While a driveway takes up a lot of visual space, it is often the least maintained aspect of a property. Homeowners will often wait until they can feel an issue while pulling into their garage before anything is done. Waiting too long to address these issues can result in bigger and more costly projects down the road. A local pro can help you repair your driveway before it turns into a full replacement project. Follow this breakdown of how much a driveway repair can cost you in Canada and 5 major factors that affect these costs.
| Driveway Repair Task | Average Cost | Minimum Cost | Maximum Cost |
| Driveway Cracks | $738 | $150 | $2,000 |
| Driveway Replacement | $9,898 | $1,600 | $20,000 |
*Costs based on homeowner reviews as of October 2021
When Should I Repair My Driveway?
Fall is the best time to start any type of repair work, repaving, staining or painting of a residential or commercial driveway. We highly recommend you avoid repairing your driveway DIY style as it can be very expensive and messy. Don’t waste your time or money on a project you’ll end up paying someone else to do eventually. Instead, get it done right the first time with the help of an experienced professional.
Type of Driveway
Based on the type of driveway you have, a pro will have to use different ways, material and equipment to fix it. When you book a pro, make sure you specify which type of driveway you have: asphalt, brick, cobblestone, concrete or gravel. Asphalt driveways usually have spider-web cracks whereas concrete driveways tend to flake off in patches. You can find a local pro on HomeStars with strong knowledge of how to fix your specific type of driveway and get a custom quote from them.
Type of Damage
A driveway faces numerous types of damages over time if not maintained properly. Damage can include small cracks, potholes, water damage, tree roots sprouting through the ground, oil spots, tire marks and so much more. Many times it is not just one thing but multiple damages altogether that force homeowners to consider fixing their driveways. In such conditions, a local pro will thoroughly examine the driveway and provide you with a cost estimate to get it fixed. The sooner you fix the damage, the more affordable it will be.
The Shape of the Driveway
The most common shape of the driveway in front of Canadian homes is straight cut. Of course, based on the size of the property and the landscape design, many homeowners enjoy circular, semi-circular, L-shaped and even S-shaped driveways. If it’s a complicated shape and the damage is located on a curve, then fixing it becomes more difficult. This will lead to a more time-consuming and expensive project overall. Fixing the damage on a curved path and delivering a seamlessly perfect driveway can add to your overall budget of repairing the driveway.
Obstructions
Many driveways have obstructions right in-between the path which makes repairing them even more difficult than anticipated. These obstructions are mostly related to the landscape around them. A tree on your driveway, rows of bushes, fountain or stairs, natural growth of plants and a water pipeline running close to your driveway are considered as obstructions.
A pro will have to consider all these obstructions and work around them to repair your driveway. If any of your landscape construction or plants get damaged in the process, that can be an added expense for you to fix as well. In such a case, we recommend you keep a local landscaper on speed-dial in case an emergency fix is required.
Labour and Travel
Repairing a driveway is not one person’s job. The pro you hire will further have to hire a crew of labourers to aid with the project. They will also need specific equipment to fix the damage.
Renting and transporting this equipment along with labour costs is considered an overhead expense. When you decide to hire a specific pro of your choice, make sure you discuss these overhead expenses before hiring them to fix your driveway. Ask whether these costs are included in the custom quote they provided you or will you have to pay it separately at the end of the project.
Before your driveway is covered with piles of snow, get it repaired or all the best local pros around you will get booked. You can check their Star Score, read homeowner reviews and also check for a Verified badge to make an informed hiring decision. Get a custom quote from three local pros to get your driveway fixed this season. You’ll be happy you got it fixed now instead of waiting.
