What a Good Driveway Starts With
Most driveways fail from the ground up. The concrete gets blamed, but the real cause is a soft base, no steel, or water that sits under the slab. We dig out the old dirt and grass, then bring in crushed rock and pack it down in layers. That base is what keeps a driveway flat for decades.
Austin ground is not the same from one street to the next. West of I 35 we often hit limestone a few inches down. East of I 35 the ground is clay that swells when it rains and shrinks in August. We plan the base and the steel for the ground you have, not for a generic yard.
How We Pour Your Driveway
- Measure and mark. We walk the site with you, mark the edges and check the slope so water runs to the street.
- Tear out. If there is an old driveway, we break it up and haul it away.
- Base. We grade the dirt, add crushed rock and compact it.
- Forms and steel. We stake wood forms, then tie a rebar grid and set it on chairs so it sits inside the slab.
- Pour and finish. We place the concrete, screed it flat, float it and give it a broom finish.
- Cut the joints. We cut control joints so any cracks happen in a straight line where you will not notice them.
- Cure. We keep traffic off while it gains strength and tell you when it is safe to drive on.
Wider Driveways, Parking Pads and Extensions
Need room for one more car, a boat or a work truck? We add concrete to the side of an existing driveway or pour a new parking pad. We drill and pin new concrete to the old slab with steel dowels so the two pieces move together.
We also pour the approach where your driveway meets the street. That part usually sits in the city right of way, so it often needs a permit. We check the rules for your city before we set a date.
Plain Concrete Only
We pour plain gray concrete with a broom or smooth finish. We do not do stamped, stained or other decorative concrete. That focus is on purpose. A plain slab with a good base and good steel is the part of the job that decides how long it lasts.
Common Questions
How thick should a concrete driveway be?
Four inches is the normal thickness for cars. We go to five or six inches where heavy trucks, trailers or an RV will park.
How long before I can drive on my new driveway?
You can walk on it the next day. Cars can go on it after about seven days. Concrete keeps getting stronger for about 28 days, so keep heavy trucks off until then.
Can you pour over my old driveway?
We do not recommend it. Cracks in the old slab come right through the new one. We tear out the old concrete and start with a fresh base.
Do you use rebar or wire mesh?
We use a rebar grid set on chairs so the steel stays in the middle of the slab where it does its job.
Where We Do This Work
We work across Austin and every town within 60 miles, including Austin, Killeen, Round Rock, New Braunfels, Georgetown, San Marcos, Pflugerville, Kyle, Schertz, Hutto. See all service areas.
