How Much Does It Cost To Grade A Driveway?

Grading Driveway Costs

To determine what your driveway grading cost should be, there are a few important things to keep in mind. First, you’ll want to find a reputable driveway contractor near you specializing in grading. The total price may depend on your driveway's size, current labor demand, and the complexity of the job.

Materials and equipment

Your driveway grading contractor will need specialized equipment to complete the project. Some equipment may include a skid loader with excavation attachments and a loading attachment. Additional equipment will be used to demo and remove the old driveway material if any demolition is required. Most contractors own or rent their gear and pass the cost on to you. Plan to pay approximately $146 to $220 for materials and equipment for one driveway. The contractor may also charge you for transportation to and from the job site, plus a disposal fee if demolition is required.

Labor

Most of the cost of driveway grading is associated with the labor needed to complete the job. Look for a handyman near you or a professional driveway contractor to help you do the job. It’s recommended to get three estimates or more to compare the costs between different contractors. A typical driveway grading job should take approximately 8-8.5 hours to complete under favorable site conditions. The contractor will stake the location to be graded before grading the soil. They’ll also remove excess rocks and debris to ensure it’s at the proper slope. Any dirt removal is typically an additional charge. Your labor cost should include site planning, equipment, material acquisition, area prep and protection, setup, and the final cleanup. It should cost between $749 to $900 for the labor to grade a driveway.

Additional costs

There may be additional costs associated with your driveway grading project. For example, if the contractor needs to remove, relocate, repair, or modify any existing framing, surfacing, HVAC, electrical, or plumbing systems, this will cost you more. You may also pay more if any of these systems are out of compliance with current local building codes. There will also be an additional charge if any testing and remediation of hazardous materials, such as lead or asbestos, is required. Plan to pay another 13-22% if a general contractor is needed to supervise the project. Those fees will be added if you need to pay for a permit or inspection via your local building department. Finally, remember all applicable sales tax will be charged on materials and supplies, too. 

How to grade a driveway

It’s crucial to know about the process of grading a driveway. Every driveway needs some form of excavation and grading before adding concrete or asphalt or before installing pavers. The amount of excavation and grading required depends on your specific driveway, as this particular number varies greatly. Here are the steps of grading a driveway:

• The subgrade or material underneath the driveway must be stable and on a solid foundation. A base may need to be installed before grading and paving a driveway covered with asphalt.
• Your contractor will calculate the driveway slope to confirm water will drain and shed properly away from the driveway and your home. They’ll also ensure that water runs off the surface and doesn’t pond or stand on top of the surface, regardless of the driveway material.
• Adding a crown isn’t recommended if you have a long, winding driveway. As you drive on the driveway, your vehicle tires run on both sides of the crown over the hump in the middle. Over time, this may cause your driveway’s pavers, asphalt, or concrete to push outward on both sides and pull away from the middle, leading to cracks or openings between the pavers.
• The goal is to pitch the driveway to one side so the water drains away from the driveway. Ideally, the pitch should be between ¼ inch to ½ inch on either side, resulting in less maintenance and a longer lifespan for the driveway. 

DIY or hire a pro

You may wonder whether you should attempt to grade a driveway yourself or hire a professional to do the job. Remember that it requires heavy-duty equipment to move dirt, asphalt, and other heavy materials, and this equipment can be quite expensive to rent (and purchase). If you don’t have experience operating this type of equipment, it’s usually a job best left to the professionals. While you could save money on labor if you attempt to grade your driveway, it will almost always take a lot more time than it would for a professional contractor. This choice could result in rental costs exceeding what your contractor would charge if they used the equipment themselves since you’ll likely need it for more than one day.

It’s also crucial to make sure you’re calculating the driveway's slope precisely to the right degree. If this number is off, even by a small amount, it could result in water pooling and draining improperly. Remember, you want your driveway to be graded so water runs away from it. Without the proper slope, it could backfire and result in a worse problem. Ideally, leaving a driveway grading project to the pros is best. These experts know how to prepare the sub-surface and grade your driveway to the right slope so that it’s moving water away from the garage and your home.