Paver walkways and driveways
A front walk or driveway is the first thing people see. Pavers can make it look better and stay flatter through Northern Colorado winters.
Walkways and driveways take more abuse than a backyard patio. Shoveling, ice melt, snow piled along the edges for weeks, and in the case of driveways, a vehicle rolling over the same strip every day. A paver walk or driveway handles that when the base is built for it, and a section that heaves over the winter can be lifted and reset instead of jackhammered out.
What projects are common?
- Front walks from the driveway or sidewalk to the porch
- Side-yard and backyard paths to gates, sheds, gardens and the alley
- Steps and landings where the yard rises toward the door
- Driveway borders and widening strips beside existing concrete
- Full paver driveways replacing cracked or heaved slabs
Who handles the sidewalk and approach?
The City of Fort Collins requires a Sidewalk and Drive Approach Permit for work on sidewalks or driveway approaches, and the contractor doing that work must hold a valid City Right-of-Way Contractor's License for that work category. An excavation permit is needed for cutting in the city right-of-way. If your project runs out to the public sidewalk, ask the contractor whether they hold that license and what the city allows in that section. Loveland, Windsor and Wellington handle right-of-way work through their own public works offices.
What makes a walk or driveway last?
- A deeper compacted base under driveways than under walks
- Pavers rated for vehicles, often laid in a herringbone pattern that resists creeping
- A strong edge restraint so tires and snow shovels don't push units outward
- Drainage toward the street or yard, never toward the garage or foundation
- Joint sand that's topped up after the first season
Snow and ice
With around 51 inches of snow in an average Fort Collins year, plan how you'll clear it. Plastic shovel blades and snow blowers with skid shoes set slightly high are easier on pavers. Ask the contractor and paver maker which ice melt products they recommend for the units you choose.
Every yard is different, so the contractor prices the job after walking the site, checking the soil and grade, and talking through the layout and pavers you like. We don't quote prices, and any number given over the phone is only a rough starting point.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Do I need a permit for a paver walkway in Fort Collins?
Residential sidewalks and driveways on your lot appear in the city's permit exemptions. Work on the public sidewalk or approach needs a city permit and a licensed right-of-way contractor.
Can a paver driveway handle a truck or trailer?
Yes, when the base is designed for that load. Tell the contractor what you'll park there so they can size it.
Related services
More background: Fort Collins paver patio guide.
Want a patio that shrugs off clay soil and hard freezes?
Call now and a local paver contractor will look at your yard and quote the work.