Concrete Driveway Installation and Replacement in Garland, TX
Garland Elite Concrete installs and replaces concrete driveways in Garland, Texas, from new and widened drives to tearing out a cracked or sunken slab and pouring it again. According to the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey, 47,274 of Garland's 86,216 housing units were built before 1980, and once a driveway is past the 30-year mark, full replacement is the most cost-effective option.
Call or send the form for a free estimate. We'll talk through the size, thickness and reinforcement your vehicles and soil call for, and the City's permit.
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New driveways and driveway extensions
A common plan allows at least 10 feet of width per vehicle, 12 feet preferred for a single drive, and 18 to 20 feet of length per car, or 22 to 24 feet for a full-size pickup. The finish can be a plain broom texture or stamped concrete pressed with a brick, slate, cobblestone or wood-plank pattern.
Coverage limits in Garland
Garland's Technical Standards Manual allows a home one driveway onto a public street, unless the Transportation Director approves a circular drive, and the City bars driveways covering more than 50% of the yard (65% for a circular drive with two approaches).
Widening an existing driveway
Widening needs the same city permit as a new pour. Where new concrete meets an old drive, sidewalk or curb, a felt or mastic expansion joint goes in to avoid heaving and cracks; the American Concrete Pavement Association sizes these joints at ½ to 1 inch wide, full depth.
The apron at the street
The approach in the city right-of-way follows the City's own detail: 5-inch Class "P1" concrete (4,000 psi) with #4 bars 18 inches apart each way, under a separate approach permit. Our driveway aprons page has the details.
Outside the city, Garland Elite Concrete also pours concrete driveways in Allen and nearby towns.
Call or request a free estimate any time, 24/7.
(945) 441-5958
Driveway replacement: repair or start over?
Seven signs point to a driveway that needs replacing: significant cracking, a badly spalled surface, poor drainage, sinking or settling, signs of neglect, age, and lack of curb appeal.
When repair is enough
Thin cracks of about ⅛ inch can often just be repaired; for wider ones, it's worth having a contractor check the slab's structure. A damaged section can be replaced on its own, though new concrete is hard to color-match with old. When the damage is limited, concrete driveway repair may be the better call.
Tear-out and the new pour
A driveway that is severely cracked or damaged should never be resurfaced. On a new slab, the usual timeline is to walk on it after 48 hours, drive a car on it after 7 to 10 days (keeping off the edges), and wait 30 days for all normal traffic.
Beyond the city line, Garland Elite Concrete also handles concrete driveway replacement in Rowlett.
Call or request a free estimate any time, 24/7.
(945) 441-5958
Thickness, rebar and joints
Thickness and reinforcement
Garland requires front- and side-yard driveways to be reinforced concrete or concrete pavers, with concrete 4 inches thick and Number 3 rebar 18 inches on center on rebar chairs. Four inches generally carries cars and SUVs of 3,000 to 6,000 pounds, while trucks or large RVs of 12,000 pounds or more may need 5 or 6 inches. By the Tennessee Concrete Association's figures, going from 4 to 5 inches adds about 20% to the concrete cost and nearly 50% to load capacity.
Mix, joints and slope
For exterior slabs, the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) advises ordering 4,000 psi concrete, consistent with ACI 332. On a 4-inch driveway, control joints go no more than 10 feet apart, cut a quarter of the slab depth; the Illinois Ready Mixed Concrete Association adds a centerline joint on drives wider than 12 feet. Portland Cement Association guidance calls for a driveway to slope toward the street by at least ⅛ inch per foot.
- Control joint cut ¼ of the slab depth
- Broom texture for a non-slip surface (NRMCA)
- 4 in. reinforced concrete (City of Garland)
- #3 rebar, 18 in. on center, on chairs (City of Garland)
- 2 to 8 in. crushed rock on expansive soil
- Houston Black clay subgrade (USDA)
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(945) 441-5958Clay soil, heat and Garland permits
Houston Black clay
The most common soil mapped inside Garland's city limits is Houston Black clay, and the USDA soil survey rates it "Very limited" for driveways and sidewalks because of high shrink-swell. In dry periods it cracks ½ to 4 inches wide, down to 12 inches or more. On expansive soil a driveway should sit on 2 to 8 inches of crushed rock, and poor subgrade preparation is one of the most common reasons a home slab gives out early. We'll talk through the base and drainage your lot needs.
Pouring in North Texas heat
Normal highs at DFW Airport are 95.6°F in July and 95.8°F in August (1991-2020 normals). The American Concrete Institute limits concrete to 95°F when it leaves the truck, and the NRMCA advises avoiding the hottest part of the day.
Permits and yard rules
Garland requires a permit to pour a new driveway or widen one; the City's Driveway / Sidewalk page lists it at $88, which is $70 plus an $18 processing fee. Parking on an unimproved surface is prohibited, and city approval doesn't replace any HOA approval. Rules change, so confirm them with the City's Building Inspection department.
Call or request a free estimate any time, 24/7.
(945) 441-5958
Driveway cost in the Dallas area
In 2026 Dallas-area figures, the average driveway comes to $6,598, with most projects falling between $2,784 and $14,950. Replacement adds site work, tied to Dallas's expansive clay: $1.10 to $1.80 per square foot to demolish an existing driveway, $1 to $2 for grading and leveling, and $2 to $4 where soil stabilization is needed.
These are published averages, not prices from Garland Elite Concrete. A real number needs a look at your site, and the estimate is free. Our guide to driveway cost in Garland goes through the numbers in more detail.
- 10 × 20 ft (200 sq ft)
- $1,000–$2,000
- 20 × 20 ft (400 sq ft)
- $2,000–$4,000
- 24 × 24 ft (576 sq ft)
- $2,900–$5,800
- 24 × 36 ft (864 sq ft)
- $4,300–$8,600
Typical Dallas-area driveway prices, 2026. Averages, not a quote.
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(945) 441-5958Driveway questions homeowners ask
How wide does a driveway need to be in Texas?
In Garland, the Technical Standards Manual sets a single-family driveway at 10 feet minimum and 24 feet maximum at the property line onto a street, up to 32 feet onto an alley where the garage faces it, and 10 to 16 feet for a circular drive.
Can I lay my own concrete driveway?
Garland requires a permit to pour or widen a driveway, and the approach in the city right-of-way needs its own permit. The City's walk-and-approach permit form says the permit holder must use only contractors bonded with the City of Garland, and its construction notes say work will not be accepted without a permit and city inspection.
Should I repair or replace my driveway?
Cracks or holes under ¼ inch can be filled or patched as a temporary fix, while larger cracks, spalling and discoloration can be covered with resurfacing or an overlay. Extensive spalling usually means tearing out and replacing the slab, and hidden causes such as tree roots or a leaking pipe eroding the base may leave replacement as the only option.
How much does a driveway extension cost?
In 2026 national figures, a driveway extension averages $1,900, ranging from $800 to $3,000, and a 200-square-foot concrete extension also averages $1,900. Curved edges take more forming labor than straight ones, and grading, retaining walls or removing stumps, trees or old paving add cost.
How long does a new driveway need to cure?
The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association says curing should start right after finishing and normally continue 3 to 7 days, and that concrete left to dry out can lose as much as 50 percent of its potential strength. Full curing runs about 28 days, and 30 days after the pour is a good time to seal.
Plan your new driveway with a free estimate
Garland Elite Concrete answers calls and estimate requests 24/7 for driveway installation, widening and replacement in Garland and nearby towns. Tell us the size of the drive and what's there now.