Demolishing a driveway is straightforward- tear it up, haul away all debris, and then grade the site. But you still need to be careful in doing this, it will still cost you money and you don’t want to spend more than needed. The cost for demolishing your concrete driveway ranges from $1,500.00 to as much as $5,000.00 based on national averages.
There are several factors that needs to be considered when demolishing a concrete driveway. On the contractor’s part, they will typically consider the things enumerated below.
These will influence the cost for demolishing your concrete driveway in Phoenix AZ.
- Permits
- Local inspections
- Ease of access to the site
- Location (city or state)
- Disposal of debris
- Size of driveway
Examples of Concrete Driveway Removal Projects
Location
Project Details
Demolition Cost
Fort Worth, TX
377 sq. ft. concrete walkway
$1,200.00
Arlington, TX
476 sq. ft. concrete patio
$900.00
Worthington, OH
1,400 sq. ft. concrete patio
$1,500.00
Baltimore, MD
200 sq. ft. concrete driveway
$600.00
Long Beach, CA
10 ft. x 50 ft. concrete driveway
$850.00
Newton, MA
1,000 sq. ft. concrete driveway
$3,200.00
St. Petersburg, FL
40 ft. x 10 ft. concrete driveway
$800.00
Brentwood, CA
1,250 sq. ft. concrete driveway
$2,500.00
Cary, NC
150 sq. ft. concrete driveway
$900.00
Hayward, CA
30 ft. x 15 ft. concrete driveway
$1,100.00
Humble, TX
875 sq. ft. concrete driveway & walkway
$1,900.00
Chicago, IL
15 ft. x 25 ft. concrete patio
$1,500.00
Factors to Consider in Pricing a Driveway Demolition
Cost estimating isn’t as easy as people think it is. There are always a lot to consider. And if you know what these are, that’s the time it gets easy. It’s beneficial for homeowners to also know the factors that goes into estimating cost, so they can review and compare contractors’ quotations with a good eye. Here are some of the things you need to factor in when it comes to costing your driveways demolition.
Concrete Thickness
The standard thickness for a concrete driveway is 4 inches. However, for driveways that are designed for loads heavier than a car, are thicker. Industrial driveways, gas stations, are examples of places to have thicker driveways.
For any reason that your driveway may be thicker than 4 inches, expect your contractor to give you additional charges. This is due to the added volume of concrete needed to be demolished as well as added volume that needs to be disposed. In some instances, thicker concretes are reinforced by rebars, so it wouldn’t easily crack at the weight of passing vehicles/ equipment. These rebars are again, additional material to demolish and dispose. If that’s the case, expect for much higher costs.
Your Location and Ease of Accessibility
Demolition contractors also charge the mileage they will spend going to your driveway, so it’s best if you look for a local contractor nearby. They will also consider the ease of access to remove your driveway. If their equipment (i.e., loader) will be obstructed by anything, they will charge you extra as they will need to remove the obstructions as well.
Your Driveway’s Size
Varying on other factors, a typical driveway demolition costs about $1.00 to $3.00 per sq. ft. It’s easy to get your driveway’s area especially if it’s a straight path, just measure the length and width in feet of your driveway and multiply both measurements. For example, a driveway that is 500 ft in length and 20 ft in width is 1,000 sq. ft. in area. In this case, it will cost you around $1,000.00 to $3,000.00 to demolish this driveway.
For curved driveways, using a measuring wheel to get the length of both sides of the driveway and the width is the first step. You will be left with the measurements of an isosceles trapezoid and from there you can get its area. You can also use a rope or a very long tape measure to measure the length of the curves, straightening the curves will give you an isosceles trapezoid.
Project Conditions
In case you want to save a part of your driveway, such as a section of it, borders, or accents, be prepared to pay more. Having these conditions will require your contractor to be more careful in removing your driveway and may require extra equipment or tools as well. Any condition that will force them to provide extra equipment or manpower will be charged to you.
Returning Site to Grade
Returning site to grade is the process of flattening or compacting the dirt and gravel of your driveway. Correct sloping is also done to get the correct angle for water drainage. This is done if you want to build a new driveway over your demolished one.
You can ask your demolition contractor to do it for you if it’s not already included in their cost. Be sure to check and confirm.
Tips to Save Money on Driveway Demolition Costs
Consider these things before you set out in demolishing your driveway:
- Never pour new concrete over your existing driveway. You might think covering it will be cheaper but you’re wrong. If your existing driveway has cracks already, chances are, your new driveway will develop these as well in no time.
- Talking to a single contractor is not recommended at all. Talk to at least three contractors to give you the chance to compare and check prices. Get the best offer, which in some instances, is not the lowest bid. So, review all quotations carefully.
- Ask for discounts. Most, if not all, contractors give quotations with extra breathing room for them. Take advantage of this fact and ask for a discount, they won’t get mad.
- Reuse the demolished concrete as the aggregate base of your new driveway. This will save you in cost for disposal. But be sure to have your contractor break the concrete down into small pieces. Let them know you intend to use it as your aggregate base.