How Much Does it Cost to Resurface a Driveway? [2024]

The heavy weight of cars, oil leaks, exposure to the elements, erosion and cracking concrete all contribute to the deterioration of a driveway.

Painting a concrete driveway can help protect it, but if you've noticed that your driveway is in need of a bigger facelift, you may need to consider concrete driveway resurfacing. This acts as a decorative coating at a fraction of the cost of removing and replacing the concrete, but it's still important to have an idea of the driveway resurfacing cost.

Read this guide to find out:

• How much does driveway resurfacing cost?
• Benefits of driveway resurfacing over replacement
• Driveway resurfacing options
• Getting quotes for driveway resurfacing

How much does driveway resurfacing cost?

Concrete resurfacing cost depends on a number of factors, specifically the size of your site, the driveway materials chosen for the finish and how many repairs are needed.

Driveway resurfacing cost is cheaper than a new concrete slab cost. If your existing driveway is in good condition, expect to pay from:

• $35 per square metre for standard concrete
• $50 per square metre for stencilled concrete
• $85 per square metre for multi-coloured stencilling
• $75 to $90 per square metre for coloured concrete
• $100 to $150 per square metre for an exposed aggregate finish

The concrete resurfacing cost per square metre goes up as you start adding more decorative features and colours. Stamping may start from around $50 per square metre for a single colour, while multi-coloured stencilling might cost $85 per square metre or more, depending on the complexity of the design.

Learn more: How much does it cost to pave a driveway?

Benefits of driveway resurfacing over replacement

As much as an intricately designed resurfaced concrete driveway may cost, it will be far less expensive than concrete removal and replacement or paving over it with another material. Besides cost, other reasons to consider driveway resurfacing over replacement are:

• Shorter time frame – around 3 days rather than 7 days for new concrete
• More options with colours and designs
• Don't need to excavate and dispose of old concrete
• Lower environmental impact

The first step of the job is always surface preparation, to ensure your new concrete adheres to the old. Driveway resurfacing is best done on surfaces that are clean and structurally sound. Small cracks can be covered by the resurfacing materials, but larger cracks will need to be repaired first for optimal results. Be aware that resurfacing will not solve problems that cause damage to your concrete, such as underlying soil movement.

Learn more: 5 design ideas for concrete driveways

Driveway resurfacing options

If you're thinking of concrete driveway resurfacing, you have many options to choose from to achieve the look you want. Most homeowners choose some type of decorative resurfacing. Some of the most popular options include:

• Coloured concrete to add colour during mixing
• Stencilled concrete to add more colours and patterns to a driveway
• Stamped concrete that involves stamping a texture and pattern into coloured concrete after it's been poured
• Exposed aggregate concrete (also called pebblecrete), which is a polished finish but can be more expensive

Getting quotes for driveway resurfacing

Driveway resurfacing may be done by a general concreter or a concrete resurfacing specialist. Whichever service you choose, you need to make sure they are right for your job. Some questions to ask them include:

• Are you licensed for my project?
• Do you hold valid insurance?
• Can you provide a written quote?
• Do you have references I can follow up?
• Can I view some of your work?

Whether you want to know how much a concrete driveway costs or what resurfacing could set you back, when you get quotes, always ask to see examples of their previous work. Experienced resurfacers will have extensive portfolios they'll be proud to show you.

A reputable company will also offer a product and workmanship guarantee of up to 10 years. It's more important to know the job will be done right than to settle for the lowest quote, so choose a company that has proven itself and guarantees their service.

#hiptip: Always get at least three quotes so you can compare price and level of service