New driveways, replacements and widening
Concrete Driveways in College Station, TX
Built from the ground up, with College Station's approach permit and steel inspection planned in.
- Free visit to your property: we measure and check where water runs
- A written, line-item price before any concrete is ordered
- College Station right-of-way permits and steel inspections built into the schedule
Driveways That Stay Flat and Drain Right
Concrete driveways take more abuse than any other flatwork on a property. They carry the weight of every car, truck and delivery van, they collect roof runoff, and in College Station they bake through summers with average August highs near 97 degrees. A good driveway is mostly about what you cannot see: the base, the thickness, the steel and the way water leaves the surface.
When a driveway needs replacing
Close to a third of College Station homes were built in the 1970s and 1980s, according to ACS data summarized by Point2Homes, so many driveways in established neighborhoods are more than 35 years old. Common signs it is time to replace instead of patch:
- Panels that have sunk or tilted so water pools or runs toward the garage
- Wide cracks that keep growing, or panels broken into several pieces
- Edges lifted by tree roots, creating trip hazards
- A surface that is crumbling, scaling or spalled
- A drive approach that has separated from the curb
What goes into a new driveway
Old concrete is saw-cut and hauled off, and soft soil, roots and organic material are dug out. We shape the subgrade so the finished surface sheds water away from the house and garage, then place and compact the base. HomeGuide's thickness guidance is at least 4 inches for ordinary cars, 5 to 6 inches where RVs or heavy traffic will park, and 6 to 8 inches at the edges. Rebar is held up on chairs so it ends up mid-depth, which is where it actually controls cracking. Expansion joint material goes wherever the drive meets the house, the garage floor or the curb.
Permits and the drive approach
The drive approach, the stretch from the sidewalk to the street, lies in the city right-of-way. The City of College Station requires a permit to build or change a drive approach or curb cut, and its driveway page says a permit is also needed if added paving tops 120 square feet. The application asks for the depth of concrete and the size and spacing of the reinforcement, and the city inspects the steel before the pour. Paving in the right-of-way has to meet the BCS Design Standards the city references. We prepare the specs and schedule the inspection.
Pouring in the heat
Heat speeds the set and dries the surface. For summer pours we start at first light, wet the base so it cannot pull water from the mix, and finish without delay. Joints are sawn the same day or first thing next morning, before shrinkage cracks pick their own path. For the first several days the slab stays damp or under a curing compound.
Finish options
- Broom finish: the usual driveway surface, with grip in the rain
- Exposed aggregate: stone showing at the surface for texture and traction
- Stamped or colored borders: a decorative edge band around a plain field
- Fully stamped drives: HomeGuide's range is about $8 to $26 a square foot, against $6 to $10 for plain gray concrete
Caring for a new driveway
Per HomeGuide, walking is fine after 24 to 48 hours, cars after a week or more, and heavy trucks after the full 30-day cure. Put the first coat of sealer on after about a month and recoat every 2 to 3 years. Keep downspouts aimed away from the slab, refill joints that open, and keep dumpsters and loaded trailers off the edges.
What a Driveway Job Includes
A full driveway job runs from tear-out to the first seal coat.
Tear-out and haul-off
Old concrete or asphalt saw-cut, broken out and removed from the site.
Base and grading
Soft soil and roots dug out, the subgrade shaped for drainage, and the base compacted.
Reinforcement
Rebar set on chairs at the spacing written into the permit specs, with thicker edges where loads call for it.
Drive approach and curb cut
The section in the city right-of-way, permitted and inspected before the pour.
Joints and curing
Control joints cut to plan, expansion material at fixed edges, and moist curing in the heat.
Widening and extensions
Extra parking pads or wider drives tied to existing concrete with dowels.
Typical Concrete Driveway Costs
| Driveway | Published range |
|---|---|
| Per square foot, installed | $6 to $15 |
| One-car, 12 x 24 ft (288 sq ft) | $1,700 to $4,300 |
| Two-car, 20 x 20 ft (400 sq ft) | $2,400 to $6,000 |
| Two-car, 24 x 24 ft (576 sq ft) | $3,500 to $8,600 |
| Three-car, 24 x 36 ft (864 sq ft) | $5,200 to $13,000 |
| Old driveway removal, per sq ft | $2 to $6 |
| Rebar, per sq ft | $1 to $3 |
National ranges from HomeGuide's concrete driveway cost guide. College Station prices can differ, and removal, grading, thickness, the drive approach and the finish all change the total. Your written estimate is the price.
How It Works
1. Measure and check drainage
We measure, mark slopes and note roots, low spots and where the drive meets the curb.
2. Permit and prep
We file what the city requires, remove old concrete, compact the base and set forms and rebar.
3. Inspect and pour
After the reinforcement inspection, we pour early in the day, finish and cut joints.
4. Cure and hand over
The slab stays damp while it cures, and you get dates for walking, parking and sealing.
Concrete Driveways Questions
What thickness should my driveway be?
HomeGuide calls for at least 4 inches under ordinary cars, 5 to 6 inches where RVs or heavy trucks park, and 6 to 8 inches at the edges. We set the depth by what you drive and what the ground is like.
Is a permit needed to replace a driveway in College Station?
The city requires one to build or modify a drive approach or curb cut in the right-of-way, and for added paving over 120 square feet. The steel is inspected before the pour. We check your job against those rules and prepare the application.
Rebar or wire mesh?
Rebar set on chairs holds its position mid-slab and keeps cracked sections tied together better than mesh, which often sinks to the bottom during the pour. We use rebar in driveways and state bar size and spacing in the quote.
How many years will a concrete driveway last?
HomeGuide says up to about 30 years with basic care, and 40 or more with better materials and steady maintenance. Base prep, drainage and regular sealing are what push a drive toward the long end.
Can my existing driveway be made wider?
Yes, if the current slab is sound. We cut a straight edge, drill steel dowels into it to tie in the new strip, and match the surface as closely as we can. The new section will look a shade different at first.
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Get a Concrete Driveways Estimate
Free on-site driveway estimates in College Station and the Brazos Valley.