What this covers
A concrete driveway is poured on a prepared base, and the base decides how it holds up. The company removes the old drive, excavates to depth, compacts a gravel base, sets forms to a grade that sends water away from the garage, and places reinforcement. The concrete is placed at the specified thickness, screeded, floated and given a broom finish for traction. Control joints are cut at regular intervals so the slab cracks along the joints instead of across the surface. The slab is kept damp or sealed while it cures and kept clear of cars for several days. Thickness, an air-entrained mix and drainage matter more than anything that shows.
When to call
- A gravel or broken driveway you want paved in concrete.
- A slab with wide cracks, heaving sections or a sunken apron at the garage.
- A new garage or an addition that changes where the drive needs to go.
- Water pooling against the garage door after rain.
What to expect
- Remove and excavateThe old surface comes out and the area is dug to depth for the base and slab.
- Base and formsGravel is placed and compacted, forms set to drain away from the house, and reinforcement laid.
- Pour and finishConcrete is placed, screeded, floated and broom-finished.
- Joints and cureControl joints are cut and the slab cures before it carries cars.
Get a certified company
Look up a certified company by ZIP code. Every company's license, insurance and trades are verified before it is listed, and placement is never paid.
Questions people ask
How thick should a driveway be?
A residential driveway is usually poured at four inches, thicker where heavy vehicles park or the soil is soft. The base beneath it matters as much as the thickness.
Why does new concrete have lines cut in it?
Those are control joints. Concrete shrinks as it cures and cracks somewhere; the joints give it a straight place to do so.
When can I drive on it?
Foot traffic after a day or two, cars after about a week, and heavy vehicles later still. The company gives dates for your mix and the weather.
Related: Concrete leveling · Asphalt driveways · Concrete patios · All concrete and masonry
This page describes what the service involves. The company you hire sets the scope, the schedule and the price, and your contract is with that company. We verify credentials and collect reviews from real jobs. We do not guarantee any company's workmanship. Safety steps are general guidance. When in doubt, leave the home and call 911.