Frequently Asked Questions

Get two or three written bids and compare what each one includes, not just the total. Each should state the slab thickness, the base, whether steel is used, the joint layout, the finish, and who gets the permit. Ask how the crew handles summer heat and when they pour. A contractor who can explain why your old slab cracked or sank is more likely to avoid the same problem.

Most residential concrete work is not billed by the hour. It is priced per square foot or as a fixed job price after measuring. HomeGuide's concrete price guide lists plain concrete installed at about $5 to $10 a square foot and colored, stamped or stained concrete at about $8 to $18, as national figures. Your written estimate is the actual price.

It is a rough rule of thumb for mixing concrete by hand: about 10 percent cement, 20 percent water, 30 percent sand and 40 percent gravel. A similar 20/30/40 rule puts cement at 20 percent and water at 10. These are shortcuts for small batches. For driveways, patios and slabs we order ready-mix concrete batched to a set strength, which is more consistent than mixing by ratio.

If the work reaches the public right-of-way, yes. The City of Tucson's right-of-way brochure lists driveway and sidewalk installs as work that needs a right-of-way permit from the city's transportation department, and city code says no public sidewalk may be repaired or installed without a written permit. We confirm the permit for your address and include it in the schedule.

Yes, with planning. We start early in the morning, dampen the base, keep the crew size matched to the pour so finishing is not rushed, and begin curing right away. If a monsoon storm is in the forecast for pour day, we move the date.

The usual causes are a soft or poorly compacted base, water getting under the slab, missing or badly placed control joints, and a slab that dried too fast when it was poured. In the desert, storm runoff that collects along an edge is a frequent culprit. HomeGuide's leveling guide lists soil erosion, poor compaction and moisture as the main reasons slabs sink.

Often, yes, if the slab underneath is sound. HomeGuide's resurfacing guide says overlays suit minor flaking and cracks under a quarter inch, and that wider cracks, crumbling or spalling usually point to replacement. We look at the slab and price whichever option makes sense.

HomeGuide advises waiting at least 7 days before driving on new concrete and about 30 days before parking heavy vehicles on it. Walking on it is usually fine after a day or two. We give you dates for your slab at the end of the job.

HomeGuide gives 30 to 40 years for a well-built, maintained concrete driveway. The base, drainage, joint layout and regular sealing decide where in that range a driveway ends up.

HomeGuide's guide calls for at least 4 inches for cars, 5 to 6 inches for RVs or heavy vehicles, and thicker edges. We add depth wherever heavier vehicles will park.

We rarely recommend it. New concrete on top of a cracked, sunken slab tends to crack in the same places, and it raises the surface at the garage and the street. Removing the old slab and rebuilding the base is the reliable fix.

Inside Tucson city limits, work in the public right-of-way, such as the apron, sidewalk or curb, needs a right-of-way permit from the city's transportation department. We check what your address needs and handle it.

Yes, if the existing slab is in good shape. We tie the new section to the old one so they do not drift apart, and we match the finish as closely as possible. Old and new concrete will look slightly different at first.

HomeGuide says a properly installed concrete patio lasts 30 to 50 years with regular maintenance. A solid base and good drainage do most of the work.

It depends on the project. The City of Tucson's residential permit page lists porches, additions and garages as work that needs a permit, and covered structures may need review. We check your plans against city or county rules before we schedule.

Concrete in full summer sun gets hot. Lighter colors and textured finishes stay more comfortable than dark ones, and shade makes the biggest difference. We can help you plan the slab around a shade structure.

Yes. We leave planting space around trunks and plan the edge near a pool so it ties into the deck or coping cleanly. Large roots under the patio area may need to be cut or the layout adjusted.

A sealed, smooth surface can be slick when wet. We use textured patterns and add grit to the sealer on pool decks, steps and walks so the surface grips.

HomeGuide recommends resealing every 2 to 3 years. In strong desert sun, staying on that schedule keeps the color from fading and protects the texture.

Existing concrete cannot be stamped, but a sound slab can be stained, or covered with a stamped overlay. See our repair and resurfacing page for those options.

HomeGuide gives 7 to 10 days for stamped concrete to cure before regular use. Light foot traffic is usually fine sooner; we give you exact dates.

If the concrete is mostly sound and the base is stable, usually yes. Sunken, lifted or crumbling sections need to be replaced first. We inspect the deck and tell you which applies.

It is a light-colored, textured coating applied over concrete around pools. HomeGuide notes it helps lower surface temperatures, which matters in Tucson sun.

Resurfacing usually takes a few days including prep and drying. A full replacement takes longer because the old deck has to come out and the new slab needs time to cure before heavy use.

The pool shell and the deck move differently, and if the joint between deck and coping is not sealed with a flexible material, the stress shows up as cracks. Water getting under the deck along that edge can also cause settling.

Most storage sheds sit on a 4-inch slab. A heavier building or one storing equipment may need more, and we size it to your shed.

The City of Tucson's residential permit page says detached accessory structures over 200 square feet, like storage sheds, need a permit. Rules differ in nearby towns and unincorporated Pima County, so we check your address.

Measure the RV with its slide-outs open and add room to walk around it. HomeGuide's RV pad range covers 200 to 700 square feet; we size the pad to your vehicle and how you back it in.

HomeGuide says one cubic yard covers about 81 square feet at 4 inches thick. A 10 by 20 foot pad at 4 inches takes roughly 2.5 yards, plus a little extra for waste.

On a sound slab with minor flaking or small cracks, an overlay costs much less than replacement and can change the look completely. HomeGuide gives resurfacing a life of about 8 to 15 years. On a slab with wide cracks or sunken sections, an overlay will crack again, and replacement is the better spend.

Yes, if it is clean and sound. Old sealers, paint and oil stains have to come off first, and the stain color depends partly on the concrete itself, so we test a small area.

HomeGuide says professionally leveled concrete lasts 5 to 10 years or more, with polyjacking often lasting longest and mudjacking typically 5 to 7 years. Fixing the drainage that caused the sinking makes the biggest difference.

Hairline cracks are normal. HomeGuide notes that cracks wider than a quarter inch usually point to deeper problems. A crack with one side higher than the other, or one that keeps widening, is worth having looked at.