Concrete Services
Concrete work is unforgiving — a driveway or patio poured wrong shows cracks, pooling, and settling within a few seasons, and tearing out a bad pour costs more than the original job. Experienced concrete contractors handle the parts you can't see after the fact: subgrade compaction, correct mix and slump for your climate, proper slope for drainage, and control joints placed where the slab wants to crack anyway.
What Concrete Contractors Do
Residential concrete contractors handle a wide range of flatwork and structural projects:
- Driveways: New pours, tear-out and replacement, and widening. Standard broom-finish concrete runs $4-$8 per square foot; stamped or decorative finishes run $8-$18.
- Patios and walkways: Poured slabs, stamped patterns, and exposed aggregate finishes for outdoor living areas and paths.
- Slabs and foundations: Garage slabs, shed pads, and monolithic slabs for additions — projects where reinforcement and footing depth are governed by local code.
- Steps and stoops: Formed concrete stairs, which demand precise rise-and-run layout and solid footing below frost depth.
- Repair and leveling: Crack repair, resurfacing, and slabjacking (mudjacking or polyurethane foam) to lift settled sections instead of replacing them.
Good contractors talk as much about what goes under the concrete — compacted gravel base, vapor barriers, reinforcement — as the finish on top. That base work determines whether the slab lasts 10 years or 40.
Concrete Project Costs
Concrete pricing is driven by square footage, thickness, reinforcement, finish, and site access. Typical installed ranges:
- Driveway (2-car, ~600 sq ft): $3,500-$8,000 for standard finish; $6,000-$12,000+ for stamped or colored concrete
- Patio (~300 sq ft): $2,000-$6,000 depending on finish and site prep
- Walkway or sidewalk: $1,000-$3,000 for typical residential runs
- Garage or shed slab: $2,500-$7,000 depending on size and thickness
- Concrete steps: $900-$3,500 formed and poured
- Slab leveling and repair: $500-$2,500 for most settled driveways and walks — a fraction of replacement cost
Tear-out of existing concrete adds $1-$3 per square foot. Poor access that forces pumping or wheelbarrow work raises labor costs, and winter pours in cold climates may carry additives and blanket-curing charges.
Ready to compare quotes from vetted local pros?
Tell us about your project and we'll match you with licensed, insured contractors in your area — usually within 24 hours.
Hiring a Concrete Contractor
Concrete quality is locked in during the pour, so vetting matters more than with most trades:
- Look at aged work, not fresh pours. Any slab looks good the week it's finished. Ask for addresses of jobs poured three or more winters ago and check for cracking, spalling, and settling.
- Ask about base preparation. A credible bid specifies excavation depth, gravel base thickness, and compaction — not just the concrete itself.
- Confirm reinforcement and joint plans. Rebar or wire mesh, slab thickness (4 inches minimum for driveways), and a control-joint layout should all be in writing.
- Verify licensing and insurance. Concrete work involves heavy equipment and, for structural slabs, code inspections. Confirm the contractor carries liability coverage and pulls permits where required.
- Get the mix in the contract. PSI rating (typically 3,500-4,500 for driveways) and air entrainment in freeze-thaw climates are the difference between a slab that sheds winter and one that flakes apart.
Questions homeowners ask us first.
Short answers to the things we hear most in concrete intake conversations.
-
How long does a concrete driveway last?
A properly installed concrete driveway lasts 25-40 years. The biggest factors are base preparation, concrete quality, and climate. In freeze-thaw regions, air-entrained concrete and sealing every few years significantly extend life. Poorly compacted base or thin pours can fail in under 10 years.
-
How soon can I drive on new concrete?
Keep vehicles off a new driveway for at least 7 days; concrete reaches roughly 70% of its strength in the first week and full design strength at 28 days. Foot traffic is fine after 24-48 hours. Driving on it early is one of the most common causes of premature cracking.
-
Is it cheaper to repair or replace cracked concrete?
If the slab is structurally sound but settled or lightly cracked, leveling and resurfacing typically costs 50-80% less than replacement. Widespread deep cracking, heaving, or crumbling usually means the base has failed, and replacement is the better long-term spend.
-
What causes concrete to crack?
Some hairline cracking is normal — concrete shrinks as it cures, which is why contractors cut control joints to steer cracks along straight lines. Problem cracks come from poor base compaction, missing reinforcement, pours that are too thin, or water eroding the subgrade. Wide, uneven, or growing cracks are worth a professional look.
-
Concrete vs. pavers vs. asphalt — which is best for a driveway?
Concrete costs more than asphalt upfront but lasts longer with less maintenance. Pavers cost the most but are easiest to spot-repair and offer the most design flexibility. Asphalt suits very cold climates and tight budgets but needs sealing every few years and replacement sooner. For most homeowners, concrete is the middle path on cost and longevity.