Footings, stem walls, and foundation slabs require excavation, reinforcement, dimensions, and inspections.
Vol. XXVI · No. 04 • Workshop Almanac
— The Everyday Handyman —
Est. MMXIX
Vol. XXVI · No. 04 • Workshop Almanac
Est. MMXIX
Concrete work is easy to judge on pour day and harder to judge five winters later. The questions are underneath: Was the subgrade compacted? Is drainage handled? Are joints planned? Is the mix suited to exposure? This guide shows homeowners what contractors do and what to verify before signing a contract.
In U.S. directories, “concrete contractor” is the common label; “concreter” usually means the same trade. Use this page to understand services, diagnose warning signs, sanity-check 2026 price ranges, separate DIY repairs from pro-level work, and compare bids without getting distracted by finish samples.
Jot down project basics here; nothing is sent, then use the hiring checklist below to compare bids.
Concrete contractors handle the whole pour. Work includes excavation, base preparation, forming, reinforcement, placement, finishing, jointing, curing, repairs, and finishes. Choose experience matched to the project; driveways, walls, and stamped patios demand skills.
Driveways, garage floors, shed pads, and other slabs need stable support, planned joints, drainage, and appropriate reinforcement.
Patios, paths, steps, and walkways combine drainage, safe transitions, finish texture, and edge detailing.
Stamped, colored, stained, or exposed-aggregate finishes add controlled pattern, texture, and color.
Footings, stem walls, and foundation slabs require excavation, reinforcement, dimensions, and inspections.
Repair specialists diagnose cracking, spalling, settlement, and wear before patching, leveling, resurfacing, or replacement.
Concrete retaining and structural walls require footings, reinforcement, drainage, forming, and placement.
§ III — FAILURE FIELD NOTES
Cracks do not mean failure, but patterns matter. Scaling, sinking, heaving, discoloration, and ponding can point to problems with support, drainage, finishing, curing, or exposure. A contractor should diagnose cause before recommending patching, resurfacing, lifting, or replacement.
Shrinkage, restraint, weak support, or poor joint planning can concentrate movement where cracks appear.
Watch for widening, offset, or moisture-stained cracks instead of judging width alone.
Freeze-thaw exposure, deicers, weak surface paste, or poor finishing.
Pitting, flaking, or peeling reveals progressively rougher aggregate at the surface.
Poorly compacted fill, erosion, drainage problems, or washed-out support can let sections drop.
Look for lips, trip edges, low spots, or slabs separating from neighbors.
Frost, expansive soils, roots, or trapped moisture can push a slab upward.
Raised panels, pinched joints, or seasonal movement can signal upward pressure.
Curing differences, moisture movement, finishing, or soluble salts can change appearance.
Uneven color, white deposits, or damp-looking zones deserve cause-specific diagnosis.
Incorrect pitch, settlement, blocked drainage, or nearby grade changes can trap surface water.
Puddles that remain after surrounding concrete dries show where drainage needs closer review.
§ IV — QUALITY FIELD NOTES
Concrete moves and shrinks; good work controls variables. Crews plan base, joints, drainage, mix, placement, finish, and curing before placement begins. That preparation reduces avoidable defects and gives homeowners clearer written scope to compare.
Good crews verify soil conditions, remove weak material, compact the base, and support reinforcement before concrete arrives onsite.
Planned contraction and isolation joints give shrinkage and movement intended paths, reducing the chance of random cracking around restraints.
The specified mix, slab thickness, reinforcement, and drainage slope should match vehicle loads, exposure, soil, and the project’s intended use.
Curing maintains proper moisture and temperature so concrete develops the strength and durability its mixture was designed to achieve.
Concrete placement, screeding, finishing, saw-cutting, and heavy material handling reward an organized crew with appropriate equipment and safety practices.
§ V — COST FIELD NOTES
Prices vary with region, access, and site conditions. Use 2026 national ranges only to sanity-check bids; local written estimates should spell out preparation, thickness, materials, curing, and cleanup.
Service
Typical Cost
Notes
$6 – $12 / SQ FT
Thickness, reinforcement, base preparation, and finish move pricing.
$2,400 – $8,600
Size, demolition, thickness, reinforcement, and access matter.
$1,900 – $5,400
Size, grading, access, and finish drive totals.
$9 – $22 / SQ FT
Patterns, colors, borders, and sealing increase labor.
$5 – $11 / SQ FT
Aggregate exposure adds finishing labor and coordination.
$300 – $6,000
Method, damage, access, and minimum charges matter.
$3 – $9 / SQ FT
Resurfacing requires sound, well-bonded existing concrete.
$3 – $18 / SQ FT
Footings and full foundations price differently by scope.
— NATIONAL 2026 RANGES • LOCAL CONDITIONS AND SCOPE CONTROL YOUR PRICE —
§ VI — PRO WORK BOUNDARIES
Small cosmetic repairs may suit DIYers. Large pours, structural work, drainage corrections, and complex finishes allow little recovery time. Hire qualified help when projects control loads, drainage, buried utilities, or large volumes needing placement and finishing.
Large pours need enough people, tools, and planning to place, screed, joint, and finish concrete before it loses workability.
Structural footings transfer loads; dimensions, reinforcement, and inspections may be set by code or design requirements.
Retaining walls manage soil pressure and water; drainage, reinforcement, footing design, and requirements need professional review.
Stamped finishes demand fast coordination of timing, pattern alignment, color, release, edge details, and sealing.
Drainage mistakes can send runoff toward garages, foundations, or neighbors; grading changes deserve elevations and local rule checks.
Forms and footings require excavation; contact 811 for utility locates before digging starts.
811 is the call-before-you-dig service. Contact the state 811 center before excavation and follow waiting rules. Utility owners mark approximate locations of underground lines; private lines may need locating. Keep markings visible and review dig area with your contractor before work begins.
§ VII — HIRING FIELD CHECK
Do not compare concrete bids on price alone. A useful estimate explains support, thickness, reinforcement, drainage, joints, curing, demolition, cleanup, and permits. Compare details side by side; a low bid may be efficient or may leave work undefined.
The License
Verify liability insurance and any required license; rules differ by location, so check the issuing authority before hiring.
The Quotes
Get at least three itemized bids and clearly compare thickness, base preparation, reinforcement, finish, curing, demolition, cleanup, and permit responsibilities.
The Base
A pro who talks compaction, gravel base, and control joints knows their craft. Silence on the base is a red flag.
The Portfolio
Review recent and older jobs similar to yours. Look beyond color and finish for drainage, straight edges, consistent joints, clean transitions, and obvious settlement.
The Warranty
Ask what the workmanship warranty covers, how long it lasts, what concrete cracking it excludes, and who handles any covered repair.
The Gut Check
Favor contractors who explain assumptions, exclusions, weather plans, curing, and change orders clearly without pressuring a decision.
§ VIII — MAINTENANCE FIELD NOTES
Routine care cannot fix defects, but it limits damage and reveals movement early. Keep water moving away, clean contamination promptly, protect joints, and use deicers cautiously. Needs vary with climate, finish, exposure, and sealer.
Where freeze-thaw or stains matter, ask about a breathable sealer and follow its reapplication schedule.
Document cracks, keep water out where appropriate, and investigate widening, offset, or recurring movement.
Keep gutters, downspouts, soil, and nearby paving from concentrating runoff along slab edges or beneath supported areas.
Remove oil, leaves, and chemicals promptly using cleaners compatible with the concrete and existing sealer.
Inspect sealed joints for gaps or failed material, then replace sealant with a compatible product when needed.
Use sand for traction; if needed, follow deicer product guidance and limit applications on concrete.
Avoid deicing chemicals the first winter; concrete is more vulnerable to scaling from freeze-thaw exposure.
Stable hairline cracks may be cosmetic; widening, vertical offset, water entry, or repeated movement deserves evaluation.
Persistent water accelerates deterioration and signals drainage or settlement problems worth correcting.
Keep heavy loads off slabs not designed for them, especially near edges and corners.
Moisture, dust, curing compounds, or residue can interfere with sealer bond; follow product’s surface-preparation requirements.
Patios and walkways may not support vehicle loads; confirm capacity before placing heavy equipment on thinner flatwork.
§ IX — IN CONCLUSION
A good concrete project starts before the truck arrives. Compare contractors on base preparation, drainage, slab thickness, reinforcement, joint planning, curing, and the clarity of the scope. Verify insurance and required licensing, review similar work, and use 811 before excavation. Treat national prices as screening ranges, not promises. Contractors who explain assumptions and exclusions give you a better basis for choosing than finish samples or the lowest total alone.