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CGI Driveway & Pavers: The Fort Lauderdale Owner’s Guide
CGI driveway and paver replacement in Fort Lauderdale typically runs $7,000 – $18,000 installed, depending on square footage, paver style, and what’s happening underneath the surface. Most homeowners call us after a section of pavers sinks, shifts, or pools water after a hard South Florida rain, and we can usually diagnose the issue and provide a written price within one visit. The part that fails is rarely the paver itself. It’s what sits beneath it: the base material, the sand joint layer, or an edge restraint that gave way. Trevor Nash and our team have replaced enough CGI-style paver driveways across Fort Lauderdale to know that the fix that lasts is the one that addresses the substrate, not just the visible surface.
Which CGI Models This Applies To
CGI, or Concrete Grid Interlocking pavers, covers a range of paver products used in driveways, walkways, and patios throughout Fort Lauderdale. The compatibility question isn’t about a model number the way it is with a cabinet line or a faucet. It’s about paver thickness, joint width, and base depth. Most residential CGI driveway pavers run 60mm to 80mm thick, and the difference matters. A 60mm paver handles passenger vehicles fine. An 80mm paver handles heavier vehicles, frequent turning, and the occasional delivery truck without cracking under the load. When we match a replacement paver, we measure the existing unit’s thickness and footprint, then match the color blend as closely as the manufacturer’s current production allows. One compatibility gotcha we see often: older Fort Lauderdale driveways were sometimes laid with 40mm patio pavers, which aren’t rated for vehicle traffic. If that’s what you have, the right fix is a full driveway replacement with a proper 60mm or 80mm unit, not a patch job that fails again in eighteen months. We stock common CGI-compatible pavers on our trucks and can order specific color blends from trade suppliers, including lines from Belgard and Unilock.
Styles & brands we work with
Signs Your CGI Driveway & Pavers Is Failing
- Sunken or rutted sections. This usually means the base layer has compacted unevenly or washed out. In Fort Lauderdale’s sandy soil, heavy rain moves fines out of the base, leaving voids under the pavers.
- Pavers rocking or shifting when you walk on them. Loose pavers mean the sand joint between units has eroded, and the interlock that holds the whole field together is weakening.
- Standing water in low spots after rain. A properly pitched driveway sheds water in under a minute. Puddles that linger suggest the base has settled and the pitch is gone.
- Edge pavers separating from the border. The edge restraint is what keeps the entire field from spreading outward. When it fails, you’ll see gaps open along the driveway border first.
- White haze or pitting on the paver surface. South Florida humidity and salt air are hard on concrete. Efflorescence is cosmetic, but deep pitting means the paver’s surface is compromised and will keep degrading.
See the difference
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After
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AfterReplacement Cost & What’s Included
A full CGI paver driveway replacement in Fort Lauderdale runs $7,000 – $18,000 installed. The spread comes down to three things: square footage, paver style and thickness, and how much base reconstruction is required. A simple tear-out and re-lay over stable base sits at the lower end. A job that requires excavating failed base, hauling it off, and rebuilding with fresh crushed concrete and compacted sand runs higher. Paver patio installation runs $3,500 – $11,000, and if you’re only replacing a section, the cost scales roughly by area. Every quote we give includes the tear-out, base prep, new pavers, edge restraints, sanding, compaction, and cleanup. You get a written price before we start, and the number on day one is the number on the invoice. The work carries our 365-Day Done Right Promise: if something fails inside a year, we come back and fix it at no charge. That’s in writing, on every job.
DIY or Call Us?
You can safely replace a single cracked paver if you have the matching unit and the base underneath is still solid. Pop it out with a paver extractor or two flat screwdrivers, reset it in a thin layer of sand, and tamp it level. What homeowners shouldn’t attempt is anything involving the base layer. Re-grading, compacting, and re-pitching a driveway requires plate compactors, laser levels, and a clear understanding of how Fort Lauderdale’s sandy soil drains. We’ve seen DIY base repairs where the owner used play sand instead of coarse concrete sand, and the driveway shifted within two months. If your pavers are sinking, rocking in large sections, or the water isn’t draining, call (754) 551-2922 and we’ll assess it honestly. If it’s a small fix, we’ll tell you it’s a small fix and price it accordingly.
FAQs
A properly installed CGI paver driveway in Fort Lauderdale lasts 25 to 40 years. The pavers themselves hold up fine; what shortens the lifespan is base failure from poor drainage or heavy vehicle loads. Call (754) 551-2922 for an assessment of your specific driveway.
Yes, isolated sunken sections can often be lifted, re-based, and re-laid without touching the rest of the driveway. The caveat is that the base under the repaired section has to be rebuilt correctly, or it will sink again. We’ll tell you whether a sectional repair makes sense for your situation.
Most CGI paver driveway replacements in Fort Lauderdale take three to five working days from tear-out to final compaction. Larger driveways or jobs requiring full base excavation can run longer, and weather can shift the schedule. Your written quote includes a defined arrival window and a realistic timeline.
We carry common 60mm and 80mm paver units and sand materials on our trucks for repairs, and we source specific color blends and styles from Belgard and Unilock suppliers directly. Penhallow Remodeling Fort Lauderdale is an independent service provider and is not affiliated with CGI. We also handle related parts for other recognized brands such as KraftMaid, Cambria, and Silestone. Tell me what you need, I’ll tell you what it costs – then we’ll get it done.
If your CGI driveway or pavers are failing, call (754) 551-2922 to schedule a free estimate. We’ll give you a written price, a straight answer on whether it’s a repair or a replacement, and a guarantee in writing before any work begins.
Written by Trevor Nash, Owner, Penhallow Remodeling Fort Lauderdale at Penhallow Remodeling Fort Lauderdale, serving Fort Lauderdale and nearby areas.
