Dallas, TX · Concrete Driveways
Concrete Driveways in Dallas
New and replacement concrete driveways in Dallas, from front drives and alley entries to the drive approach at the street, built for clay that moves.
01 — What this covers
The work itself
- Full driveway replacement with removal and haul-off
- Replacing broken or heaved sections
- Drive approaches at the street, built to city standards
- Alley-access driveways and rear parking pads
- Driveway widening and extra parking
- Broom, exposed aggregate and decorative borders
- Driveway leveling and crack repair
- Sealing new concrete
02 — Detail
Why so many Dallas driveways crack
A driveway is a large, thin slab lying on some of the most expansive clay in Texas. When the soil swells after a wet spring and shrinks during a dry summer, the slab is lifted in some places and left hanging in others. Over the years that shows up as a crack across the middle, a panel that tilts, or a gap between the drive and the garage slab.
Trees make it worse. Large oaks and pecans pull a lot of water out of the clay in summer, and the soil near them shrinks more than the rest. The driveway next to a big tree often settles faster than the part in the open.
None of that means concrete is the wrong choice. It means the base, the steel, the thickness and the joints have to be designed for movement, and drainage has to keep water from pooling at the edges.
03 — Detail
Building a driveway that lasts
On a replacement, the old concrete is broken out and hauled away, soft or organic soil is removed, and a compacted base is laid. Most residential driveways in Dallas are poured about four to five inches thick with rebar on a grid, set on chairs so it stays in the middle of the slab where it does its job.
Control joints are cut at regular spacing so the slab cracks along straight lines rather than randomly. Expansion material goes where the driveway meets the garage slab, the sidewalk and the street, because those pieces move differently.
A broom finish gives grip in rain and is the most common choice. Exposed aggregate and decorative borders cost more but hide stains and wear, and a border in a contrasting color can make an ordinary driveway look finished.
04 — Detail
The drive approach and the city's rules
The drive approach is the section between the sidewalk and the street, including the curb cut. In Dallas it sits in the public right-of-way, so working on it requires a city permit, and its width, slope and connection to the gutter follow city standards.
This is the part most often damaged by trucks, tree roots and the curb settling. If you replace your driveway all the way to the street or want to widen the entrance, the estimate should include the permit and the approach built to code, not just the part on your lot.
The city has run a residential sidewalk cost-share program, but under its terms the owner pays the full cost of drive approach work. If your sidewalk is also broken, ask the contractor whether doing both together makes sense.
05 — Detail
Alley drives and rear parking
Many Dallas neighborhoods, from Oak Cliff and East Dallas to the postwar subdivisions of Lake Highlands and Far North Dallas, have alleys behind the houses, and the garage faces the back. Those driveways are short but take a lot of turning traffic, and the joint where they meet the alley paving is a common failure point.
The alley itself usually belongs to the city, so the same right-of-way rules can apply where your drive connects to it. A contractor who works in Dallas regularly will know where your property ends and what can be done without a permit.
Rear parking pads for a boat, trailer or extra car are also popular. They need a thicker slab and a well compacted base if they will carry heavy loads.
06 — Detail
Repair, leveling or replacement
Not every cracked driveway needs to be torn out. Narrow cracks on a slab that is still level can be cleaned and sealed to keep water out of the base. A panel that has sunk but is still in one piece can sometimes be lifted with foam or slurry, which costs far less than replacing it.
Replacement makes sense when the slab is broken into several pieces, keeps moving every year, or was poured too thin without steel. Replacing only the worst sections is possible, but new concrete will not match the color of the old exactly.
The contractor will tell you which option fits your driveway and why, before you commit to anything.
07 — Detail
Timing, curing and when you can drive on it
Concrete is usually ready for foot traffic after a day or two and for cars after about a week, depending on the mix and the weather. Heavier trucks should wait longer. In a Dallas summer, pours start early in the morning and the slab is kept moist or sealed so it cures evenly instead of drying too fast.
In winter the contractor waits for a stretch of nights above freezing, or protects the fresh slab with blankets. Pouring just before a hard freeze, like the ones North Texas saw in February 2021, risks a weak, flaking surface.
Plan where you will park during the work, and let your neighbors know if the alley or the street side will be blocked for part of a day.
How we work
Step by step
- 01
Call to discuss size, removal, the street side and any alley access.
- 02
Site visit to measure, check drainage, trees, the curb and the approach.
- 03
Written estimate including removal, base, steel and city permit if needed.
- 04
Tear-out, base preparation, forms and steel, then the pour and finish.
- 05
Joint cutting, curing, and a clear date for when the car can go back on.
What it costs
Driveway pricing depends on size, thickness, steel, removal and haul-off of old concrete, access, the drive approach and permit, and the finish. Exposed aggregate and borders cost more than broom.
Questions
Concrete Driveways — asked and answered
How thick should a driveway be in Dallas?
Most residential driveways are about four to five inches thick with rebar. Thicker slabs make sense for heavy trucks, RVs or trailers.
Is rebar better than wire mesh?
Rebar set on chairs stays in the middle of the slab and holds cracked pieces together better, which matters on Dallas clay. Mesh often ends up on the ground during the pour.
Do I need a permit for a new driveway?
Work on the drive approach and sidewalk is in the public right-of-way and needs a City of Dallas permit. The contractor will include it when the work reaches the street.
How long until I can park on new concrete?
Usually about a week for cars, longer for heavy vehicles, depending on the weather and the mix.
Can you replace just part of my driveway?
Yes, between joints. The new section will be a different shade from the old for a while, and the rest of the driveway may keep moving if the cause is not fixed.
Also
Other services
Stamped Concrete
Stamped concrete patios, pool decks, walks and entries in Dallas, with patterns and colors chosen for the…
Polished Concrete
Ground and polished concrete floors in Dallas homes, garages, studios and shops, from a satin finish to high…
Concrete Repair
Concrete repair in Dallas for cracked driveways, broken sidewalks, flaking surfaces, chipped steps and failed…
Concrete Patios
New concrete patios, patio extensions, slabs for covered patios and outdoor kitchens in Dallas, planned for…
Concrete Leveling
Concrete leveling in Dallas to lift sunken driveways, walks, patios and pool decks back into place with foam…