Bricks, Masonry, Asphalt and Concrete - New Sidewalk/ Driveway

OK, time to spend more $$$.

I am planning on having my driveway and sidewalk redone.

Currently the sidewalk is asphault with a nice big tree root growing accross it. The driveway is dirt.

Total sidewalk length is 50' and width about 3-4ft.

The driveway is about 20ft X 10Ft. with and apron

My neighbor convinced me to also have the front of my walkway redone. This part joins my front porch to the sidewalk and is about 9ft X 9ft.

My neighbor recommened a contractor. He stopped by this weekend and is giving me a price mon-tues. ( He needs to find out pricing from the guy with the back-hoe who is going to tear out the root). He said his rate is about $7 sq ft.

I have already contacted servicemagic to get some other bids from contractors in my area.

BTW I am in CT. Any things I should keep in mind before having the work done. I am going to stop by City hall this week to see if they will do anything about cutting down the tree so that my new sidewalk lasts more than a couple of years.

Does $7 sq ft sound like a good price. I'll post back when I start getting bids.

While you are at city hall, you might check to see if you need a building permit, especially to build a sidewalk which may be on the city's right of way. Check the contractor's worker's comp and liability insurance to be sure that it is up to date and covers this job.

HTH

The main reason for my trip to city hall is to check my permit requirments. For one thing I currently have no driveway apron and also the curbs are pretty shot. My conctractor said they are picky about touching the curbs. If he goes all the way to the street then they will prob require him to put in new curbs, but if he leaves it with a couple of feet of grass, how it is now then most likeley they will not force me to install new curbs.

Gonna have to take some time off of work. Wouldn't it be nice if city hall was in the 21st century and I could do everything online!!

Ok, they came out and measured today.

The sidewalk is 30' X 6' = 180 sq ft ( No Curbs)

Entry Way 9' X 10' = 90 sq ft

Slab for Kennel 11' X 7' = 77 sq ft

Total = 347 sq ft

Total in concrete = $3400 for 347 sq ft
Drive way 20' X 9' = 180 sq ft (done in asphault) $400

$3800 for the whole job

That ends up being about $10 SQ FT for concrete, would've been another $1900 if I wanted the driveway in concrete!!

I am going to call around. This seems high, especially since the other day he was telling me how he charges $7 a sq ft and most others charge upwards of $8. Now he is asking $10!! 347 @ $7 would have been $2400.

There is nothing quite like two or three bids.

I am assuming the bids include tearing up and hauling off the existing surfaces that are to be replaced. In my area, new flatwork costs around $3.00 per square foot. In your case, I would imagine that the demolition costs exceed the cost to install the new concrete surfaces. If it were on bare ground, a couple of guys could set the forms for what you have in a couple of hours. But to tear out and haul off the existing stuff will require something like a skid-steer loader and a dump truck and probably paying to dispose of the spoil. If you are a do-it-yourselfer and have a way/place to dispose of the old asphalt and concrete, pehaps you could tear up the old surface and get it ready for a contractor to do the new work.

You're right the old surface is asphalt an is getting removed and dumped.

You believe no contractors from the service magic site have responded!!

Guess I am going to have to ask around so I have something to compare my original quote to.