Paver driveways, precision-laid.

Mostly what happens below the surface. A driveway carries vehicle weight, so it needs thicker pavers and a deeper compacted base than a patio, and that base is a large part of the job. On top of that: the square footage, whether an old concrete or asphalt driveway has to be broken out and hauled away, the paver itself (concrete pavers, travertine or natural stone), how intricate the pattern is, since a herringbone or a curved border means far more cutting, any drainage work to keep water off the garage, tree roots that need dealing with, and the permits for the apron where the driveway meets the street. Two driveways of the same size can land in very different places, which is why a real number comes after we have seen the site rather than over the phone.

Pavers handle ground movement and root pressure without cracking, and a damaged section can be lifted and replaced invisibly — which matters on lots with mature trees. Poured concrete is cheaper up front and reads cleaner, but cracks are inevitable over time and repairs stay visible. Pavers also let water through the joints rather than sheeting it toward the street or the garage door.

Usually yes, and frequently more than one. Many South Florida municipalities treat a driveway as both an impervious-surface question and a right-of-way question, especially where the apron meets the public road — that section often needs separate approval from the city or county. Requirements vary between Miami, Coral Gables, Key Biscayne and Hialeah. We confirm what applies to your address and handle the submissions.

Yes, and using the wrong one is a common and expensive mistake. A driveway carries vehicle loads, so it needs thicker units and a deeper compacted base than a patio does. Thin patio pavers laid on a patio base will crack and rut under a car within a season or two. The surface can be matched visually between a driveway and an adjacent patio, but what sits underneath is built differently.

Often, and the answer depends on the tree as much as the driveway. Resurfacing over roots that are still growing buys a couple of years at most. The durable fix addresses the roots first — sometimes root pruning with an arborist, sometimes rerouting the driveway around the tree — and then rebuilds in pavers, which flex with future movement instead of cracking. Removing a mature tree may itself require a municipal permit in South Florida.

Sometimes, and the limit is usually your municipality rather than the space available. Many South Florida cities cap how much of a front yard may be paved and set minimum setbacks from the property line, because impervious surface affects stormwater drainage. Some also restrict a second curb cut onto the street. It is worth checking before design, since the answer changes what is worth drawing.

Somewhere by design, or somewhere by accident — and the accidental answer is usually the garage. A driveway is sloped and detailed so runoff leaves toward the street or a drain rather than pooling at the garage door or draining into a neighbour’s lot. Permeable paver joints help by letting part of the volume through instead of shedding all of it. South Florida storms are short and heavy, so a slope that copes with drizzle can still flood a threshold in a real downpour.

It is optional and it is a trade. Sealing deepens the colour, makes oil and rust easier to lift, and helps stabilise joint sand. Against that, it has to be redone periodically, and a glossy sealer can look wet and get slick when it rains. Unsealed pavers weather to a softer, more natural tone and simply need the joints topped up over time. Neither choice is wrong; it depends on whether you prefer the saturated look or less upkeep.

A paver driveway is generally usable almost immediately once the units are laid, compacted and the joints are filled, which is a real advantage if you only have one way in. Poured concrete needs to cure before it carries vehicle weight — as a rule of thumb roughly a week before light traffic, with full strength closer to a month. We confirm the actual window for your job before we leave the site, because parking on green concrete is the fastest way to ruin a new slab.

Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach — including Key Biscayne, Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, Miami Beach, Pinecrest, Hialeah and Fort Lauderdale, and further up the state including Tampa Bay. Driveways are often done alongside a patio or walkway in the same visit, which avoids paying twice to mobilise equipment and keeps the paving consistent across the property.