A lasting San Antonio driveway starts with base work suited to the soil: removing or replacing some expansive clay, or evening out rock on Hill Country lots. It's commonly about four inches thick (more for trucks and RVs), jointed at planned spacing, sloped to the street and cured promptly in the heat. Approach and curb work in the City of San Antonio right-of-way needs a Sidewalk-Curb permit.
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Concrete is the default driveway material across most San Antonio neighborhoods, and it holds up well when it's built for local ground. The trouble is that "local ground" means very different things here. A driveway on the east or south side may sit on deep, dark clay that swells after a wet spring and pulls away in a dry August. A driveway in the hills north of Loop 1604 may sit on a few inches of soil over limestone. Both can work for decades, but they need different preparation.
How a lasting driveway gets built
- Tear-out. The old slab, and any asphalt or gravel under it, is broken up and hauled away.
- Subgrade work. Soft or organic soil is removed. On expansive clay, many contractors over-excavate and replace some of the clay with compacted select fill, crushed limestone or a similar low-swell material. On rocky lots, high spots of rock may need to be cut down so the slab has an even thickness.
- Base. A compacted layer of crushed stone or other base material gives the slab uniform support.
- Forms and slope. The surface is shaped so water runs toward the street, not back toward the garage or along the foundation.
- Reinforcement. Rebar on chairs, welded wire or fiber help hold cracks tight. They don't stop cracking.
- Placing, finishing and joints. Control joints are tooled or saw-cut at planned spacing.
- Curing. The slab is kept moist or sprayed with curing compound right after finishing, which matters a great deal in South Texas heat.
Thickness and mix
Residential driveways are commonly about four inches thick, with five inches or more often suggested where trucks, trailers or RVs park, which is common around San Antonio. Ask about the mix strength and whether the contractor thickens the edges. Hard freezes are infrequent here, so air entrainment is less of a talking point than in northern cities, but a good crew will still explain its mix choice.
Summer pours
The concrete season in San Antonio runs most of the year, but summer is long and hot. Heat and wind make concrete set faster and dry at the surface before it's finished, which can cause plastic shrinkage cracks and a weak top layer. Crews commonly start at first light, dampen the base, and may use a set-retarding admixture. The American Concrete Institute publishes hot-weather concreting guidance that good contractors follow in spirit.
The approach, the curb and the sidewalk
Inside the City of San Antonio, the city's "No Permit Required" list includes sidewalks and driveways inside your property line. The approach where the driveway crosses the curb, the curb itself and the public sidewalk are different: they are in the city right-of-way, and the city's Sidewalk-Curb permit covers that work. The city also registers sidewalk, curb and gutter contractors, so ask whether yours is registered. Properties in historic or conservation districts can have design rules. Suburban cities and Bexar County each run their own process, and streets maintained by TxDOT follow state rules, so check with whoever owns your street.
After the pour
- Keep cars off for the time your contractor recommends, often about a week, and heavy trucks longer.
- Point downspouts and sprinkler heads away from the slab edges.
- Keep irrigation steady along the edges in drought rather than flooding and then letting clay dry out hard.
- Ask whether and when to apply a penetrating sealer.
Questions to ask
- What did you find when you dug, and how will you prepare clay or rock under this driveway?
- How thick will it be, and what base and reinforcement are included?
- Who handles the approach and sidewalk permit, and are you registered with the city?
- What does the warranty cover, and can you provide a certificate of insurance?
When you're ready, request a driveway contractor and include photos of the existing driveway. Weighing whether yours can be saved? See our guide on what drives driveway cost in San Antonio.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to replace my driveway in San Antonio?
Inside the City of San Antonio, driveways inside your property line are on the city's No Permit Required list. Work on the approach, curb or public sidewalk is in the right-of-way and goes through the city's Sidewalk-Curb permit. Historic districts, other cities and Bexar County have their own rules, so check before work starts.
Why does my driveway crack every summer?
On expansive clay, the soil shrinks and cracks as it dries in summer, and slab edges can lose support. Cracks that open in late summer and close after rain point to soil movement. Better base prep, joints and steady moisture along edges help.
How long before I can drive on new concrete?
Contractors commonly advise keeping cars off for about a week and heavy trucks longer. Mix and weather affect it, so follow your contractor's guidance.
Sources and further reading
- City of San Antonio Development Services: No Permit Required list
- City of San Antonio Development Services: Residential permits
- City of San Antonio: Sidewalk-Curb permit application
- City of San Antonio: Building and home improvement contractor registration
- City of San Antonio: Sidewalk, curb and gutter contractor license
- Bexar County Public Works: Right-of-way permits
- City of Alamo Heights
- San Antonio Water System (SAWS)
- TCEQ Edwards Aquifer Protection Program
- Texas Water Development Board: Houston Black, the Texas state soil
- USDA NRCS Web Soil Survey
- Texas 811
- Texas A&M Forest Service: Texas Oak Wilt
- American Concrete Institute (ACI)
- Portland Cement Association (PCA)