Frequently Asked Questions

Get two or three written bids and compare more than the total. Each bid should state slab thickness, how the base will be prepared, reinforcement, joint layout, finish and who gets the permit. Ask how the contractor will handle drainage and any downspouts near the slab. A contractor who can explain why your old concrete failed is more likely to build the new slab right.

Ask each one the same questions: how deep they dig, what they compact under the slab, how thick the concrete will be and how water will drain. Ask whether the quote includes removal and hauling. Ask how they plan summer pours around heat and afternoon storms. Clear, specific answers are a good sign.

HomeGuide's national cost guide lists standard concrete driveways at $6 to $10 per square foot installed, and $2,400 to $6,000 for a 20 by 20 foot two-car driveway. Removing an old driveway adds $2 to $6 per square foot. Gainesville prices can be higher or lower, so the written estimate after we measure is the real number.

Yes. The City of Gainesville's Public Works page says driveway installation and driveway inspections go through the Department of Sustainable Development, 352-334-5050. Outside the city, Alachua County Public Works issues right-of-way connection permits. We confirm what your address needs and build it into the schedule.

Usually it is water moving sand out from under the slab. Downspouts, heavy summer storms and poor slope are the common causes, and roots lift slabs in older neighborhoods. Alachua County's sinkhole fact sheet also lists leaking pipes, decaying buried debris and runoff from roofs and pavement as causes of ground sinking.

Most cracks are not. But Alachua County's fact sheet lists cracks in pavement and rain pooling where it never pooled before among the warning signs. If the ground near your home is dropping or you see other signs, the county says a licensed geologist or qualified engineer should evaluate it before any concrete is replaced.

Yes. We pour in the morning, keep the base damp so it does not pull water from the mix, and cure the surface so it does not dry too fast. If storms are coming, we move the pour.

HomeGuide's driveway guide says foot traffic is usually fine after 24 to 48 hours, cars after at least 7 days and heavy vehicles after the full 30-day cure. We give you dates for your slab in writing.

HomeGuide's driveway guide gives 30 to 40 years for a well-built, maintained concrete driveway. In Gainesville, a good base and good drainage are what push a driveway to the long end of that range.

HomeGuide recommends at least 4 inches for cars and 5 to 6 inches for heavy vehicles. Inside the City of Gainesville, the part of the driveway in the right-of-way is built of 6-inch concrete under the city's design standards.

We rarely recommend it. New concrete over a cracked, sunken driveway picks up the same cracks and settling, and it raises the surface at the garage and the street. Removing the old slab and fixing the base lasts longer.

The city's Public Works page says driveway installation and inspections go through the Department of Sustainable Development, 352-334-5050. For homes outside the city, Alachua County Public Works handles right-of-way connection permits.

HomeGuide says to wait at least 7 days for cars and about 30 days for heavy vehicles. We give you exact dates.

HomeGuide's patio guide says plain, stained and stamped concrete patios last 30 to 50 years with good installation and care. Drainage and a solid base matter most here.

Most patios are 4 inches thick on a compacted base. HomeGuide says patios for hot tubs or outdoor kitchens should be 6 inches with extra reinforcement.

Yes. We tie the new slab to the old one, match the height and slope it away from the house. New concrete will look lighter than the old slab at first.

It depends on the size, the location and whether the patio is inside city limits or in the county. We check before we schedule and add any permit to the plan.

Light-colored textured finishes, like knockdown or a cool-deck style coating, stay cooler underfoot than dark or smooth surfaces and give better grip when wet.

Sealed stamped concrete can be slick when wet. We use patterns with texture and add anti-slip grit to the sealer around pools.

If it is solid and level, often yes. HomeGuide lists basic pool deck overlays at $3 to $6 per square foot. Decks with large cracks or sunken areas need those sections repaired or replaced first.

Common causes are water running under the slab and washing out sand, missing control joints, and settling of fill around the pool. We find the cause before we recommend a fix.

All concrete can crack. Stamped slabs get control joints like plain slabs, and we cut them along pattern lines so cracks follow the design.

Every few years for most patios, and sooner for pool decks and busy walks. If water soaks in instead of beading up, or the color looks flat, it is time.

If it is solid and level, a stamped overlay may work. HomeGuide lists overlays at $7 to $15 per square foot for one pattern. Sunken or broken slabs should be replaced.

Stamped concrete is one solid slab with no joints for weeds or ants. Pavers can be lifted and reset one at a time. Price both for the same space and pick the trade-off you prefer.

HomeGuide's slab guide says most two-car garage floors are reinforced concrete 4 to 6 inches thick. We go thicker where heavy trucks or equipment park.

HomeGuide says shed slabs are usually about 4 inches thick and typically do not need reinforcement. For larger sheds or soft ground, we often add wire mesh.

Slabs under new enclosed buildings do. The Florida Building Code, Residential (R318) requires soil treatment after compaction and a vapor retarder of at least 6 mil, with retreatment if rain falls first. Open pads like AC or shed pads are a different case, and we will tell you what applies.

Framing can often start within days, but concrete keeps getting stronger for weeks. HomeGuide's slab guide puts full cure at 28 to 48 days.

Usually. HomeGuide lists mudjacking at $4 to $9 per square foot and full replacement at $6 to $15. Leveling only makes sense if the slab is in one piece and the cause of the sinking is fixed.

HomeGuide's leveling guide says 5 to 10 years or more, with mudjacking typically 5 to 7 years. Keeping water from running under the slab makes the biggest difference.

Foam is lighter, uses smaller holes and costs more. Mudjacking costs less and works well for most walks and patios. We recommend one based on the slab and the soil.

Most sunken slabs are caused by water washing out sand. Alachua County's sinkhole fact sheet lists warning signs like new pooling, cracks in walls and pavement, and doors that stop closing. If you see several of those, the county advises having a licensed geologist or qualified engineer evaluate the property.