Concrete services

Almost every residential concrete job is the same five steps: excavate and compact the subgrade, set forms, place the concrete, finish the surface, then cut joints and cure it. The parts homeowners never see — the compacted base and the curing — are the parts that decide whether the slab lasts. NRMCA lists improper subgrade preparation, omitted or badly placed joints, adding water on the job, over-finishing, and inadequate curing as the main causes of cracking (CIP 4).

A quote that says only "pour 600 sq ft driveway, $X" is not a scope of work. A real one names slab thickness, base material and depth, concrete strength in psi, whether the mix is air-entrained, reinforcement type, joint layout, finish type, and the curing method. If a contractor will not put those on paper, you have nothing to hold them to later.

Decorative work — stamping, staining, exposed aggregate, broom vs. trowel finish — is a separate skill from structural flatwork. Ask to see finished jobs of the same pattern and color that are at least two years old, not fresh photos. Color and sealer both age.

How to choose

Ask what psi mix they are ordering

For exterior slabs that stay wet, freeze, and see deicing chemicals, NRMCA points to 4,000 psi air-entrained concrete consistent with ACI 332, and 3,500 psi where deicers will not be used. A contractor who cannot tell you the mix is guessing.

Get the joint plan before the pour, not after

Joint locations should be planned before placement. NRMCA recommends contraction joints at 24 to 36 times slab thickness — about 10 feet for a 4-inch slab — with 15 feet as a practical maximum.

Confirm who preps the base

Topsoil and soft spots have to come out, and the fill must be compacted and sloped to drain. If the bid excludes excavation or base stone, that money reappears later.

Ask how they will cure it

Curing should start as soon as finishing is done and continue 3 to 7 days, per NRMCA. "We'll hose it down if we remember" is not a curing plan.

Separate demolition from the pour

Removing an old driveway is its own line item — Concrete Network puts tear-out and removal at roughly $1.00 per square foot. Make sure it's in writing either way.

Match the crew to the work

A crew that pours footings all week is not automatically good at hand-colored stamped patios, and vice versa. Ask what they do most.