When you’re thinking about ways to dramatically enhance your property’s presence, the driveway often isn’t the first thing that comes to mind—but maybe it should be. A carefully designed and professionally constructed paver driveway in Peotone, IL, does more than provide a place to park. It frames your home, welcomes guests with polish, and shows the world you appreciate craftsmanship that goes beyond the expected. Our driveways are built for more than function; they’re built to elevate your experience every time you pull in.

How Long Will a Paver Driveway Last?

A professionally constructed paver driveway can last 30 to 40 years—or longer—when it’s built the right way. At Tunzi & Sons Landscaping, that’s the only way we do things. These aren’t quick fixes or temporary solutions. A driveway from us is designed to hold up for the long haul—no matter what the seasons bring, no matter how many vehicles come and go.

Paver driveways last because they’re built on a smart system: interlocking units, a solid foundation, and flexibility that allows for small ground shifts without breaking apart. But just having a good product isn’t enough—you need an experienced team that knows how to build with purpose. That’s where we come in.

Built on a Foundation That Doesn’t Budge

It all starts below the surface. Before we ever set a single paver, we excavate and grade with precision to ensure proper pitch and drainage. A paver driveway is only as strong as the base it rests on, and we don’t take that lightly.

Our crews install a deep base of compacted angular gravel, which interlocks and resists movement under pressure. Over that, we spread bedding sand—carefully leveled to the exact height needed to support the pavers evenly. There’s no guesswork involved. This isn’t a “good enough” type of process. It’s exact.

Once that base is in place, each paver is hand-set and aligned, one by one. Joints are tight, edges are reinforced, and everything is locked in to prevent shifting over time. We treat this step like it matters—because it does.

Tuned Into Our Local Climate

Northern Illinois doesn’t make things easy on a driveway. Between the freeze-thaw cycles, snow loads, rain, and everything in between, your surfaces take a beating year after year. So when we talk about longevity, we’re not just hoping it lasts—we’re building for what’s coming.

That’s why we use pavers specifically engineered for this region—ones with high compressive strength and minimal water absorption. These materials are made to handle repeated freezing and thawing without cracking or shifting, and they resist the color fading that other surfaces can experience after years of sun exposure and de-icing treatments.

We’re not guessing when we select products. We know what works here because we’ve been designing and building in this climate for decades. That experience means your driveway isn’t an experiment—it’s a proven system tailored for your property and our environment.

Designed to Be Fixable, Not Fragile

One of the best things about a paver driveway—especially compared to poured concrete or asphalt—is how easy it is to repair. You’re not stuck with huge demolition jobs just to fix a small problem.

If a single paver becomes stained or damaged years down the road, we can simply lift it out and replace it. No saws, no demolition, no patchwork that looks worse than the original surface. It’s a clean, straightforward fix that preserves the look and feel of the entire driveway.

That kind of flexibility isn’t just convenient—it’s part of what makes this type of driveway so long-lasting. You’re not dealing with one giant slab that needs to be completely torn up when something goes wrong. You’re working with individual pieces, set within a system that’s designed to adapt and endure.

Do Paver Driveways Get Weeds?

Let’s be honest—everyone knows that one driveway on the block. The one that’s got more greenery between the cracks than in the planting beds. Weeds sprouting like they pay rent, pushing through every gap, and making the whole thing look forgotten. That’s not a Tunzi & Sons driveway.

We don’t just lay pavers—we lock them in. When weeds pop up in a driveway, it’s usually the result of a weak installation: soft base layers, low-quality joint filler, or careless compaction that allows tiny gaps to form. Once there’s space for seeds and moisture to settle, nature does what nature does.

We build weed prevention right into the process. After setting the pavers over our compacted gravel and sand foundation, we sweep in polymeric sand—a specially formulated material that hardens once activated with water. That hardened joint acts like concrete between each paver, sealing the surface against windblown seeds and organic debris. There’s no soft cushion for weeds to cozy into. Just tight, locked-in joints that don’t mess around.

It’s Not Just About the Surface—It’s About Drainage

Weed prevention isn’t only about what you see from above. It’s also about what’s happening underneath. Drainage matters. When water sits between pavers, it creates the kind of moist environment weeds love. So we make sure your paver driveway is pitched just right, directing water away from the surface and into the base layer—or off the drive entirely, depending on the project.

That strategic slope and grading also prevents erosion along the joints, which keeps that polymeric sand locked in tight. It’s all part of the ecosystem of a well-built driveway. Every layer matters.

Do Pavers Crack Easily?

Concrete is notorious for those jagged scars, and asphalt doesn’t fare much better. They’re poured in large slabs, so when the ground moves, the surface doesn’t have a choice but to break. That’s just physics.

But pavers? Completely different game.

At Tunzi & Sons Landscaping, we work exclusively with high-quality pavers that are designed to perform under pressure. And not just the weight of vehicles—we’re talking about the shifting, expanding, contracting soil that’s so common in our area due to heavy rainfall, snowmelt, and freeze-thaw cycles. Pavers handle that in stride.

Flexibility Is the Secret to Strength

What makes pavers so resilient is that they’re individual units, laid with small, intentionally spaced joints between them. That space gives the surface room to adjust when the ground beneath it moves—whether it’s caused by moisture, frost, or natural settling.

Instead of cracking like a rigid slab, a paver driveway adapts. That flexibility absorbs the movement rather than resisting it, which is what keeps your surface intact over time. It’s not just about looking good on day one—it’s about looking good ten winters from now.

One Paver Breaks? No Big Deal

Let’s say something extreme happens. A tree limb falls just right. A heavy object hits the surface. One paver cracks. With concrete or asphalt, that’s a whole section of your driveway gone. But with pavers, the solution is simple: remove the damaged unit, replace it, and move on with your day. No heavy machinery. No patch that sticks out like a sore thumb. No “temporary fix” that becomes permanent.

You’re not locked into a single monolithic surface. You’re working with a system that’s modular and adaptable—designed to evolve with your property, not work against it.

Built for Performance, Designed for Style

Our clients don’t choose paver driveways just because they’re beautiful (though let’s be honest—they absolutely are). They choose them because they don’t want to deal with constant issues. They want a driveway that holds up, keeps its structure, and doesn’t flinch when the weather swings from 90 degrees in July to single digits in January.

We make sure every paver we install is supported by a properly compacted base and interlocked to prevent movement. The result is a surface that not only resists cracking but also stays smooth and solid under daily use, year after year.

Does Water Drain Between Pavers?

Around here, you deal with late-winter snowmelt, spring downpours, and the kind of summer storms that leave other driveways flooded and overwhelmed. When you work with us Landscaping, water doesn’t stand a chance.

We design paver driveways with drainage built right into the system. It’s not just about the pavers themselves—it’s about what’s underneath and how everything works together. Each paver is separated by a narrow joint, which is filled with polymeric sand or, in the case of permeable options, a more porous aggregate. That allows water to move downward instead of pooling on the surface.

Drainage That Works Below the Surface

Underneath your paver driveway, we install a multilayered base composed of angular gravel that helps facilitate fast, effective drainage. That means when water hits the surface, it doesn’t linger—it seeps through the joints, down into the base, and eventually disperses into the surrounding soil or flows to a planned outlet.

This is a huge upgrade over poured concrete or asphalt, where water either runs off to the edges or sits on the surface until it evaporates or causes problems. Paver systems allow your driveway to breathe. It’s better for the surface, better for your plantings, and better for your home’s infrastructure.

Permeable Paver Options for Extra Performance

If your site calls for it—or if you just want to go the extra mile—we also install permeable paver systems. These use specially designed pavers with wider joints and a highly permeable base to maximize water infiltration and reduce runoff. It’s an excellent option if you're concerned about environmental impact, or if you want to avoid the need for unsightly drainage grates or catch basins.

Permeable driveways are especially useful in areas with clay-heavy soils or properties that experience seasonal pooling. They’re engineered to manage stormwater without sacrificing aesthetics.

And because our team designs these systems specifically for each property, we make sure the grading and layout complement your home’s contours, not fight against them.

No More Flooding, No More Freeze-Thaw Surprises

When water doesn’t drain properly, it freezes—and frozen water is one of the biggest culprits behind driveway damage. With a properly pitched and well-drained paver driveway, you don’t end up with slick ice patches or crumbling edges caused by constant thawing and refreezing.

Instead, you get a surface that handles whatever the season throws at it—clean, functional, and dependable. And it all starts with the way we manage water flow from the ground up.

Are Pavers Strong Enough to Drive On?

Pavers may look refined and elegant, but underneath that polished surface is serious strength. Don’t let the aesthetic fool you—these materials are built to take on the weight and stress of everyday vehicle use and then some.

At Tunzi & Sons Landscaping, we only install pavers that are tested and rated for vehicular applications. These are not flimsy patio stones or decorative accents. These are high-performance, load-bearing units designed to handle cars, trucks, SUVs, delivery vans, and even the occasional construction vehicle. They’re manufactured with compressive strength that far surpasses what’s required for standard residential driveways.

Built to Bear the Load—Literally

The real magic happens below the surface. When we build a paver driveway, we construct a multilayered base system that spreads out weight and resists movement. That base starts with excavation, grading, and the installation of compacted crushed gravel—layered, leveled, and compacted again until it forms a dense, unyielding platform.

Once that base is complete, we install the pavers over bedding sand, hand-set and aligned with tight joints. Edge restraints hold everything together, and joint sand locks each paver into the pattern. When it’s done right—which is the only way we do it—you get a surface that doesn’t shift, rut, or buckle under pressure.

This isn’t just strong. It’s dependable. Day in and day out.

Strength Doesn’t Mean Sacrificing Style

We hear it all the time: “I didn’t realize something this beautiful could be so durable.” That’s part of the appeal. With a paver driveway, you’re not trading looks for performance. You’re getting both—an upscale, custom finish that’s also engineered to perform for decades.

Whether you want a clean, modern grid or a more traditional tumbled look, we can recommend pavers that deliver the exact visual style you want with the structural integrity you need. You don’t have to settle. You don’t have to compromise. That’s what makes this upgrade so worth it.

Driveways That Do More

Got a longer drive? A private entry? A place to park the car collection? No problem. Pavers are scalable. They don’t lose integrity over distance or under load. They’re perfect for circular layouts, oversized guest parking areas, or extended drives that need to look as good as they perform.

We can design a layout that works for your property—one that complements your home’s architecture, guides guests naturally, and turns your driveway into a true arrival experience. Because strength is important, but so is presence.

Built for Peotone and Built by Tunzi & Sons

Peotone’s got its own rhythm. The winters are cold and the summers don’t mess around. Soil can vary across a single block. That’s why you need a team that knows exactly what they’re doing—not just with pavers, but with this place.

We’re not importing templates or handing off construction to whoever’s available. We live here. We’ve worked with the local soil, weather, and conditions for decades. And that experience shows in the details.

Your driveway won’t just look incredible the day we finish. It’ll still be turning heads a decade later.

Cracks and Stains on Your Driveway? Upgrade to a Paver Driveway in Peotone, IL