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Many cities and counties require a permit for a new driveway approach, a retaining wall over a certain height, or any structural slab, though a simple patio replacement often doesn't need one. Heritage Concrete pulls the required permits as part of the job so the homeowner doesn't have to deal with the county directly.

Forming, base prep, and pouring a standard driveway usually takes two to three days, with the concrete safe to walk on after about two days and safe for vehicles after five to seven days depending on temperature. Full cure strength takes closer to 28 days, though driving on it sooner won't cause damage once it's set.

Plain broom-finished concrete costs less than stamped or exposed aggregate and is the most common way to bring a project in under budget without cutting corners on the base work. Reducing square footage or phasing a project, like doing the driveway now and a patio later, is another option worth discussing during the quote.

Concrete work should be free of workmanship defects like improper joint placement or poor finishing, and reputable concrete contractors stand behind that for a period after completion. Cracking from normal shrinkage within the joints is expected and isn't a defect, since concrete is designed to crack there.

On most residential concrete jobs, the crew lead on site is the point of contact for questions during the work, with the estimator or owner handling scheduling and the written quote. Direct phone communication is typical rather than going through an office.

Standard residential concrete work uses a 3,000 to 4,000 PSI mix depending on the application, with a higher strength mix used for driveways that need to handle vehicle loads. Rebar is used instead of wire mesh on anything load-bearing, since mesh alone doesn't hold a slab together once it cracks.

Access to a driveway or yard is blocked from the day forms go in until the concrete cures enough to walk or drive on, typically several days for a driveway. Parking on the street or an alternate access point usually needs to be arranged ahead of the pour.

Clearing the area of vehicles, furniture, plants, and sprinkler heads in the pour zone ahead of time speeds up the job and avoids delays on pour day. Heritage Concrete handles demolition of old concrete and grading, so the homeowner doesn't need to do any heavy prep.

Removing an old slab sometimes uncovers soft or wet soil, tree roots, or an old utility line that wasn't visible before, and that changes the base prep needed before pouring. Any change to the scope or cost gets discussed with the homeowner before work continues, not after the fact.

New concrete should be kept off vehicle traffic for about a week while it cures. In Central Valley heat, sealing a driveway or patio every couple years helps resist cracking from sun exposure and keeps stains from soaking into the surface.