Looking for paver driveways in Crystal, MN? MN Tree Pros has been serving Crystal and the surrounding Twin Cities metro since 2008. We're licensed, insured, and locally owned — and we actually pick up the phone.
## Paver driveways A paver driveway is a serious upgrade in both looks and longevity — but only when it is built to driveway spec, not patio spec. The loads are completely different. ### Driveway spec vs patio spec | | Patio | Driveway | |---|---|---| | Base depth | 6 – 8 inches | **10 – 14 inches** | | Paver thickness | 60 mm | **80 mm minimum** | | Base material | Class 5 | Class 5, sometimes with geogrid | | Edge restraint | Standard | Heavy-duty, concrete toe at aprons | Anyone quoting 60 mm pavers or a 6 inch base for a driveway is building you a patio you park on. It will rut where the tires track. ### Options - **Concrete paver driveways** — the standard; 80 mm interlocking, sand-set on deep aggregate - **Permeable paver driveways** — open-graded base lets water drain through; helps enormously with city impervious-surface limits and eliminates the runoff sheet that becomes an ice slick - **Cobblestone and Belgian block borders** on asphalt or concrete — a fraction of the cost for much of the look - **Paver aprons and ribbons** at the street or garage - **Heated driveways** — hydronic loops under the pavers, zoned to the tire tracks or full field ### Planning ranges (Twin Cities, estimates) | Project | Typical range | |---|---| | Paver driveway, per sq ft | $22 – $38 | | Two-car driveway (600 sq ft) | $14,000 – $24,000 | | Long driveway (1,000 sq ft) | $22,000 – $40,000 | | Permeable upgrade | +$4 – $8 per sq ft | | Paver apron only | $2,500 – $6,000 | | Heated driveway | +$14 – $24 per sq ft | | Removal of old concrete/asphalt | $2 – $5 per sq ft | Estimates for planning. ### Paver vs concrete vs asphalt in freeze-thaw **Asphalt** is cheapest, needs sealing every few years, and softens in July heat. Expect 15 to 20 years. **Concrete** lasts 25 to 30 years but will crack somewhere — that is not a defect, it is what a rigid slab does over 42 inches of frost movement — and patched concrete always looks patched. **Pavers** cost the most up front and last 30 years or more, and critically, they are the only option that can be *repaired invisibly*. Dig up the affected area, fix the base, reset the same pavers. Plow note: pavers handle plows fine when the surface is even and edges are restrained. Use a plow shoe or a rubber-edged blade and skip the rock salt — a chloride-free deicer keeps the paver faces from spalling.
Why Crystal chooses MN Tree Pros
- · Free on-site estimates in Crystal
- · Licensed & fully insured
- · Same-day & 24/7 storm response
- · Cleanup included on every job
- · Local crew — no out-of-state subs
- · Honest, written pricing