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52 services in 9 categories · all live now
A fair comparison has five lines: installed cost, service life, maintenance, effect on insurance or resale, and how the material behaves in your climate. A comparison on price alone will usually pick the option that costs more later.
| Line | What to write down | Why it changes the decision |
|---|---|---|
| Installed cost | Per square foot, linear foot or unit, including prep and removal | The visible number, and the one most quotes lead with |
| Service life | Published range from manufacturers and contractors | Divides the cost into a yearly figure |
| Maintenance | Sealing, cleaning, repairs, recoating | Often 10% to 30% of the original cost over the life |
| Insurance and resale | Any premium or disclosure effect | Ask your insurer and a local agent; it varies by state |
| Climate fit | Freeze-thaw, heat, salt, soil movement | A correct material in the wrong climate performs like a cheap one |
| Option | Installed cost | Typical service life | Maintenance | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete | $6 to $15 per sq ft | About 30 to 50 years | Seal every few years; patch cracks | Long-term ownership, heavy vehicles |
| Asphalt | $5 to $12 per sq ft | About 15 to 25 years | Seal every 2 to 4 years; patch | Lower upfront cost, northern climates |
| Gravel | Lowest per sq ft, varies by region | About 10 to 20 years with topping | Re-grade and top up regularly | Rural, low-traffic, budget first |
A two-car driveway of about 400 square feet is roughly $2,400 to $3,600 in concrete at the typical price, and $2,000 to $3,200 in asphalt. The concrete premium is small next to the difference in maintenance over 20 years.
| Option | Installed cost | Typical service life | Maintenance | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wood privacy | $22 to $58 per linear ft | About 10 to 15 years | Stain or seal every 2 to 3 years | Rot at posts, warping, HOA rules |
| Vinyl | Higher than wood per linear ft | About 20 to 25 years | Wash occasionally | Colour fading, heat movement |
| Aluminium | Similar to vinyl per linear ft | About 20 to 30 years | Rarely any | Not private; denting on impact |
Run the fence cost calculator for your linear footage before comparing, then check local height and setback rules with the licence checker or your building department.
| Option | Installed cost | Typical service life | Maintenance | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Epoxy | $4 to $12 per sq ft | About 10 to 20 years | Clean; recoat before wear | Hot tyres, UV yellowing, moisture in the slab |
| Polyaspartic | More than epoxy | About 15 to 20 years | Clean; faster return to use | Higher cost, installer skill matters |
| Tile | Higher again | 20 years and up | Clean grout; replace cracked tiles | Joints, impact cracks, price |
Use the garage floor coating calculator for your square footage, and check the slab for moisture before choosing any coating.
| Option | Installed cost | Typical service life | Maintenance | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asphalt shingle | $300 to $600 per square (100 sq ft) | About 20 to 30 years | Replace damaged shingles; keep gutters clear | Most homes, lowest upfront cost |
| Metal | Higher per square | About 40 to 70 years | Check fasteners and seals | Long ownership, snow shedding, hot climates |
Take a 400 square foot driveway. Concrete at the typical price is about $3,600 installed and typically lasts 30 to 50 years with occasional sealing. Asphalt at the typical price is about $3,200 installed, lasts 15 to 25 years, and needs resealing every few years. Over 20 years the asphalt will likely need a full replacement, while the concrete may not. That is the comparison that matters, not the invoice on day one.
Service-life ranges are the ranges manufacturers and contractors commonly publish; local climate and site conditions move them. Estimates, not quotes.
Comparing two quotes? Put both through the cost calculators and the quote checker, then compare on the five lines above.
Open the calculatorsA comparison on installed price only is finished before it starts. The life-cycle version takes four numbers per option and turns them into a single yearly figure you can compare. It is not a precise forecast; it is a way to stop ignoring the maintenance that arrives later.
| Line | How to fill it in | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Installed cost | The quote for the same size job | $3,600 |
| Years you expect to stay | Your own horizon, not the material's life | 12 years |
| Maintenance per year | Sealing, cleaning, repairs divided by the interval | $150 |
| Replacement inside the horizon | Installed cost x replacements needed | $3,200 once |
| Total, then divide by years | (installed + maintenance + replacements) / years | ($3,600 + $1,800 + $3,200) / 12 = $717 per year |
The example is illustrative, not a recommendation. The point is that the cheaper installed option can lose on this sheet once a replacement falls inside your ownership window.
Two neighbours can make different correct choices because their rules and weather differ. Before comparing prices, check three constraints: the local climate (freeze-thaw, salt, heat, soil movement), the HOA or historic district rules on materials, colours and fence heights, and the building code requirements for the job. A material that is cheapest and best on paper can be the wrong choice if the HOA forbids it or the code requires a different detail.
Maintenance is the line most comparisons skip, and it is where a cheap material often loses. Put the recurring tasks on the same page as the installed cost, then ask whether you will actually do them.
| Material | Recurring task | If you skip it |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway | Seal every few years, patch cracks | Surface wear and water intrusion |
| Asphalt driveway | Seal every 2 to 4 years, patch | Alligator cracking and potholes |
| Wood fence | Stain or seal every 2 to 3 years | Grey wood, rot at the base |
| Vinyl fence | Occasional wash | Dirt build-up, not failure |
| Epoxy floor | Clean, recoat before wear through | Coating failure and hot-tyre marks |
| Asphalt shingle roof | Clear gutters, replace damaged shingles | Deck rot and leaks |
The honest question is not which material needs the least maintenance, but which one fits the maintenance you will do. A low-maintenance material you never clean still ages.
No. Concrete wins on life and maintenance in most climates, but asphalt costs less up front, is easier to repair locally, and performs well in cold regions. The right answer depends on how long you will own the property.
Coverage and premiums depend on the policy and the risk, not on a material league table. Ask your insurer directly about a specific change, such as a metal roof or a new deck, before assuming it raises or lowers the premium.
Common published ranges run about 10 to 20 years for a properly prepped epoxy coating, depending on traffic, UV exposure and whether the slab lets moisture through. Prep is the biggest factor in how long it lasts.
Only if you plan to stay long enough to benefit. A low-maintenance option with a high upfront cost can lose to a cheaper option with maintenance if you sell within a few years.
No. It often wins only if you sell before the first major maintenance or replacement. The life-cycle worksheet above shows where the order can flip.
An HOA can dictate material, colour, fence height and even the profile of a roof. Check the rules before pricing options; a preferred material that the HOA rejects is not an option at any price.
They are the ranges manufacturers and contractors commonly publish for each material. They are not a guarantee for your site. Local climate, installation quality and maintenance move the real life up or down.