Installing a Paver Driveway: A Prescott Homeowner's Guide

Installing a paver driveway is one of the smartest upgrades you can make to your home here in Prescott. It’s a project that delivers instant curb appeal and long-term value, but only when it's done right. If you're a homeowner in Prescott, Prescott Valley, or anywhere in Northern Arizona, you've come to the right place for clear, expert answers.

At R.E. and Sons Landscaping, we help local homeowners solve a common problem: replacing cracked, failing, or outdated driveways with beautiful, durable paver systems built to handle our unique climate. We’ve completed over 2,500 projects right here in the area, so we understand the challenges of our expansive clay soils and intense monsoon seasons. This guide shares our real-world experience to help you understand what goes into installing a paver driveway that will last for decades.

Why is a paver driveway a smart investment in Prescott?

A paver driveway is a smart investment in Prescott because it is a flexible, interlocking system that can withstand our region's intense freeze-thaw cycles without cracking like a solid slab of concrete. This design allows for microscopic movements with the ground, dramatically increasing its lifespan to 25-50 years or more when installed correctly. A professionally installed paver driveway adds significant curb appeal and property value that lasts.

The Real Difference Between DIY and Professional Installation

While putting in a paver driveway can technically be a DIY project, the difference between an amateur job and a professional one becomes painfully obvious after just a few years. It all comes down to the work you can't see—the stuff happening below the surface. A professional installation guarantees the proper excavation depth, obsessive base compaction, and correct drainage. Those are the three pillars of a driveway that will last for decades.

Many homeowners don't realize the sheer amount of physical labor and specialized equipment this job requires. Deciding whether to tackle it yourself or hire a licensed professional (our AZ ROC is #300642) is the first big choice you'll make.

To help you see the full picture, we’ve put together a quick comparison of what each path really looks like.

Key Differences Between DIY and Professional Paver Installation

This table breaks down the crucial factors to consider when deciding between a DIY installation and hiring a professional landscaping company like R.E. and Sons.

Factor	DIY Approach	Professional Service (R.E. and Sons)
Equipment	Requires renting heavy machinery like a plate compactor, skid steer, and wet saw. This can be costly and requires experience to operate safely.	We arrive with all necessary professional-grade equipment, ensuring efficiency and precision without any rental hassles for you.
Base Preparation	Often the weakest point of a DIY project. Improper compaction of the gravel base is the #1 cause of sinking and uneven pavers.	We excavate to the correct depth based on soil type and compact the aggregate base in layers for maximum stability, backed by our experience.
Time & Labor	A physically demanding project that can take multiple weekends or even weeks to complete, disrupting your home and schedule.	Our experienced crew typically completes a standard driveway installation in a matter of days, minimizing disruption and delivering a finished product quickly.
Expertise & Warranty	You are responsible for all mistakes and there is no warranty. Fixing a failed base can be more expensive than the initial installation.	Our work is guaranteed. As a licensed, bonded, and insured contractor, we stand behind our installations, giving you complete peace of mind.

Ultimately, choosing a pro is about protecting your investment and ensuring the job is done right from the very start, saving you from costly headaches later on.

The success of your driveway isn't just about the pavers you can see; it's about the meticulously prepared foundation you can't. This is where professional expertise becomes invaluable, especially in the variable soil conditions around Prescott. To better understand the value they bring, you can learn more about the benefits of using pavers for outdoor landscaping in our detailed guide.

How do you prepare for a paver driveway installation?

A beautiful, long-lasting paver driveway starts well before you ever lay the first stone. Solid planning is everything, especially here in Northern Arizona. Our expansive clay soil and intense monsoon season can quickly ruin a poorly planned project. Honestly, this first phase is where the success of your entire installation is decided.

At R.E. and Sons Landscaping, we treat this stage with the respect it deserves, whether we're working on a sloped property in Prescott or a sprawling yard in Prescott Valley. Skipping these steps is like building a house without a blueprint—it’s just a recipe for failure down the road.

This isn’t just about marking out a space; it’s about understanding what your specific property needs to create a driveway that will look great for decades to come.

How do I measure and calculate materials?

First things first, you need to get an accurate measurement of your driveway's length and width. Multiply those two numbers together, and you've got your total square footage. This number is the starting point for all your material orders.

But here’s a common mistake we see all the time: ordering the exact square footage. You absolutely must account for cuts and potential waste.

The professional rule of thumb is to add an extra 10% to 15% to your total square footage for all materials—pavers, base rock, and bedding sand. This gives you a buffer for angled cuts, mistakes, or a few broken pavers that always seem to show up on the pallet.

So, if you have a 400-square-foot driveway, you should actually be ordering enough material to cover at least 440 square feet. To get these numbers dialed in perfectly, we often use tools like the Exayard landscape takeoff software to calculate precise quantities for pavers, base materials, and everything else.

Why do I need to check for permits and utilities?

Before a single shovel hits the dirt, there are two checks that are completely non-negotiable: locating underground utility lines and confirming local permit requirements. Hitting a gas or water line isn't just a costly headache; it's incredibly dangerous.

Always call 811 (Arizona 811) at least a few days before you plan to start digging. It’s a free service, and they’ll send crews out to mark the location of all buried utility lines.

• Gas lines (usually marked in yellow)

• Electric lines (marked in red)

• Water and sewer lines (marked in blue and green)

• Communication cables (marked in orange)

On top of that, the City of Prescott and Yavapai County often require permits for new driveways, particularly where they connect to a public road. This is to make sure your project meets local building codes for safety and proper water drainage. As a licensed contractor (AZ ROC #300642), we handle this entire permitting process for our clients.

What is the right slope for a paver driveway?

Proper drainage might just be the single most critical part of site prep, especially with our summer monsoons. You have to build a gentle slope into the driveway to guide water away from your home’s foundation.

The industry standard is a grade of at least 1% to 2%. What that means is the driveway should drop about a quarter-inch for every foot of length. It’s a subtle slope you won’t even notice when you walk on it, but it’s powerful enough to keep water from pooling and causing serious damage.

We use transit levels and string lines to meticulously set this grade, making sure water flows exactly where we want it—away from your house. This step is what prevents costly foundation problems and paver settlement later on. Of course, your material choices play a big role in longevity, too, which you can read more about in our guide to choosing the best pavers for your Prescott landscape.

What is the most important part of installing a paver driveway?

The most important part of installing a paver driveway is building a bulletproof foundation. At R.E. and Sons Landscaping, we can tell you that cutting corners here is the single biggest mistake we see, and it almost always leads to sinking, shifting, and expensive future repairs.

This is the most labor-intensive part of installing a paver driveway, but it's where the real quality is built.

A proper base acts like the frame of a house—it distributes the weight of vehicles evenly and provides a stable, unmoving platform for the pavers. Without it, even the most expensive pavers will fail. This is why our team in Prescott is so meticulous about this stage; we know it’s the difference between a driveway that looks good for a year and one that performs flawlessly for decades.

How deep should I dig for the driveway base?

For a standard paver driveway designed to support cars and trucks, you need to excavate between 7 and 12 inches deep. The exact depth really depends on the soil type you're dealing with on your property.

Here in the Prescott area, we often run into expansive clay soil. In those cases, we always dig deeper, closer to the 12-inch mark. This allows for a thicker gravel base, which is absolutely necessary to prevent the shifting and heaving that clay is known for. A driveway for heavy vehicles like an RV might require an even deeper excavation.

Our guide to understanding Prescott’s soil types for better landscaping offers more local context on this critical factor.

What is geotextile fabric and why is it important?

Once the area is excavated, the very first layer we install is a professional-grade geotextile fabric. Think of this material as a separator and a stabilizer. It’s laid down across the entire excavated area before a single piece of gravel goes in.

Its main job is to prevent the gravel base from mixing with the native soil below. Over time, that soil can work its way up into the gravel, compromising the stability of the entire system. Geotextile fabric stops this from happening, ensuring your base remains pure and strong.

This simple addition does more than just stabilize. Industry data shows using geotextile fabric can also cut down on weed growth by up to 60%, which is a huge benefit for long-term maintenance.

Why is compacting the gravel base so important?

After the fabric is down, we start building the base itself. For driveways in Northern Arizona, we use Aggregate Base Course (ABC), a specific mix of crushed stone and gravel that compacts incredibly well.

The base has to be built up in layers, or "lifts," of 2-3 inches at a time. This layered approach is non-negotiable. You can't just dump 6 inches of gravel in and compact the top layer. Each lift must be spread evenly, then pounded down with a heavy plate compactor until it's rock solid.

We repeat this process until the base reaches the required thickness, which is typically between 4 and 8 inches for a residential driveway.

Applying the right soil stabilization techniques here is critical to building a base that will support your pavers for years. This obsessive compaction ensures there are no air pockets and that the base won't settle over time under the weight of vehicles. It’s a tedious process, but it’s the only way to guarantee a truly bulletproof foundation.

How are pavers laid for a professional finish?

You've put in the hard work to build a solid, compacted foundation. Now comes the best part—the moment your paver driveway really starts to take shape. This is where individual stones come together to form a strong, beautiful, and interlocking surface. The techniques we use here are what separate a high-quality, professional job from an amateur one.

This whole phase boils down to precision. At R.E. and Sons Landscaping, we know from experience that the way pavers are laid, cut, and secured determines not just how they look today, but how they’ll hold up for years under the weight of your vehicles. It’s a process that definitely requires patience and a good eye for detail.

Why is bedding sand so important?

Before a single paver touches the ground, we need to lay down a perfectly uniform layer of bedding sand. This isn’t just any sand from the hardware store; it's a specific type of coarse, angular sand that helps with drainage and gives the pavers a firm cushion to settle into.

The magic number here is a consistent 1-inch layer. Get this wrong, and you'll run into problems down the road. Too much sand, and the pavers will shift around. Too little, and they won't have enough cushion, leading to a bumpy, uneven surface.

We get it perfectly flat by using long metal pipes as guides (we call them screed rails) and a dead-straight board to level the sand. This is the single most important step for ensuring your final driveway is smooth and free of low spots.

This simple flow shows how the previous steps—excavation, fabric, and gravel—all lead up to this crucial sand layer.

It’s a great reminder that everything rests on the work you've already done. Each layer supports the next.

What is the best laying pattern for a paver driveway?

Your choice of pattern is about more than just looks—it’s about structural strength. While patios can get away with more decorative layouts, driveways need patterns with maximum interlock to fight against the pushing and turning forces of tires.

• Herringbone Pattern: This is the gold standard for driveways, hands down. By setting the pavers at a 45 or 90-degree angle, you create an incredibly strong interlock that prevents the pavers from shifting. It's the pattern we recommend most often for our projects right here in Prescott.

• Running Bond: This is that classic, brick-like pattern. It’s still a solid choice, but its long, continuous joint lines make it slightly less resistant to spreading apart under vehicle traffic compared to a herringbone.

A pro tip is to always start laying pavers from a fixed edge, like your garage slab or the foundation of your house, and then work your way out. We stretch string lines across the project area to make sure every single row stays perfectly straight.

How do you cut and fit pavers perfectly?

You’d be hard-pressed to find a paver project that doesn't require some cuts to fit around edges, curves, or drains. Clean, precise cuts are a true hallmark of professional work. For this, the only tool for the job is a diamond-blade wet saw.

A wet saw sprays a stream of water on the blade as it cuts, which keeps dust down and prevents the blade from overheating. The result is a crisp, factory-like edge that fits snugly into place. Don't even think about using a chisel and hammer; you’ll just end up with broken pavers and a sloppy finish.

Pro Tip: Always measure twice and cut once. When you mark a paver for a cut, remember to account for the small joint space (usually about 1/8 inch) between pavers. This ensures you get that tight, consistent fit across the entire driveway.

Why do you need edge restraints?

Edge restraints are the unsung heroes of a paver driveway. This is a non-negotiable step. They are heavy-duty plastic or metal strips installed along the entire perimeter and anchored deep into the gravel base with long metal spikes.

Their job is simple but critical: provide lateral support. They lock the entire system of pavers together, preventing the edges from slowly spreading apart over time. Without them, the outer pavers would shift, creating a domino effect that would eventually cause the whole driveway to fail. This is the step that frames and protects your investment for the long haul.

How do you lock pavers together?

This is where the magic happens. The final steps of installing a paver driveway are what take a bunch of individual stones and turn them into a single, interlocking surface built to last for decades. These finishing touches—jointing, compaction, and sealing—are absolutely essential for durability, especially here in Northern Arizona.

At R.E. and Sons Landscaping, we know these last moments are what lock in the quality of all the hard work that came before. This is where the strength of the system truly comes to life, making sure your driveway can handle everything from truck tires to our powerful monsoon storms.

Why is polymeric sand the best choice for driveways?

When it comes to filling the joints, you have two options: regular sand or polymeric sand. For a driveway, the choice is clear.

Regular joint sand might be okay for a simple garden path in a mild climate, but it’s just not tough enough for a driveway in our area. It will wash out during the first heavy Prescott downpour or get blown away by the wind, leaving your pavers loose and vulnerable.

This is why we almost always use polymeric sand for driveway projects. It’s a mix of fine sand and special polymers that, once activated with a light mist of water, harden up to form a firm yet flexible joint.

This hardened sand gives you several key advantages:

• It locks the pavers together, creating a powerful bond that solidifies the entire surface.

• It resists weeds and insects. The hard surface makes it extremely difficult for weeds to sprout or ants to build nests between your pavers.

• It prevents washout. Once it cures, it stays put, even during the most intense summer monsoons.

How do you apply polymeric sand correctly?

Applying polymeric sand is a meticulous process. It requires perfectly dry conditions and careful attention to detail—the goal is to fill every joint completely without leaving a hazy residue on the paver surface.

First, you pour the sand over the dry driveway and use a push broom to sweep it across the surface and down into all the joints. Then, you absolutely must run a plate compactor over the entire driveway. This crucial step vibrates the sand deep into the gaps, settling it and removing any hidden air pockets. You’ll probably need to sweep in a little more sand and repeat the compaction to get the joints perfectly full.

Finally, after using a leaf blower to get every last grain of sand off the paver tops, you gently mist the driveway with a hose to activate the polymers. This is a delicate balance. You need just enough water to saturate the sand in the joints, but not so much that you wash it out before it has a chance to set.

Should I seal my new paver driveway?

While it’s not strictly required, sealing your new paver driveway is an excellent final step that we highly recommend. Think of it as sunscreen for your investment. The intense Prescott sun can fade the color of pavers over time, but a good quality sealer provides critical UV protection to keep them looking vibrant.

Sealing does more than just protect the color. It also creates a barrier against oil leaks, tire marks, and other stains, which makes cleanup significantly easier. A sealed surface preserves that rich, just-installed look for years to come.

The durability and appeal of pavers are major reasons why they’re becoming so popular. The global paver blocks market is projected to grow to USD 7.5 billion by 2034. Features like permeable options, which can reduce water runoff by 70-90%, are also boosting property values. Investing in these final steps ensures you get the maximum value and longevity from your new driveway. You can dive deeper by reviewing the complete market analysis about paver block industry trends.

Frequently Asked Questions About Paver Driveways in Prescott

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3ObsoGmWts

Homeowners in Prescott and Prescott Valley often have great questions when considering a new paver driveway. The team at R.E. and Sons Landscaping believes in making sure you have all the information you need, so here are answers to some of the most common things we get asked.

How much does a paver driveway cost in the Prescott area?

The final cost really depends on the materials you choose, the size of your driveway, and how much prep work the site needs. Generally, Prescott homeowners can expect a professional installation to run between $12 and $25 per square foot. This range covers everything from straightforward, classic designs to more intricate, premium paver options.

While tackling it yourself saves on labor costs, don't forget to budget for equipment rentals, material delivery fees, and the value of your own time. At R.E. and Sons Landscaping, we provide a detailed, complimentary estimate so you see the full picture with no surprises.

How long will a paver driveway last in our Arizona climate?

When installed correctly, a paver driveway is one of the toughest, most resilient choices for Northern Arizona, easily lasting 25 to 50 years—and often much longer. The secret is in the interlocking system. Unlike a solid slab of concrete that will inevitably crack with our freeze-thaw cycles, pavers have built-in flexibility to shift slightly with the ground.

The real key to that longevity is a perfectly compacted base. The team at R.E. and Sons can also help with routine cleaning and joint re-sanding down the road to ensure your driveway looks fantastic for decades.

A big consideration for durability in our dry climate is how a driveway manages our monsoon rains. Permeable pavers are becoming a popular and sustainable choice for a reason. The market for permeable gravel pavers is expected to hit USD 2.6 billion by 2032 because they allow 30-50% more water infiltration than solid surfaces, which helps reduce runoff and flooding. This makes them a smart solution for Northern Arizona. You can find more insights on this sustainable paver technology on dataintelo.com.

Can I just install a paver driveway myself?

You certainly can, provided you have the right equipment, a strong back, and a good amount of free time. But make no mistake, it's a very labor-intensive job that requires a lot of precision. The base preparation is especially critical—if you don't get the compaction right, the whole driveway can sink and fail.

For most homeowners here in Prescott, hiring a licensed and insured professional like R.E. and Sons Landscaping is a smarter investment. It guarantees the job is done right the first time, comes with a warranty, and saves you from what can be weeks of grueling work.

Do I need a permit for a new driveway in Prescott?

In most situations, yes. Both the City of Prescott and the Town of Prescott Valley typically require a permit for new driveway installations. This is to make sure your project meets local codes for proper drainage and placement, particularly where it connects to a public street.

As a licensed contractor (AZ ROC #300642), R.E. and Sons Landscaping handles the entire permitting process for our clients. We take care of the paperwork and ensure full compliance, so you don't have to worry about it.

What kind of maintenance does a paver driveway need?

Paver driveways are known for being low-maintenance, but they aren't zero-maintenance. A little upkeep goes a long way in keeping your driveway looking its best.

• Routine Cleaning: Simply sweeping your driveway regularly keeps dirt and debris from building up. For deeper cleaning, a pressure washer on a low setting with a wide-angle nozzle works wonders.

• Weed Control: The polymeric sand we use in the joints is a fantastic weed deterrent. If an occasional stubborn weed manages to sprout, it's usually easy to pull by hand or treat with a spot weed killer.

• Re-sanding and Sealing: Every 3 to 5 years, it's a good idea to have the joints inspected and the driveway resealed. Sealing is crucial for protecting the pavers from stains and preventing the intense Arizona sun from fading their color.

Our maintenance department at R.E. and Sons Landscaping can handle all of this for you, making sure your investment stays pristine year after year.

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Your dream outdoor space is just a conversation away. If you're ready to enhance your home's curb appeal with a driveway that’s built to last, the team at R.E. and Sons Landscaping is here to help. Schedule your complimentary design consultation today and let's bring your vision to life in Prescott. https://www.reandsonslandscaping.com