Tempe driveway work is mostly replacement. Much of the city was built from the 1950s through the 1970s, and a lot of those homes still have the concrete driveway they came with. By now it's cracked, stained or dropped at the garage. Near ASU, driveways on older homes can be narrow and run tight to the house. Our job is to take it out, correct the slope and put a real base under the new pavers.
What a Tempe paver driveway runs
Most paver driveways we install in Tempe cost $5,000 to $10,000 for a typical two-car driveway of about 550 to 900 square feet in standard concrete pavers, base and labor included. (Side note: that's about $9 to $11 per square foot, so smaller Tempe driveways land near the low end.)
Things that push the total up or down:
- Removing old concrete: adds about $1,400 to $2,700.
- Tumbled pavers: the same driveway runs about $5,500 to $10,800.
- Borders: a contrasting-color border adds about $300 to $450, and a different border paver adds about $550 to $900.
- Pattern: no difference in price between herringbone, basketweave, running bond and random.
Worked example: a 550 square foot two-car driveway on a 1960s Tempe ranch house, replacing the original concrete, comes to about $6,400 to $7,700. Add a contrasting border and it's about $6,700 to $8,150. The measure sets your exact figure, and the estimator gives a rough one now.
Replacing original concrete on older Tempe homes
A concrete driveway from the 1960s or 1970s has had decades of sun, heat and tree roots working on it. Once a slab cracks, patching it just puts a new color next to an old one, and the crack usually comes back. Pavers sit on a flexible base, so they ride small movements instead of cracking, and a stained paver can be swapped out.
When the old slab comes out, we look hard at the grade. If the old driveway pitched toward the garage, or held water in a low spot, we correct it so water runs to the street. Next comes the base: 4 inches of ABC laid in lifts, each one soaked and compacted before the next goes on. Over that we screed bedding sand, lay the field and border, lock the edges with restraint, then sweep joint sand in and compact the whole surface. That buildup is what separates a 30-year driveway from one that dips in a couple of years.
Narrow driveways near ASU
In Maple-Ash and the older streets around ASU, homes date from the 1920s through the 1950s. Driveways on those lots can be narrow and run along the side of the house, close to walls and neighbors. That changes how we stage the job and how we cut the edges. Narrow runs also make layout mistakes obvious, so we set string lines and check grade from end to end before laying anything. Here's why string lines matter.
Flood irrigation and caliche next to the driveway
Tempe still delivers flood irrigation to about 850 homes. If your front yard is one of them, the driveway has to stay out of the flood. We set the driveway edge above the lawn, keep the base out of the water's reach, and make sure the berm stays intact along the drive. Where we hit caliche, the grade has to carry the water off, because it won't soak down. How we decide where driveway water drains goes into more detail.
Paver Driveways in Tempe: Frequently Asked Questions
What does a paver driveway run in Tempe?
Most run $5,000 to $10,000 for a typical two-car driveway in standard concrete pavers. Removing the old concrete adds about $1,400 to $2,700. A 550 square foot driveway with tear-out usually lands around $6,400 to $7,700.
My driveway is narrow and runs beside the house. Can it still be pavers?
Yes. Narrow driveways work well with pavers. We set string lines and grade from end to end so the edges stay straight and the water runs to the street, not toward the house.
Does my flood-irrigated front yard affect the driveway?
It can. The driveway edge goes in above the lawn, and the ABC stays clear of the flooded area, so the weekly irrigation water never soaks the base.
How deep is the base under a Tempe driveway?
Four inches of ABC, wetted and compacted in lifts. Above it go screeded bedding sand, the pavers, edge restraint along the sides and swept-in joint sand. Be wary of anyone who wants DG or quarter-minus under your driveway instead.
Does a new driveway in Tempe need anyone's sign-off?
In an HOA community like The Lakes, expect a review of the paver and color first. We supply samples and product names for that, and we confirm the city's and the association's requirements for your address before we book the work.