Every driveway has a story. At our company, we're lucky enough to build new ones—and breathe fresh life into old ones—every single day.

BEFORE view

There are two main types of driveways we typically work on:

1. New construction projects, where the driveway is already laid out in architectural drawings. These are relatively straightforward—we simply build to the spec.
2. Driveway rebuilds, where we tear out the old, tired surface and replace it with something that brings the whole property back to life.

We recently completed one of the latter in Surrey, and it was a perfect example of how the transformation of a driveway can completely elevate a home's curb appeal. This particular driveway had been around since the early 1990s—and it looked like it had been through a few world wars.

Saying Goodbye to an Old Warrior

With deep cracks filled with grass, uneven spots from years of shifting soil, and a surface that refused to brighten no matter how much it was power-washed, this driveway had character. Think of it like a battle-scarred veteran: weathered, loyal, and definitely past its prime.

Two mature trees flanking the driveway had caused sections of the concrete to lift a few inches, creating tripping hazards and a bumpy ride for homeowners coming and going. It was clear: the time had come for this old warrior to retire.

Out with the Old (Carefully)

Removing an old concrete driveway is no small feat. It's often the most physically demanding part of the job. And it's not just about grabbing a jackhammer and going wild—especially if the driveway is close to the house. Vibrations from demolition can travel through the ground and damage the home. So, we always begin with saw-cutting, which isolates vibrations and keeps everything safe and sound.

Once the concrete was gone, we assessed the real culprits—the trees. In Surrey, tree preservation bylaws are serious business. If a tree's roots are within the canopy (basically, the drip line of its branches), we can't just hack away. That's where our trusted, licensed arborists come in. Fortunately, in this case, only a small portion of the root system was outside the protected canopy. That allowed us to carefully trim what we needed and adjust the elevation of the new driveway to prevent future problems.

The Hidden Mistake Beneath

Here's a little secret that too many people overlook: what's under your driveway matters just as much as the concrete on top. This one had been built over a base of sand—a shortcut that probably saved a few bucks at the time but cost dearly in the long run. Sand makes an easy home for ants and critters, and when they burrow, they create voids. That leads to sinking, cracking, and all the headaches we saw here.

So, out came trailer-loads of sand.

A Strong Foundation for the Future

With the problem layers removed, it was time to build the new driveway the right way. We started by grading and compacting the soil to create a rock-solid subgrade. Next came 4 inches of clear crush gravel, compacted thoroughly to ensure it would stand the test of time. (We sometimes use road base as an alternative—it compacts beautifully too.)

Forming the driveway is always a fun part—it's where the project begins to take shape visually.

Pour, Finish, Impress!

The next day, we poured fresh concrete and gave it a clean, textured broom finish for both traction and beauty. The end result? A driveway that's not only functional but flat-out stunning.
And just to go the extra mile, we wrapped up the project with a complimentary perimeter drainage pipe camera inspection—something we include with every new driveway build. It's our way of saying thank you to our customers for trusting us with such an important part of their home.

The Final Word

This new driveway is now ready to support thousands of comings and goings, from first days of school to late-night returns from weekend getaways. And knowing it'll be doing that for decades to come? That's what drives us—pun absolutely intended.