Are you dreading the daunting task of shoveling your driveway this winter? In areas that get a lot of snow, this task may need to be done repeatedly throughout the season. You can shovel it yourself, use a snow blower, or hire someone to shovel or plow your driveway.
Or you can save yourself a lot of time, effort, and money by installing a heated driveway. Heated driveways are becoming more popular as homeowners tire of the endless process of snow and ice removal. Does the idea of a heated asphalt driveway you never have to shovel sound good to you? Of course. But how much does a heated driveway cost? Here’s what you can expect.
How Does a Heated Driveway Work?
There are two types of heated driveway systems:
- Electric. An electric heated driveway system uses a grid of electric cables beneath the driveway surface. The electricity heats the driveway to melt away ice and snow, or to prevent ice and snow from collecting on the driveway.
- Hydronic. A hydronic heated driveway system uses a series of water tubes beneath the driveway surface. Hot water is pumped through the tubes to heat the driveway, melting or preventing snow and ice from forming on the driveway.
Both systems can be turned on manually or with an automated sensor.
What’s the Average Cost of Getting a Heated Driveway?
The cost of a heated driveway varies, but on average you can expect to pay anywhere from $12-$21 per square foot. Installation can range from $4,000-$15,000 depending on the situation.
What Factors Into the Cost?
There are a variety of factors that affect the cost of getting a heated driveway installed:
- The size of your driveway will affect the cost, as heated driveway systems are priced by square foot.
- The cost of materials, which is affected by the cost of living in your area.
- The type of heating system that is being installed. Hydronic tends to cost more than electric up front, but electric may cost more to operate in terms of your monthly utility bills.
- Manual vs automatic sensor.
- Whether the system can be connected to your existing home heating system or if a new stand alone system will need to be installed.
Do I Need to Replace My Driveway Completely?
One of the biggest questions is whether or not your driveway will need to be replaced in order to install a heating system or if it can be installed within your existing driveway. In most cases your driveway will need to be replaced in order to install a heating system beneath it. Retrofitting an existing driveway with heating elements can be done with advanced technology, but this is not always possible and it still requires drilling holes in your existing pavement to place equipment.
If your driveway is in need of significant repair, this may be a good time to have a heated driveway installed. But if your driveway is in good condition and has recently been paved, repaired, or treated, you may want to consider putting this project off for the future.
TopWest Asphalt Provides Paving Services
TopWest Asphalt provides a variety of asphalt paving services, including driveway repair, sealing, resurfacing, replacement, new asphalt paving, and more.
Call 604-755-0300 or contact us today to schedule a free estimate.
