Author: Jessica Bellingem
Content Writer, Former Landscaping Project Coordinator
Published: September 18, 2023
Here is some ways you can save on interlock driveway project:
1) If you have an existing asphalt, concrete, or interlock driveway that you want to resurface then your contractor may not need to excavateand add the gravel base. If existing base is good enough, the construction contractor may just reuse it andput new interlock pavers on top of it. This saves time, material, and money for your driveway builder.Ask your contractor if they can pass these savings to you and reduce the price given that the base is good enough.Note that you will not know whether the base is good until the existing paver stones or asphalt are removed.
2) If you have certain store discounts, credits, or credit card points that you want to use you can opt to buy paver stonesyourself and have contractor only provide the installation. Note that when buying interlock pavers, in addition to stoneprice you need to account for delivery and skid deposit. Most stone yards provide delivery, and they will unload skids ofpavers right on your front yard with a truck-mounted piggyback forklifts. Also, stone yards usually take $50-$70 depositfor every skid which you get back when you return skids back to stone yard. For more information about stones, brands,and prices check out our stone pavers for driveway page
3) Some unethical ways that we do not endorse but which is quite popular is to pay cash for project asopposed to paying by cheque. In this case most contractors will still want you to pay for materials by cheque.While you may save some money this way it is harder to enforce warranty for the installation work should anythinggo wrong with the grading or stone cracks on your driveway. Without a trail of cheque,invoice, and contract you are relying on a contractor’s integrity to provide warranty service repairs.
4) To cut down on both material and labour costs you may opt out of driveway designs thatinvolve rounded or irregular shapes or complex patterns. Both require extra stone cuts whichrequires more paver stones and more labour hours in order to cut stones with concrete saw.
5) Construction contractors may quote different prices based on how busy they are(i.e. how many projects they have lined up). This usually varies greatly from one companyto another but on average landscaping contractors have smaller backlog of projects at the beginningof the season (March – May) and in the middle of the season (July – August).Asking for quotes during these months may nail you a better price.
6) Homeowners can also save on stone paver materials if they follow the deals from stone yards.For example, sometimes Beaver Valley stone yard posts deals on their Instagram feed and websitefor interlock stones that go for discounted prices. Note, that we do not recommend simply buying acheap interlock stone that is less than $5 per sq ft. Unless the price is good due to a seasonaldiscount, the cheap paver stones are usually not worth it because they may chip off or crack.