Driveway Paving in Pittsburgh, PA

Boost your curb appeal and get a long lasting, durable surface with a new concrete driveway from RMK Services. We are the trusted, expert concrete driveway paving contractor serving Pittsburgh, PA and the surrounding areas.

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The Top Driveway Paving in Pittsburgh, PA

A concrete driveway is a major investment in your home, providing decades of durability and a clean, attractive entrance. RMK Services specializes in the professional installation of concrete driveways that are built to withstand Pittsburgh’s demanding climate. As a family-owned company, we are committed to building with integrity and providing exceptional value. Our licensed and insured team follows industry best practices to ensure your driveway will not crack or settle prematurely. We are dedicated to providing a 5 star service, from proper base preparation to a perfect finish. Concrete driveways handle heavy vehicles, resist stains when sealed, and add significant value to your property. Trust us to pave a driveway that is strong, beautiful, and built to last. We offer free in-person estimates for all new driveway projects.

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John Daly
September 20, 2025

Side walk is fantastic! Ryan fixed my retaining wall no one else would touch. Very extra professional job. All his people were great also. Great estimate and greater work. I highly recommend him. He has been a blessing!

Clinton Eastwood
September 14, 2025

I love RMK Services LLC because they truly take pride in their concrete work and always go above and beyond to deliver quality results. Whether it’s driveways, sidewalks, patios, or foundations, they handle every project with skill, professionalism, and attention to detail. Their team doesn’t just get the job done – they make sure it’s done right, built to last, and looks great too. RMK Services LLC is reliable, hardworking, and committed to customer satisfaction, which is why I trust them with any concrete job I need.

Jason I
August 22, 2025

Ryan and his crew were absolutely amazing on every level including attention to detail and transparency with everything from a fair and honest quote to the level of craftsmanship performed. They worked at a fast and efficient pace while considering safety of the homeowner and his crew at all times. The difference is he listens to his customers and goes the extra mile to make them happy. I had my retaining wall reconstructed and I couldn't be happier. I highly recommend RMK services for all your project needs.

Chris T.
August 20, 2025

Excellent service from Ryan. He poured a sidewalk for us at our rental property and got it done on time and in budget. We'll be using his services again very soon.

Nathan B.
August 19, 2025

From the beginning Ryan was on it! When I first searched yelp for help with fixing my glass block windows, lentals, and repointing on my brick outside my house he was one of the first to contact me. He scheduled to meet with me fairly quickly, was on time and realistic with what work was needed to be done and offered it at a very reasonable price. He kept me informed the whole time on everything he was doing and ensured me the job would be done correctly. Would recommend.

RMK Services OFFERS Driveway Paving IN Pittsburgh’s Top Neighborhoods

RMK Services provides professional Driveway Paving for homeowners and businesses throughout the greater Pittsburgh area. Below is a full list of nearby neighborhoods and townships we serve, all within our 60-mile service radius. If your property is located in one of these areas, we’re ready to help you with Driveway Paving:

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Our Driveway Paving Service

Every durable driveway begins with a professional consultation and site plan. Our process starts with our expert visiting your home to discuss your project. We assess your property, take precise measurements, and discuss design options, such as the shape, size, and finish of your new driveway. We also evaluate the soil conditions and drainage needs of the site. A proper plan ensures the driveway will be functional, aesthetically pleasing, and will manage water runoff effectively. You will receive a comprehensive proposal outlining the entire scope of work and a clear, detailed cost estimate for your new driveway.

Proper excavation and base preparation are the most important steps in building a long lasting driveway. We begin by excavating the area to the required depth, removing all topsoil, clay, and organic materials to get to a stable subgrade. We then install and compact a thick sub-base of high quality crushed stone. This stone base is the foundation of your driveway; it provides a stable platform, distributes the load of vehicles, and allows for proper drainage. We use compaction equipment to ensure the base is solid and will not settle over time. A strong base is the number one defense against future cracking and settlement.

Before pouring the concrete, we build strong, straight formwork and install steel reinforcement. Our team sets up wooden or steel forms around the perimeter of the driveway. These forms are securely staked to ensure crisp, clean edges and the correct slab thickness. Inside the forms, we place a grid of steel reinforcement, which is typically either steel rebar or a heavy gauge wire mesh. This steel is critical for providing the tensile strength that helps the concrete resist cracking from vehicle loads and temperature changes. The reinforcement is held up on special chairs so it will be embedded in the middle of the concrete slab.

We use only high quality concrete from reputable local suppliers for our driveways. The concrete mix we use is specifically designed for exterior flatwork, with a high strength rating and air entrainment. Air entrainment is the inclusion of microscopic air bubbles in the concrete, which is essential for resisting damage from freeze thaw cycles in our Pittsburgh climate. We ensure the driveway is poured to a minimum thickness of four inches, with thicker aprons and edges where stresses are highest. Our experienced team expertly places and levels the concrete throughout the forms.

The finishing process determines the final look and safety of your driveway. Once the concrete is placed and leveled, our skilled finishers get to work. The most common and recommended finish for a driveway is a non slip broom finish. We use a special broom to create a fine, textured surface that provides excellent traction in all weather conditions. We also use specialized tools to create clean control joints and smooth edges. The proper timing and technique used in the finishing process are critical for achieving a durable and attractive surface. We can also provide decorative finishes like stamped or colored concrete.

Proper jointing and curing are essential for the long term performance of your new driveway. We install control joints by tooling them into the wet concrete or saw cutting them the next day. These joints are strategically placed to create weakened planes that encourage the inevitable shrinkage cracks to occur in a neat, straight line where they are not seen. After finishing, we apply a curing compound to the surface. This compound slows down moisture loss, allowing the concrete to cure slowly and reach its maximum potential strength, which minimizes cracking and creates a more durable surface.

Our job is not done until the site is clean and you are fully informed. After the concrete has cured sufficiently, we remove the formwork. We then backfill along the edges of the new driveway with topsoil and can seed the area if desired. Our team performs a complete cleanup of the work area and your property. We provide you with detailed instructions on how long to wait before you can walk or drive on your new driveway, as well as tips for long term care, such as sealing. Our 5 star service commitment ensures a smooth process and a final product you will be proud of.

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All Concrete Services By RMK in Pittsburgh, PA

RMK Services offers Driveway Paving in Pittsburgh, but we also offer many other residential concrete services for homeowners across Pittsburgh. From new installations to full tear-outs and replacements, we handle everything with precision and care. Below is a complete list of concrete services available alongside Driveway Paving:

Why Homeowners Trust RMK Services in Pittsburgh, PA

At RMK Services, we focus on delivering honest, high-quality concrete work backed by real experience and dependable service. From the first estimate to the final pour, our team shows up, communicates clearly, and gets the job done right without sales pressure or surprises. We take pride in treating every property like it’s our own and standing behind everything we do.

  • Licensed & Insured in Pennsylvania (PA License #203908)
  • Over 10 Years of Construction Experience
  • Free In-Person Estimates With Honest, Fair Pricing
  • No Upsells or Games; Just Solid, Reliable Work
  • Family-Owned and Operated in Pittsburgh
  • Serving a 60-Mile Radius Around the City
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Years in Business
5-Star Reviews
Satisfied Clients
Jobs Completed

A Homeowner’s Guide On Driveway Paving in Pittsburgh

For Pittsburgh homeowners, a concrete driveway is an excellent choice for longevity, but it must be installed correctly to survive our weather. The two most critical factors are the sub-base and the concrete mix itself. Insist that your contractor installs a thick, compacted stone base to prevent settlement. The concrete should be a high strength mix and must be air entrained to resist damage from freezing and thawing. Steel reinforcement is also a must to handle vehicle weight. A standard broom finish is recommended for good traction on our hilly terrain, especially in icy conditions. Finally, plan to seal your new driveway after it cures and every few years thereafter to protect it from water and de-icing salts.

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Common Driveway Paving Questions

A new driveway is a significant home improvement project that impacts your home’s curb appeal and daily function. Concrete is a top choice for its strength and long life. Homeowners in Pittsburgh considering a new concrete driveway often have questions about the process, durability, and maintenance. Here are answers to some of the most common questions.

A professionally installed concrete driveway can be expected to last for 30 years or even longer, making it one of the most durable and long lasting paving options available. This impressive lifespan is one of the main reasons homeowners choose concrete. However, this longevity is entirely dependent on the quality of the installation. A driveway built with a proper sub-base, the correct concrete mix, adequate reinforcement, and proper jointing will provide decades of reliable service. In contrast, a poorly installed driveway can show signs of failure, like major cracking and settlement, in just a few years.

Several factors contribute to the longevity of a concrete driveway. The quality of the sub-base is paramount. A thick, well compacted stone base provides the stable foundation needed to prevent the slab from settling and cracking under the weight of vehicles. The concrete itself must be a high quality exterior mix with a strength of at least 4,000 PSI and must be air entrained to withstand Pittsburgh’s freeze thaw cycles. Steel reinforcement is also critical for controlling cracks and adding strength.

Regular maintenance also plays a role in maximizing the lifespan of your driveway. The most important maintenance task is periodic sealing. Applying a high quality sealer every few years will protect the concrete from water absorption, de-icing salts, and stains. This simple step can add many years to the life of your driveway. With a quality installation by a professional contractor like RMK Services and some basic maintenance, your concrete driveway will be a long term investment that adds value to your home for decades.

Concrete and asphalt are the two most common choices for driveway paving, and they have significant differences in terms of lifespan, maintenance, cost, and appearance. Concrete driveways have a much longer lifespan, typically lasting 30 years or more, while asphalt driveways usually last around 15 to 20 years before needing major repairs or replacement. Concrete is a more rigid and durable material that can better withstand heavy loads without rutting or developing depressions.

In terms of maintenance, asphalt requires more frequent upkeep. It needs to be sealed every two to three years to protect it from water damage and oxidation from the sun. Concrete also benefits from sealing, but it is typically done less frequently. Asphalt is also more susceptible to damage from oil and gasoline spills, which can soften the material. Concrete is more resistant to these chemicals. However, concrete can be stained by oil if it is not sealed.

Aesthetically, the two materials offer very different looks. Asphalt is a plain, black surface. Concrete offers many more design options. It can be left in its standard light gray color, or it can be colored, stamped, or given a decorative finish like exposed aggregate to dramatically enhance your home’s curb appeal. In terms of cost, asphalt typically has a lower upfront installation cost than concrete. However, due to its shorter lifespan and more frequent maintenance needs, a concrete driveway is often the better long term value and a more cost effective investment over the life of your home.

For a standard residential concrete driveway that will be used for passenger cars, trucks, and SUVs, the industry standard thickness is a minimum of four inches. A four inch thick slab, when poured on a properly prepared and compacted sub-base and reinforced with steel, has more than enough strength to support the weight of typical residential vehicles without cracking or failing. This has been the proven standard for decades and is what is specified by most building codes and industry associations for this application.

However, there are situations where a thicker slab is recommended. If you plan to park very heavy vehicles on your driveway, such as a large RV, a boat, or a heavy duty work truck, it is a good idea to increase the thickness of the slab to five or even six inches. The thicker concrete, combined with heavier steel reinforcement, will provide the extra strength needed to handle these heavier loads without stress. The sections of the driveway that see the most stress, such as the apron where it meets the street and the main turning areas, can also be thickened for added durability.

It is critical to understand that the thickness must be uniform. A driveway that is supposed to be four inches thick but has thin spots of only two or three inches will be very weak in those areas and prone to cracking. A professional contractor like RMK Services will take care to grade the sub-base accurately and use forms to ensure that your driveway is poured to the correct, consistent thickness throughout the entire slab. This attention to detail is essential for the driveway’s long term strength and performance.

A stone base, also called a sub-base or aggregate base, is an absolutely essential component of a durable, long lasting concrete driveway. It is a layer of crushed stone that is placed and compacted on top of the native soil (the subgrade) before the concrete is poured. The stone base serves several critical functions. Its primary purpose is to provide a stable, uniform, and load bearing foundation for the concrete slab to rest on. The native soil, especially the clay soil common in our region, can be unstable and can shrink or swell with changes in moisture content. The stone base creates a buffer that isolates the slab from this unstable soil.

The second crucial function of the stone base is to provide drainage. Stone has large voids between the particles, which allows water that gets under the slab to drain away freely. This is extremely important in a climate with frost. If the soil under the slab becomes saturated with water and then freezes, it will heave and lift the concrete, causing it to crack. A good drainage base prevents this water saturation and is a key defense against frost heave damage. It ensures the ground under the slab remains stable throughout the seasons.

A properly installed sub-base also helps to ensure a uniform thickness for the concrete slab, which is important for its strength. The process of building a driveway on a solid stone base is a mark of a quality installation. Skipping or skimping on the sub-base is one of the main reasons that driveways fail prematurely. At RMK Services, we understand the critical importance of the foundation, which is why we always include a thick, properly compacted stone base as part of our standard driveway installation process.

The best finish for a concrete driveway, especially in a climate like Pittsburgh’s with hills and icy winters, is a finish that provides good traction and durability. The overwhelming choice and industry standard for this application is the broom finish. A broom finish is created by dragging a specialized concrete broom across the surface of the slab after it has been smoothed but before it has fully hardened. This process creates a texture of fine, parallel ridges on the surface of the concrete.

This texture is the key to its performance. The fine ridges provide excellent slip resistance, which is a critical safety feature for both foot traffic and vehicles, especially when the driveway is wet or covered in a light layer of snow or ice. The texture is rough enough to provide good grip but not so coarse that it is difficult to shovel or sweep. It is a practical, functional finish that provides the safest possible surface for a driveway.

While a broom finish is the most common, there are other decorative options available for homeowners who want a more custom look. Stamped concrete can be used for driveways, with patterns like cobblestone or ashlar slate providing good texture and traction. An exposed aggregate finish is another excellent choice for driveways, as the pebbled texture is both beautiful and highly slip resistant. However, for a combination of safety, durability, and cost effectiveness, the classic broom finish remains the best and most highly recommended choice for a concrete driveway.

Yes, you absolutely need steel reinforcement, in the form of either rebar or wire mesh, in a properly constructed concrete driveway. Concrete is very strong in compression (resisting crushing forces) but weak in tension (resisting pulling or bending forces). Steel reinforcement is added to the concrete to provide the tensile strength that it lacks. This is what makes reinforced concrete such a strong and versatile building material. Without reinforcement, a driveway would be much more susceptible to cracking under the stresses of vehicle loads and temperature changes.

The reinforcement helps to hold the concrete slab together. Even with the best installation practices, concrete can still develop small hairline cracks over time. The steel reinforcement grid inside the slab works to hold these cracks tightly together, preventing them from widening and separating. This helps to maintain the structural integrity of the driveway and prevents small cracks from turning into major problems. This ability to keep the slab interlocking even if it cracks is a primary function of the steel.

The choice between rebar and wire mesh depends on the specific project, and both can be effective when used correctly. Rebar, which is a grid of thicker steel rods, generally provides greater structural strength and is often preferred for driveways that will see heavier loads. Wire mesh is a grid of thinner steel wires and is also effective at controlling shrinkage cracking. The most important thing is that the reinforcement is placed correctly. It must be supported on chairs so it is in the middle of the slab’s thickness, not lying on the ground. A professional contractor will ensure the correct type and placement of reinforcement for a strong driveway.

This is one of the most important questions homeowners ask, and it is critical to follow the guidelines to avoid damaging your new investment. Concrete gains strength over time through a chemical process called hydration. While your new driveway may be hard enough to walk on in about 24 hours, it has not yet gained enough strength to support the weight of a vehicle. Driving on the driveway too soon can leave permanent tire marks in the surface and can even cause the concrete to crack.

As a general rule, you should wait at least seven full days before driving a passenger car or light truck on your new concrete driveway. After seven days, the concrete has typically reached about 70 percent of its final specified strength, which is enough to handle the weight of normal residential vehicles. For heavier vehicles, such as a large work truck or an RV, it is best to wait even longer, ideally for the full 28 day curing period.

The curing process is affected by temperature and weather. In colder weather, concrete gains strength more slowly, so you may need to wait a few extra days. In very hot, dry weather, the surface can dry out too quickly, so proper curing procedures are essential. Your contractor at RMK Services will give you specific instructions based on the time of year and the weather conditions during your project. We will clearly mark off the driveway and let you know the exact date when it is safe to start using it.

Maintaining a concrete driveway is relatively easy, but a few simple steps will keep it looking great and extend its life significantly. The most important maintenance task is to have the driveway professionally cleaned and sealed periodically. A high quality penetrating sealer should be applied after the new driveway has fully cured (about 30 days) and then reapplied every three to five years thereafter. The sealer protects the concrete from water absorption, which prevents freeze thaw damage, and it also makes the surface resistant to stains from oil, gas, and other spills.

Regular cleaning is also beneficial. Sweeping or rinsing your driveway with a hose will remove dirt and debris that can be abrasive. For tougher dirt or stains, you can use a pressure washer (on a low setting) and a concrete cleaner. It is important to clean up oil, gasoline, or other chemical spills as quickly as possible, even on a sealed driveway, to prevent them from penetrating and causing a permanent stain. Promptly shoveling snow in the winter is also good practice.

You should avoid using certain chemicals on your driveway. Never use de-icers that contain ammonium sulfate or ammonium nitrate, as they will chemically attack the concrete. Rock salt (sodium chloride) can also be damaging over time. If you must use a de-icer, choose one that contains calcium chloride or magnesium chloride, which are less harmful to concrete. Following these simple maintenance tips will ensure your concrete driveway remains a durable and attractive asset for your home for many years.

Get The Best Driveway Paving Near You

For a free in-person estimate on your project, book a call-back using our 24/7 self-service system or call us directly at (352) 978-5567.

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