Driveway pavers in Bellingham WA - laid on a solid base that carries your cars
Cracked asphalt, a muddy gravel drive or pavers that sink where you park? We build a paver driveway that holds up under your cars.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
What goes into a new paver driveway in Bellingham, from tear-out to the last paver?
A paver driveway in Bellingham, WA is a surface of interlocking concrete pavers set over a packed layer of crushed rock, built to carry cars every day and not just foot traffic. Most jobs also mean taking out the old asphalt or gravel, grading so water runs off, and sometimes holding back a slope along the edge.
Most people who call us have a driveway that's cracking, rutting or holding puddles, and they want something that looks good and stays put. The price mostly turns on the size, how deep the base has to go for your ground, whether an old surface has to come out first and which paver you pick, and the schedule turns on the weather, the time of year and what the office for your address asks for before we dig. If the drive runs along a bank, a retaining wall is usually planned at the same time, since the two share the grading. We're based in Bellingham and build driveways in many of the cities around it across Whatcom and Skagit counties, and when I come out I measure, look at the slope and the soil, and put the plan and price for your driveway in writing.
How do you know your driveway is ready for pavers?
Cracks and potholes in asphalt
Cracks that keep widening and patches that break up again usually mean water is getting under the asphalt and softening what holds it up. Each winter lets more water in, so the damage spreads and patching stops being worth the money.
Ruts and puddles in gravel
When tire tracks turn into ruts and the low spots hold water for days, the gravel has been pushed aside and the ground under it is soft. Waiting usually means more mud tracked into the house and more rock to haul in every year.
Pavers sinking where you park
Dips in an older paver drive, or pavers that rock when you step on them, usually point to a base that was too thin or got wet. Left alone, the low spots grow and the edges spread, so more of the drive has to be lifted and reset.
Work that often comes with a new driveway
Retaining wall construction
If your driveway is cut into a slope, a wall holds the bank back so soil and runoff stay off the new pavers.
Masonry restoration
Brick steps, pillars or a low wall beside the drive can look worn next to new pavers, and we can repair them while our crew is already there.
How we build a paver driveway that lasts
A driveway has to carry cars, so I steer you toward pavers made for vehicle traffic and we talk through the base underneath before we ever get to color and pattern. Thinner, larger paving slabs can flex and crack under a car, which is why interlocking concrete pavers are the usual pick, since they work for both driving and walking. A driveway also needs a thicker layer of crushed rock than a walkway does, and how thick depends on how strong and how wet your ground is, the climate and what you'll park on it, so if you're comparing quotes, ask each contractor how thick a base they plan. On the job, our crew digs out the old surface, spreads and packs the crushed rock in layers, levels a thin bed of sand, lays the pavers, sets an edge along the sides so they can't drift, then sweeps sand into the joints and packs the whole surface down.
The work around the drive matters too. Where the ground rises or drops beside it, retaining wall construction is often part of the same plan, and older brick steps, columns or edging next to the drive can be brought back through our masonry restoration work so the old masonry and the new pavers sit well together.
Interlocking concrete pavers
These suit most driveways because they lock together under tires and come in a wide range of shapes and colors. If one ever cracks or a section needs work, single pavers can be lifted out and reset.
Permeable pavers for cars
Gaps between the units let rainwater soak down into the soil instead of running off, which suits a lot where water already pools. Not every permeable paver is meant for cars, so we only propose ones that are.
Brick pavers
Brick suits an older brick house where concrete would look out of place, and I care about work that fits the house it's on. We use brick made for paving under cars, not wall brick.
Get a written estimate for your paver driveway
We reply within one business day to set a time, and I come out to give you a free written estimate with no obligation. Calling (360) 255-7006 works just as well.
Call (360) 255-7006Why people around Bellingham call us about paver driveways
The owner writes your estimate
I come out to every driveway myself and write the estimate, then our masons do the work while I check in with them and with you. The person who planned your base is the one making sure it gets built that way.
Licensed and insured, easy to check
We're licensed and insured. Before you hire anyone, the state's contractor lookup shows whether a business has an active registration, paid-up workers' comp for its employees and any safety violations.
Bases planned for wet winters
One local soil, the Whatcom series, can hold a perched water table, trapped groundwater sitting high in the soil, within 1.5 to 3 feet of the surface at times from December to April. That's why I ask about drainage early, since it's part of what sets how thick a driveway base needs to be.
From the supply counter, since 2013
I sold brick, block and stone to homeowners before I laid it, and we've been doing this work since 2013. I'd rather explain a choice twice than have you feel rushed into it.
On a driveway, the part that decides how long it lasts is the part you never see once it's done. Ask us to come look at yours and we'll start with what's underneath.
What happens after you call about a paver driveway?
Call or send a request
Call (360) 255-7006 or use the form, and we'll set a time to come look at the driveway. Tell us where the house is, since that decides whose rules apply.
I walk the driveway with you
I look at the slope, the drainage and what's under the current surface, and answer whatever you want to ask. You get a written estimate that spells out the base, the paver, the edging and the price, so you know the cost before anything starts.
We check permits, set a start
Once you're ready, we check with the office that covers your address and tell you what it says, and if a permit is needed we help you sort out the application. Then we pick a start that suits the weather and any season limits where you live.
Our masons build the driveway
Our masons do the digging, the base, the laying and the cleanup. I check in with them and with you along the way, so you're not left guessing how it's going.
Common questions
How much does a paver driveway cost in Bellingham?
A sand-based concrete or brick paver driveway in Bellingham usually costs about $17 to $21 per square foot, not counting removal of an old driveway. Where yours lands depends mostly on how deep the base has to go, the paver you choose and how easy the site is to work on. I'll measure and put your figure in writing, and the finished work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
How do I find out if my paver driveway needs a stormwater permit in Bellingham?
Compare the size of your project with the city's thresholds, then confirm with the permit center. Bellingham issues stormwater permits when new development disturbs over 500 square feet, or when a building permit adds 300 square feet or more of hard surface. How your own project is classified is the city's call, so ask the City of Bellingham Permit Center at 360-778-8300 or permits@cob.org, and we'll check it for your address before work starts.
When can driveway work happen near Lake Whatcom?
In the Lake Whatcom watershed, digging, grading and other work that exposes soil can only happen from June 1 to September 30, and all exposed soil has to be covered by October 1. The Lake Whatcom Management Program also says Bellingham requires mitigation for any new or replaced hard surface of 120 square feet or more there, and the county requires it for new hard surface over 200 square feet outside city limits. Paving an existing gravel driveway is one of the projects those rules name, so tell us early if you're in the watershed and we'll plan a summer install.
Can permeable pavers handle a car?
Some can, but not every kind. The state's stormwater manual says aggregate pavers, sometimes called pervious pavers, are meant for pedestrian use only. If you want a permeable driveway, ask any contractor which class of permeable paver they're proposing before you sign.
Can I replace my asphalt driveway with pavers?
Yes, and industry guidance says the base thickness used under asphalt can typically be used under interlocking concrete pavers too. That doesn't tell us whether your old rock is still in good shape, so once the asphalt is off, we look at what's underneath before we build on it.
How do I get underground lines marked before a driveway is dug?
Check with your local utility companies before anyone digs, so the work stays clear of buried pipes and wires. In many places one phone number handles it, and you call at least two days before excavation starts. We make sure lines are marked before our crew breaks ground.
Start planning your paver driveway
Have your driveway's rough size in square feet, what's on it now and whether you're in the Lake Whatcom watershed ready, then call (360) 255-7006, use the form or email sales@bellinghamconcreteandmasonry.com so we can talk through your job on the first call.