Driveway Pavers in Lincoln CA - a surface that stays level and holds its edges
Cracked concrete or a worn-out driveway? We lay pavers on a packed rock base with solid edges, so the surface stays tight.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- Replies within 1 business day.
Is a paver driveway worth it for your Lincoln home?
Driveway pavers in Lincoln, CA are concrete pavers laid over a dug-out, packed rock base and leveled sand, with solid edges that keep them locked together, so the surface stays level and a broken piece can be swapped out instead of patched.
Most people call us when an old concrete or asphalt driveway is cracked, sunken or just tired, and before we talk about pavers I want to know why it failed, because a soft base or standing water will ruin new pavers the same way. The price mostly moves with the size, how much old driveway and soil has to come out, how deep the base needs to go, the paver you pick and whether the work reaches the curb. The schedule turns on the tear-out, any permit and the weather, and the estimate gives you your own figure once I've seen the job.
How we build driveway pavers
We start by breaking out the old driveway and digging down to firm soil, then compact it so the base has something solid to sit on. If your yard drains slowly, we talk about drainage under the base before we dig, because water that sits under a driveway is usually what makes it sink. Then we spread base rock in layers and pack each one, and set real edge restraint along the sides so the pavers stay locked together, not thin edging or wood that gives out. We screed the bedding sand, which just means leveling it flat, lay the pavers, sweep sand into the joints and run a plate compactor over the whole surface so everything settles in tight.
A new driveway tends to show what's worn around it. If the yard beside the drive sits higher than the driveway, retaining wall construction keeps that bank from sliding onto it, and if the brick around your entry is crumbling, masonry restoration repairs what's there instead of rebuilding it.
Standard concrete pavers
These suit most driveways, because they lock tight on a packed base and come in enough shapes and colors to match almost any house. We use a paver made to carry cars, not a patio paver, since that's where a driveway takes its beating.
Permeable pavers
These have wider joints over an open rock base that lets rainwater soak through instead of running off. They usually cost more and need a deeper base, so we only suggest them when runoff is a real problem on your lot.
Most driveways can wait for a planned job, but call (916) 587-8582 if a sunken or broken spot has become a trip hazard.
What happens after you call about driveway pavers?
Here's how a paver driveway job runs with us, from your first call to the walk-through at the end, and who you'll be dealing with along the way.
Call or send the form
Call (916) 587-8582 or use the form, and we'll get back to you to set a time to come out. Have your address, a rough size of the driveway and whether the work reaches the curb ready.
I look the driveway over
I come out myself, measure, check how the yard drains and tell you what the job needs and what can wait. You get a written estimate that lays out the base, the edges and the pavers, so you know what you're paying for before anything starts.
We build it and walk it
If you go ahead, I run the job on site with our crew and take care of the permit side when there is one. When it's done, we walk the finished driveway together so you can look over the edges and joints before we pack up.
Get a free on-site estimate for your paver driveway
Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day to set a time. I come out, look at the driveway in person and give you a free estimate, with no pressure to book.
(916) 587-8582Driveway pavers in Lincoln: permits and what we see here
If the job reaches the curb, gutter or sidewalk, the City of Lincoln requires an encroachment permit, because that work sits in the public right-of-way, which also takes in public roads, city land and city easements. Many driveway replacements tie into the curb at the apron, the sloped part that meets the street, so we plan for that from the start. Whether the rest of the driveway needs a permit is something we confirm with the city's Building Division, which asks owners who aren't sure to check with it before starting. Even work that's exempt still has to follow your HOA's rules, city zoning and grading requirements. When a permit applies, we pull it with the city, set up the inspections and tell you where it stands before work starts.
The city lists no frost line for Lincoln, so we aren't fighting frozen ground heaving pavers up the way crews do in colder places, and a good job comes down to the base, the edges and where the water goes. We're based in Lincoln and do the same work across the cities around it, including Roseville and Rocklin.
Driveway paver questions from Lincoln homeowners
How much does a paver driveway cost in Lincoln, CA?
Across the US, a 220 square foot paver driveway usually runs about $4,400 to $6,000 for the whole job. That's a national example, not our price, and yours goes up or down with the size, the tear-out, how much base the ground needs, the paver you choose and any work at the curb. I'll give you your own number after I've looked at the job.
Do I need a permit for a paver driveway in Lincoln?
Yes, if the work reaches the curb, gutter or sidewalk, the city requires an encroachment permit. For the driveway itself, we check with the city's Building Division before we start and pull any permit the job needs.
Will driveway pavers crack like concrete?
Pavers are less prone to the cracking you see on poured concrete and asphalt, because the joints between them give the surface room to move instead of splitting. If a single paver does break or settle, we can lift it out and set a new one without touching the rest.
What causes driveway pavers to shift or spread apart?
Weak edges are the usual cause, because once the sides give, the joints open and the pavers creep outward under car tires. Paver industry guidance says flat metal or plastic landscape edging isn't an acceptable edge restraint since it can't hold the sides, and it doesn't recommend timber because it warps and eventually rots.
How long does it take before I can drive on new pavers?
You can usually drive on concrete pavers as soon as they're laid and compacted, with no waiting for anything to cure the way poured concrete needs. Most of the time on a job goes into the tear-out and the base, and I'll tell you what to expect for yours at the estimate.
What should I check before hiring a driveway paver contractor in Lincoln?
Check that the contractor holds a California license that covers the work, and the state contractors board's earthwork and paving class is one that includes placing paving and other surfacing. For permitted work, the city also requires a current City of Lincoln business license, workers' compensation coverage and a bond, and any subcontractor needs the same license and bond. We're licensed and insured, and I'm glad to go over any of it when I come out.
Other work that goes with a new driveway
If the ground beside your driveway slopes or keeps washing dirt onto the pavement, a retaining wall holds that soil back and keeps it off your new surface.
Old brick steps, mailbox columns or porch walls can look worn next to fresh pavers, and repairing the mortar and brick usually costs less than replacing them.
Book your paver driveway estimate
Seeing the driveway in person lets me tell you what the base and edges need before you spend time picking a paver, so call (916) 587-8582 or send the form.