Draper Concrete Driveways

It depends on size, thickness, reinforcement, finish and how much site prep and haul-away the job needs. Rather than quote a number that will not match your driveway, get two or three quotes from contractors who have seen the site. Comparing them side by side is the most reliable way to find the real local price.

A well-built driveway in this climate should give you decades. The variables that decide it are the ones you cannot see afterwards: how well the base was compacted, how the site drains, whether air-entrained concrete was used, and whether it was allowed to cure properly.

Some cracking is designed in. Control joints exist so the slab cracks in a straight line there rather than randomly elsewhere. Be concerned about cracks that keep widening, cracks with vertical movement on either side, spalling, or slab sections that have settled or heaved.

It looks better than plain concrete and costs more. Structurally it is the same slab with a decorative finish, so it does not make a driveway stronger or weaker. Budget for resealing periodically — that is the real ongoing cost of a stamped driveway.

Ask the contractor doing the work, because it depends on the mix, the weather and how the slab is curing. Typical guidance is to stay off it for several days and to keep heavy vehicles off considerably longer. Concrete gains strength over weeks, not hours.

Requirements depend on the scope of work and on the current rules in your jurisdiction, and they change. Ask the contractor you hire and check with the city before work starts. Do not rely on a website for this one.

Sometimes. Crack sealing, resurfacing and slabjacking all have their place, and partial replacement is often sensible when one section has failed and the rest is sound. What none of them fix is a drainage problem, so the cause has to be diagnosed first.

Often a combination of de-icing salt, freeze-thaw cycling and a surface that was not given enough time or moisture to cure. Poorly finished or overworked surfaces are more vulnerable. Sealing helps, but it protects a sound surface rather than rescuing a bad one.

Ask for a certificate of insurance and check that the licence is current before work begins. Any contractor worth hiring will provide both without being asked twice. We check before introducing anyone, but you should still verify.

Mild weather is easier for both the crew and the curing. Very hot, dry conditions and freezing conditions each need specific precautions. Experienced local crews work through the season and adjust the mix and curing for the conditions.