How to hire a concrete contractor
Concrete work covers driveways, patios, walkways, slabs and foundations — where preparation of the base and correct curing determine whether it cracks in year two or year twenty.
What the job usually involves
- Driveways, patios, walkways and steps.
- Slabs for sheds, garages and extensions.
- Decorative work: stamped, stained, exposed aggregate.
- Repair: resurfacing, crack repair, slab lifting.
- Removal and replacement of failed concrete.
What to ask before you agree to anything
- How thick is the pour, and what base preparation is included?
- Is reinforcement included — rebar or mesh — and what spacing?
- Where are the control joints going, and how soon after the pour are they cut?
- What is the concrete mix strength?
- How long before I can walk on it and drive on it?
- What does the warranty cover, given that some cracking is normal?
Warning signs
- No base preparation described in the quote.
- No reinforcement in a driveway that will carry vehicles.
- A promise of no cracks at all — concrete cracks, which is why control joints exist.
- Pouring in freezing or extreme conditions without protection.
Common questions
Why does concrete crack?
Concrete shrinks as it cures and moves with temperature, so some cracking is inherent. Control joints are cut to decide where those cracks happen. The cracking that indicates a problem is wide, uneven, or displaced — not the fine lines along a joint.
How long before I can drive on a new driveway?
Concrete gains most of its strength over the first weeks, and contractors commonly keep vehicles off for several days at minimum. Ask for the specific figure for your mix and weather rather than assuming, because driving on it early causes damage that will not be covered.
Can old concrete be resurfaced instead of replaced?
If the slab underneath is structurally sound and the problem is surface wear, resurfacing can work and costs less. If the slab has settled, heaved or cracked through, resurfacing hides the problem for a while and then fails with it.
How does Region Beacon work for concrete contractors?
You describe the job once. The first nearby business that takes it gets your details and contacts you; nobody else does. You deal with whoever you pick directly, and you pay them directly — Region Beacon never handles the money and takes no commission, so nothing is added to your price for using it.
How do I know if a concrete contractor's quote is fair?
Get more than one. A single quote tells you what one business charges; three tell you what the job is worth where you live. Ask each for the same scope in writing, and treat a quote far below the others as probably missing something rather than a bargain.
Get quotes from concrete contractors near you
Describe the job once and the first nearby business to take it contacts you. Only that one gets your details, no commission is added, and your details are not sold on to anyone.