Asphalt driveways are recognised as some of the strongest, most durable, and economical driveways in Perth. Asphalt driveways not only connect your property to the road but provide smooth and safe access to all types of vehicles from cars to trucks and machinery. The cost of an asphalt driveway depends on many factors as we discuss in this article.
There are four reasons people in Perth choose asphalt driveways:
- Price per square metre
- Speed of installation
- Durability
- Maintenance
All of these factors equal lower short and long term costs for you. By choosing an asphalt driveway for your Perth property, you’re selecting a material that can:
- be laid and driven on in the same day – reducing your downtime and labour costs;
- withstand heavy vehicles and machinery – minimising cracks and repair costs; and
- resist cracking and potholes from water and root damage – extending the life of the driveway and delaying replacement or resurfacing costs
What is the Cost of an Asphalt Driveway?
Firstly, each Perth driveway is different, and you should be careful using online asphalt cost calculators. Asphalt calculator costs are generic and can be inflated and inaccurate.
For an accurate and free calculation of asphalt costs, you can request a free quick quote from an asphalt driveway contractor. This will give you a clear understanding of asphalt driveway costs and you won’t be surprised by changes to the price during the job.
One of the major cost discrepancies between an online asphalt cost calculator and free professional quote for an asphalt driveway is that the asphalt cost calculator does not consider your existing driveway.
Cost of Bitumen Driveway
The cost of a bitumen driveway in Perth can vary greatly depending on the size and complexity of the project. A standard bitumen driveway will be more affordable than a more complex job, such as a steep driveway or one with many curves. The best way to find the cost of a bitumen driveway project is with a free measure and quote from NK Asphalt.
We share more factors that influence the final price below.
Is there an existing driveway?
If there is, depending on the material, the driveway may need to be excavated and removed or the existing driveway could be used as the base for your asphalt driveway. This would increase the cost of an asphalt driveway.
A professional asphalt supplier will inspect your existing driveway and provide you with the options to ensure your new asphalt driveway will be levelled, smooth and resistant to damage.
Here’s a few examples of the difference in asphalt driveway costs, based on the existing driveway:
Scenario 1: A concrete driveway may require the surface to be demolished and removed from the site. This could require excavation machinery and a truck to remove and dispose of the concrete before the new asphalt can be laid.
Scenario 2: An unsealed gravel driveway can be releveled and compacted to serve as the base of your asphalt driveway. The new hot mix asphalt can be laid over the existing gravel driveway, reducing the labour time and machinery required.
Scenario 3: An existing asphalt or bitumen driveway can be resurfaced with a new layer of asphalt once the loose material from the surface is swept away. Because the driveway base work has already been done, there will be fewer labour hours and equipment needed.
What Affects the Cost of an Asphalt Driveway per Square Metre?
Aside from the existing driveway, other factors will affect the cost of your asphalt driveway and how much you pay per square meter.
The size of your driveway
Unlike paving or gravel, that can have a standard rate per square metre, asphalt can become cheaper per square metre, the larger your driveway area is.
Asphalt is a mixture of bitumen and aggregate, and for each asphalt driveway, an asphalt mixture is made. This means there is a cost associated with creating the asphalt that doesn’t change depending on the size of the driveway. As a result, the more asphalt required for the driveway, the cheaper the cost per square metre becomes.
For this reason, we usually only recommend asphalt for driveways over 150m2. WALGA defines the width of Perth driveways as 3-6 metres, so to qualify for 150m2, your driveway must be at least 25-50 metres long or include parking bays, turnaround bays, or other areas.
The colour of the asphalt
Asphalt driveways come in a range of colours to suit your landscaping and building design. Each colour of asphalt may have a different cost per square metre, depending on if a colouring agent needs to be added or a difference gravel aggregate is used.
- Non-coloured dark brown gravel pave asphalt
- Black/grey granite asphalt
- Red gravel/laterite asphalt
The location of the driveway
For NK Asphalt, the location of your driveway in Perth won’t affect the cost of your asphalt driveway. You could be in Mundaring, Bullsbrook, or Mandurah, and it wouldn’t change the cost of asphalt. But the location and accessibility of the driveway on the property can affect costs.
If the driveway is difficult to access, this can slow down the asphalt laying process and any demolition that needs to be done. The layout of the driveway can also impact the price of asphalt.
Another reason to get a free measure and quote for an asphalt driveway.
Is kerbing or drainage needed?
If your driveway is vulnerable to damage from water, roots, or heavy vehicle use, we recommend installing driveway drainage and kerbing during the asphalt surfacing process.
Having the drainage dug during the driveway installation will save you money compared to cutting through the asphalt later on.
How Much Will My Asphalt Driveway Cost?
To get an accurate fixed cost of an asphalt driveway at your Perth property, get a free measure and quote. There’s no obligation to accept the quote and while we’re on-site, we can provide free advice on your project.
Speak to one of our experts and get your asphalt driveway project rolling.
Get a Perth asphalt driveway quote
If your driveway is 150m2 or more and in the Perth or surrounding areas.
