Concrete that holds up under everyday use in Arlington, VA

The price depends on the size, how much old concrete has to come out, how much digging and base work the ground needs, and the finish you pick. I'll walk your site and give you a free written estimate that lists what's included. Our concrete driveway building page goes into more detail.

Usually the cheaper quote skips the base work, raking the dirt level and pouring on top instead of digging out soft soil and packing a firm base. You can't see the base on day one, which is why it gets cut first, and it's often why a slab settles and cracks later. Ask every contractor to write out the base, the tear-out and the haul-away so you're comparing the same job.

You can walk on it well before you can drive on it, because concrete keeps hardening for weeks while it cures, the slow strengthening it needs before it carries weight. The exact wait depends on the slab and the weather, so our care notes tell you when to walk on it, when to drive on it and how to treat it that first winter.

Yes, the state Board for Contractors licenses businesses that build, repair or improve on property owned by others, and Arlington County says contractors must register with the county too. The county also says a contractor working on a project there likely needs a county business license. We're fully licensed and insured.

When the old slab has to go, yes, and your written estimate says plainly whether the tear-out and haul-away are included. After it's out, we dig out soft soil and pack the base before the forms go up, because pouring over the old dirt is how a new slab ends up sinking like the last one.

Our work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee. Beyond that, the best protection is what happens before the pour: a packed base, a slope that sends water away from your house and joints cut on time.

Concrete can still crack, but most of the cracking people call us about comes from a soft base, poor drainage or missing joints, and those are the parts we put the time into. We cut control joints, shallow grooves that give the slab a straight line to crack along, so any crack usually follows a line we chose. Pour timing matters too, since a slab poured in midday heat can end up with a weak, dusty top.

It depends on the job, so we check before any work starts. Arlington County issues residential building permits for work like new buildings, additions, exterior alterations and pools, and a separate right-of-way permit is needed when work blocks or narrows a traffic lane or curbside parking. If your job needs a permit, we handle the application with the county or city office that covers your address.