idea about the type/grade of concrete you need before you contact them but always ask their opinion.

What are the advantages of a concrete driveway?

Concrete is one of the most popular choices for a new driveway, it may not be the cheapest option, but it has lots of compelling advantages.

• Durability – concrete is very hard-wearing and weather resistant, but it must be properly laid on a professional hardcore base and allowed the appropriate time to cure otherwise it will crack. Concrete driveways last on average 50%-60% longer than an asphalt equivalent
• Aesthetic – concrete never used to have a nice appearance but now, with the different colours available and the ability to stamp or imprint designs, a concrete driveway can look like paving or bricks at a fraction of the price. Concrete offers the opportunity to both bespoke an original design and colour, making your driveway unique from everyone else’s. A well-laid and attractive concrete drive also offers the optimal in kerb appeal when it comes to selling your home
• Temperature and light reflectance – concrete is a cooler material to walk on in the summer months. It also offers good light reflectance so can reduce the requirement for powered lighting and save energy costs
• Load bearing – for household with multiple cars, heavier cars or just larger vehicles like motorhomes or boats, concrete will be able to bear the load without complaint and won’t crack or buckle under the strain
• Reduced maintenance – a professionally laid concrete drive will have contraction joints built into the construction to protect against shrinkage and cracking plus, clear sealers will defend against moisture absorption. Add a weed prevention mat to the construction and you really will have very little to do to look after your driveway. The reduced maintenance will lead to a lower overall average cost to pour a concrete driveway, compared to other driveway options.
• Environmentally friendly – concrete requires less energy overall to both produce and pour than other driveway materials

Mixing your own concrete

For small driveways, some householders will mix and pour their own concrete. It’s really important to get the right mix of water and to measure accurately exactly how much you need. Use too much water and you dilute the mixture producing a surface which can be weakened by as much as 40%. Use too little water and the concrete won’t mix thoroughly resulting in weak spots when it is laid and cured.

When the concrete is properly mixed, it should be semi-solid and resemble thick oatmeal. If you are mixing your own, then there is a simple test to check if the proportions are correct. Pick a small handful of concrete and shape it like a snowball. If it holds its form and you can smooth round the edges, then the consistency is fine. However, if it is like soup then there is far too much water and you need more dry mix, too dry and crumbles apart when you try and shape it then you need to add more water. There is no point in saving money on the cost of pouring a concrete driveway if the driveway you self pour is not up to scratch.

See how it’s done:

If you want to find out more information on concrete driveways, learn more about how much it costs to remove a concrete driveway, techniques such as pressed concrete and how to fix a driveway that is crumbling.

Frequently Asked Questions