What is a Heated Driveway?

Heated driveway Cost are a type of snow defrosting system designed for modern roads. This system is most commonly found in a typical home, where the length of the sidewalk leading to the parking area is fitted with a heating element. This warms the trail and melts snow in the winter, preventing snow from accumulating in the driveway. It eliminates the need to shovel your driveway on cold mornings, saving you time and energy. There are several types of heated driveway systems that can achieve this, as shown below.

Melted snow mats are the easiest heated driveway systems to purchase and install. Simply open them in your driveway and turn them on in the evening or whenever the driveway is not in use. They will easily take care of the snow falling on them. Unfortunately, many of these mats are not designed to support the weight of an entire car. For this reason, you may need to roll them up before getting out of the driveway. When using mats that can support the full weight of your car, you will be able to spread them along the path your tires would normally follow. This should clear the way for them to come back without problems.

How Much Do Heated Driveways Cost?

Heated Driveway Costs Installing a heated driveway costs between $12 and $28 per square foot of concrete or asphalt. A radiant driveway heating system has an average installation cost of $9,600 to $22,400, depending on whether it is electric or hydronic. The cost of operating a heated driveway is $120 to $600 per year. Homemade driveway mats to melt snow cost $1,600. Heated concrete driveways cost $13 to $28 per square foot or $6,500 to $17,000 on average for a 2-car driveway. This price does not include the removal of an existing driveway. For comparison, a standard concrete driveway costs $4 to $8 per square foot without heating.

Heated Driveway Installation Costs

You may be curious about the concept of a heated driveway, but wonder how installation costs as well as operating and maintenance costs add up. With many factors involved, the exact price can vary from:

The length and size of your driveway If the installation will involve demolishing an existing driveway If an existing driveway could be redesigned Material cost, depends on your location Heat source, usually between electricity or hot water. Hot water systems are more common, but tend to be more upfront. Electrical systems, although they generally cost more to operate, are notoriously maintenance-free. Can the heating system be connected to your home's existing system or will a stand-alone system be installed? This can be a significant cost factor. Configure the controls, whether manual or automatic. Manual systems tend to be less expensive and often less complex. Automated systems are usually more expensive.

How Much Is Heated Driveway Maintenance?

Several factors affect the cost of maintaining a heated driveway during the winter. Specifically, it depends a lot on the amount of snow, the type of system you have, the heating elements, and the price of electricity in your area. On average, you can expect $120 to $600 to be added to your bill each winter depending on these factors.

Aside from the utility cost of a built-in heated driveway, you don't need much maintenance. If part of your driveway stops heating, you'll need to identify the problem or call in a professional to fix it. Tools to self-diagnose your driveway problems can often be rented for over $150 or so. If your driveway needs repair, you may need to go back to the old shovel for a while. It's best to keep some familiar tools in the garage just in case.

Installing a Heated Driveway

Depending on the contractor you hire, it may be possible to install a system in an existing driveway. During this process, slots are created at regular intervals in the current passage and heating elements are placed in each slot. The wires connected to the heating elements go to the location of the system controls. The slots are sealed and the entire system is then covered with asphalt.

While such a process is possible, many businesses lack the technology to retrofit existing aisles. Until you do more, you should expect that most companies will have to demolish your existing driveway, install heating, and build a new concrete or asphalt driveway.

How Much Does a Heated Driveway Cost per Square Foot?

The cost of installing a heated driveway ranges from $12 to $21 per square foot. This includes materials needed for driveways as well as labor. The cost of installing a heated driveway will be higher if you have to remove the old driveway first. Homeowners may have to pay an additional $1 to $2 per square foot for driveway removal.