Concrete is one of the most economical ways to create a patio, walkway, floor, or anything else that could be made of the stuff. But just hearing that is not enough to start a project. Before you dive in, take a look at some real-life figures as to how much your concrete laying project could cost you.
The first fee to take into account when starting a concrete job from scratch is grading. This is leveling out the ground on which the concrete is to be poured so that the surface is perfectly level. You can expect to pay around $45 per hour to get this job done by professionals.
Next, you will need to lay a foundation. This is usually made of gravel. The gravel necessary for this project will cost about $10-12 per square foot of foundation laid.
Once your foundation is in place, now you can pour the concrete. The concrete itself will form a significant part of your project bill; plan to lay down at least $70 per cubic yard of concrete laid. In addition to paying the actual cost of the the concrete, plan to pay an addition $1 per square foot of concrete poured. This is designed to cover manual labor costs. Other materials you will need during the pouring such as reinforcement materials (plastic or wire mesh or rebar) will cost you less than a dollar per square foot of concrete.
Now these numbers are only for projects that are just plain and simple concrete, laid for garages, sidewalks, driveways or patios. Other fancier projects will cost more depending on the planned designs of your project. In addition, coloring added, stains applied, etching done, or anything else extra will cause the price tag of your project to increase dramatically.
That being said, it is important to remember that despite extra touches adding extra cost, it is still less expensive than laying tile, stone, or carpet down on top of the already laid concrete.
In addition to variations in material cost and manual labor costs, how much you will pay for your concrete work also depends on the locale in which you live. If you live in a metro area where manual labor is fairly inexpensive, the price tag will be lower than it would be if you lived way out in the country and all your workers had to come from the closest city. In addition, finding your own supplies, ordering your own concrete, and doing all the prep work yourself can also help you to save some money on an already relatively inexpensive project.
These are the basic factors that can help you answer the question, how much is concrete–no matter if it is a sidewalk, patio, driveway, garage floor, or any other concrete job. Keep in mind the basic costs as you plan your project: supplies, including the concrete; manual labor; anything extra or fancy you plan to add to the project; and your own locale and the typical prices in your area. With this short guide, you can better expect just what to pay when the bill arrives on your desk.
