shared asphalt driveway -- neighbor wants to replace it, while I want to resurface it

[Anonymous]

We have a shared asphalt driveway the serves our house and the adjacent house.

The driveway is in decent shape, IMO, but the neighbor wants to replace it -- that is, remove the existing asphalt and rebuild the driveway from the ground up. The neighbor wants me to pay 50% of the cost, despite the fact that my wife and I are perfectly happy with the driveway as it is.

I estimate that we will live in this house another 5 years, and my neighbor is facing the same time horizon. The two houses will then be sold, and, most likely, torn down and replaced with McMansions. Given this short horizon, I see no reason to invest in a driveway with a 25-year lifespan.

I'm willing to compromise: I'm OK with simply resurfacing the driveway, which would lead to a 40% reduction in the cost. The neighbor is mulling this over.

Are there any other options that we can consider? And what would you do in my situation?

[Anonymous]

You could offer up the amount you're willing to pay, then let him do what he wants.

[Anonymous]

Yeah I would resurface.

[Anonymous]

Give him 50% of resurface price then if he wants to spend more tell him good luck.

[Anonymous]

You should be using sealer every year or two

[Anonymous]

FWIW, two houses that I walk by daily had driveways with a lot of cracks. They lightly sanded (I'm sure it's called something different in the driveway world) and then coated with a heavy black material that was rolled on. The cracks in the one that finished about a year ago are already showing through. Seemed like a huge waste of money.

[Anonymous]

That sounds like a good compromise and will help with re-sale for both of you. Just be open and honest that this is not your forever home and you want to invest accordingly. I always think it's worth keeping things cordial with your neighbor and sometimes that costs a bit of money to do.

[Anonymous]

Look up the fine print on the shared driveway.

[Anonymous]

why did you purchase a home on a shared driveway?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FWIW, two houses that I walk by daily had driveways with a lot of cracks. They lightly sanded (I'm sure it's called something different in the driveway world) and then coated with a heavy black material that was rolled on. The cracks in the one that finished about a year ago are already showing through. Seemed like a huge waste of money.

Shoddy work? Poor materials? Resurfacing should last longer than that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:why did you purchase a home on a shared driveway?

Most people have to make compromises when they buy homes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FWIW, two houses that I walk by daily had driveways with a lot of cracks. They lightly sanded (I'm sure it's called something different in the driveway world) and then coated with a heavy black material that was rolled on. The cracks in the one that finished about a year ago are already showing through. Seemed like a huge waste of money.

This is called seal coating and it only costs about $90. You are supposed to do it annually.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FWIW, two houses that I walk by daily had driveways with a lot of cracks. They lightly sanded (I'm sure it's called something different in the driveway world) and then coated with a heavy black material that was rolled on. The cracks in the one that finished about a year ago are already showing through. Seemed like a huge waste of money.

You powerwahsh, fill in the cracks and roll on a sealer. We do our every few years diy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FWIW, two houses that I walk by daily had driveways with a lot of cracks. They lightly sanded (I'm sure it's called something different in the driveway world) and then coated with a heavy black material that was rolled on. The cracks in the one that finished about a year ago are already showing through. Seemed like a huge waste of money.

Shoddy work? Poor materials? Resurfacing should last longer than that.

Ours needs it every year or two.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:why did you purchase a home on a shared driveway?

Most people have to make compromises when they buy homes.

Never this, sorry.