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Concrete Driveway Installation in Houston
Quick answer
We pour new and replacement concrete driveways across Houston. Most residential driveways take 4–6 working days from tear-out to final finish, then 7 days before you park on them. A broom-finish reinforced driveway runs $8–$14 per sq ft; stamped or colored runs $12–$20 per sq ft. Each estimate comes in writing, line by line.
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New Driveways
New lots start from bare dirt. We strip the topsoil, set grade so the slab falls toward the street, and pour a 4-inch reinforced slab for cars or a 6-inch slab where trucks and trailers park.
Tear-Out and Replacement
Most Houston driveway jobs are replacements of 30- to 50-year-old slabs with heaved or sunken panels. Tear-out and haul-off add $2–$6 per sq ft depending on thickness, steel and access.
Widening and Extensions
A strip along one side turns a single-car drive into room for two. We drill and dowel #4 bars into the old slab every 24 inches so the new section moves with it instead of sliding away.
Aprons and Culvert Drives
The apron is the section between the sidewalk or ditch and the street. In open-ditch areas the drive crosses a culvert pipe, and that part sits in the public right-of-way.
Finishes: Broom, Stamped and Exposed Aggregate
Broom finish is the standard: a light texture that grips in rain. Stamped driveways run $12–$20 per sq ft. Exposed aggregate adds $2–$5 per sq ft over broom finish and hides tire marks well.
Cost
How Much Does a Concrete Driveway Cost in Houston?
A broom-finish concrete driveway in Houston typically costs $8–$14 per sq ft installed with rebar. A standard 2-car driveway lands between $6,400 and $11,200 before tear-out. Typical Houston ranges:
| Job | Per sq ft | Example | Example total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car driveway, broom finish | $8–$14 | 12 × 40 ft (480 sq ft) | $3,850–$6,700 |
| 2-car driveway, broom finish | $8–$14 | 20 × 40 ft (800 sq ft) | $6,400–$11,200 |
| 2-car driveway, stamped or colored | $12–$20 | 20 × 40 ft (800 sq ft) | $9,600–$16,000 |
| Tear-out add-on, 1-car | $2–$6 | 480 sq ft | $950–$2,900 |
| Tear-out add-on, 2-car | $2–$6 | 800 sq ft | $1,600–$4,800 |
| 6-inch upgrade with heavier rebar | $2–$3 | 800 sq ft | $1,600–$2,400 |
| Exposed aggregate upcharge | $2–$5 | 800 sq ft | $1,600–$4,000 |
Built for Houston
Built for Houston: Heavy Loads on Wet Clay
A driveway carries more weight than any other slab on a lot. Houston's Beaumont clay under it swells when wet and shrinks in August. We dig out soft clay and organic soil, add 4–6 inches of compacted base, and thicken the slab edges to 6 inches where tires roll off.
Slope matters on flat lots. We set a fall of 1/8–1/4 inch per foot away from the garage so a 3-inch-per-hour storm runs to the street, not under the door. On lots that took water during Harvey or Beryl, we check the garage floor height against the street before setting grade.
In summer we start the truck at first light. Above 90°F we keep the slab damp or apply a curing compound so the surface does not dry ahead of the core.
Permits
Do You Need a Permit for a Driveway in Houston?
Inside City of Houston limits, yes for most driveway work. Houston Public Works issues a Residential Driveway, Sidewalk, or Curb & Gutter Permit under Chapter 40 of the City Code, through the Houston Permitting Center. It covers new driveways, removal and replacement, and driveway extensions.
Rules differ in suburbs with their own city codes. We tell you in the estimate whether your driveway needs one.
Concrete vs Asphalt vs Pavers for a Houston Driveway
| Factor | Concrete | Asphalt | Pavers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston cost | $8–$14 / sq ft broom finish | Usually lower upfront | Usually higher than broom concrete |
| Typical lifespan* | 25–40 years | 15–20 years | 30–50 years |
| In July heat | Stays hard; light color | Softens and scuffs under parked tires | Stays hard; color varies |
| Upkeep | Seal joints, optional sealer | Sealcoat every 2–3 years | Re-sand joints, treat weeds |
| On shifting clay | Cracks at planned joints | Ruts and alligator cracks | Units sink unevenly |
*Lifespans are typical industry figures, not a promise for any one driveway.
Typical Houston project
Before & After: Typical Houston Project
Typical project, Sharpstown: a 1960s 20 × 40 ft driveway with two heaved panels and a broken apron torn out and replaced with a 4-inch broom-finish slab on new base, rebar on chairs and dowels into the garage slab. Five working days from tear-out to final finish. Typical cost with tear-out: $8,000–$16,000.
Our Driveway Process
Site visit
we measure, check drainage to the street, note the culvert and apron, and price each line in writing.
Approvals
the estimate states which permit or HOA review applies and how it affects the start date.
Tear-out
old concrete broken and hauled off.
Base and forms
base compacted in lifts, forms set to slope, rebar tied on chairs, dowels drilled.
Pre-pour check
you can look over forms, slope and steel the day before the truck arrives.
Pour and finish
concrete placed, screeded, edged and broomed across the slope.
Joints and cure
control joints saw-cut the same day or next morning; curing compound applied.
Walkthrough
we walk the drive with you and leave written cure and care instructions.
Cure timeline: foot traffic after 24–48 hours, cars after 7 days, heavy trucks and RVs after 28 days, when the mix reaches design strength.
Why Houston Homeowners Choose Us for Driveways
Concrete Driveway Service Area
More neighborhoods appear on our Houston service page.
How much does a concrete driveway cost in Houston?
A concrete driveway in Houston typically costs $8–$14 per sq ft for broom finish with rebar, or $6,400–$11,200 for a 20 × 40 ft 2-car drive. Stamped or colored work runs $12–$20 per sq ft, and removing an old slab adds $2–$6 per sq ft.
Do I need a permit to replace a driveway in Houston?
Yes, inside city limits a driveway replacement usually needs a Houston Public Works permit under Chapter 40, with inspections before and after the pour. In unincorporated Harris County, the County Engineering Department permits driveways off county roads, and we tell you in the estimate whether your driveway needs one.
How thick should a Houston driveway be?
A Houston driveway for cars should be at least 4 inches thick with rebar, and 5–6 inches where trucks, trailers or RVs park.
How long before I can drive on a new concrete driveway?
Wait 7 days before parking a car on a new driveway. Walk on it after 24–48 hours, and keep heavy trucks off for 28 days.
Why do Houston driveways crack?
Houston driveways crack mainly because the clay under them swells in wet months and shrinks in drought. Thin slabs, missing rebar, poor base and control joints spaced too far apart turn that movement into random cracks.
Can I widen my existing driveway?
Yes, most driveways can be widened by pouring a new strip doweled into the old slab with steel bars. Inside city limits a widening counts as an extension under the driveway permit, and some HOAs limit total width.
Concrete or pavers for a Houston driveway?
Concrete usually costs less than pavers and needs less upkeep on a Houston driveway. Pavers cost more but can be reset one at a time when clay settles.
Get a Driveway Estimate in Houston
Run the calculator for a typical range, or send us your driveway size with a photo from the street, and we answer that same business day. Driveways are part of our residential concrete work, along with concrete patios and walkways.
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