Actaeon installs and replaces residential and commercial driveways — in concrete, paver, and permeable systems — for properties across Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
A driveway is one of the highest-impact hardscape elements on a property — it's the first thing you see and one of the highest-traffic surfaces. Material choice and base preparation determine whether it lasts two years or twenty.
Driveway material options
Concrete driveways
Standard broom-finish concrete is the most cost-effective durable driveway option. Properly installed over a compacted stone base with control joints, a concrete driveway lasts 25 to 30 years in the DMV climate. We also install stamped concrete driveways with color and texture to simulate stone or brick patterns at a lower cost than real pavers.
Paver driveways
Concrete or natural stone pavers set over a compacted aggregate base in sand. Higher initial cost than poured concrete but superior repairability — damaged pavers can be replaced individually without cutting and patching. Pavers also handle tree root movement better than monolithic concrete.
Permeable paver systems
Permeable interlocking concrete pavers (PICP) or open-cell grass pavers allow stormwater to infiltrate through the surface rather than running off. Required on some properties with limited lot coverage ratios or stormwater management obligations. Increasingly required or incentivized by county stormwater programs in Maryland and Virginia.
What good base preparation looks like
All driveway types require adequate base depth and compaction. For residential driveways: 6 to 8 inches of compacted aggregate base minimum. For sites with poor subsoil drainage or high clay content, we may recommend deeper excavation and a layer of geotextile fabric before aggregate placement. The base is invisible once the driveway is done — it's also the part most likely to be skipped by low-bid contractors.
