Frequently Asked Questions

Get two or three written bids and compare what is in them, not just the total. Each should state slab thickness, base depth, air-entrained concrete, reinforcement, joint layout and who handles permits. If the work reaches the public sidewalk or the driveway approach, ask how the bidder handles the city side. A contractor who can tell you why your old slab failed is better placed to keep the new one from doing the same.

Yes. A single stoop, a few sidewalk squares, a sunken patio panel or a pad for a grill or shed are all normal requests. HomeGuide notes that lifting contractors often have a minimum charge of $300 to $700, so it can pay to group small fixes into one visit. We will tell you if a job is small enough that patching or lifting beats replacing.

The city brochure gives two. Option One lets you hire your own contractor licensed by the Board of Public Works, with a Street Terrace Permit, and you must tell the Sidewalk Office (266-4537) within 20 days of the notice. Option Two has the city's contractor do it, and you pay half the repair cost by special assessment, with driveway restoration billed at full cost. Most owners choose Option Two, according to the brochure.

Often, if the slab is in one piece and the problem is settling rather than crumbling. HomeGuide lists mudjacking at $4 to $9 a square foot and foam lifting at $8 to $25, against $6 to $15 for replacement, and says leveling is usually not the answer for cracks wider than a quarter inch or heavy spalling. We check the slab and give you both prices when lifting is realistic.

HomeGuide's national guide lists standard concrete driveways at $6 to $10 a square foot installed, or $2,400 to $6,000 for a 20 by 20 two-car drive. Removing an old driveway adds $2 to $6 a square foot. Local costs vary with access, thickness and finish, so the written quote after measuring is the real number.

That flaking is scaling. Water in the top layer freezes and expands, and salt increases the number of freeze cycles. Slabs poured without air entrainment, finished while wet or salted in their first winter are most at risk. Light scaling on a sound slab can often be resurfaced; deep scaling over most of the surface usually means replacement.

As little as you can. The City of Madison says a 12-ounce coffee mug of salt is enough for 10 sidewalk squares, that salt does not work well below 15 degrees, and that sand is the better choice in deep cold. Shovel first, keep salt off new concrete the first winter, and avoid ammonium-based de-icers.

HomeGuide says foot traffic is fine after 24 to 48 hours, cars should wait at least 7 days, and heavy vehicles should wait the full 30-day cure. We give you dates for your slab based on the mix and the weather that week.

HomeGuide gives 30 to 40 years for a well-built, maintained concrete driveway. In Madison the base, the air content of the mix, sealing and your choice of de-icer decide where in that range it lands.

HomeGuide says at least 4 inches for cars and 5 to 6 inches for RVs or heavy use, with 6 to 8 inch edges. We also add depth at the apron, where plow blades and turning tires concentrate the load.

We rarely recommend it. A new layer on a cracked, settled driveway inherits the same cracks and movement, and it raises the surface at the garage door and the street. Taking out the old slab and rebuilding the base is the dependable route.

Changing the approach does. The city's driveway standards say an entrance cannot be resized or relocated without written permission, and a typical Class I residential entrance is capped at 20 feet wide. Mobility and Infrastructure can be reached at 608-266-4761, and we confirm the rules for your address before quoting.

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

HomeGuide lists 30 to 50 years for a concrete patio with regular maintenance. Drainage, the base and keeping salt off it are the biggest factors in a Madison yard.

HomeGuide gives 4 inches as standard for residential patios, and 6 inches with extra reinforcement for heavy loads such as hot tubs or outdoor kitchens.

Yes, if nights stay above freezing long enough for the concrete to gain strength, and sometimes with insulated blankets. Once frost is in the ground, spring is usually the better choice.

It depends on the municipality and the project. Madison and each nearby town and village set their own rules, so we check what your address requires before scheduling.

Yes. We match heights so there is no trip edge, separate the new slab from the old with a joint so they can move independently, and pitch both to drain.

It can be, with an air-entrained mix, a draining base, a slip-resistant sealer and regular resealing. Keep ammonium de-icers off it and use plastic shovels. On driveways we usually suggest a stamped border with plain lanes for traction and plow wear.

Every few years, more often in heavy traffic areas. The sealer protects the color and keeps water out, and it is the main maintenance task for stamped work.

A glossy sealer can be slick when wet or frosty. We add grit to the sealer on walks, steps and pool areas to improve grip.

Only with an overlay, and only if the slab is sound. HomeGuide lists stamped overlays at $7 to $15 a square foot for one pattern. Cracked or heaving slabs need replacing first.

Like any concrete it can, which is why we place control joints along pattern lines so cracks follow them. Integral color helps any chips blend in rather than show gray.

The city inspects and schedules repairs through its annual sidewalk program, and owners share the cost. Under the city's Option Two you pay half the repair cost by special assessment; under Option One you hire a Board of Public Works licensed contractor and pay in full.

According to the city's brochure, a white "X" marks a section considered for replacement, and a pink mark with a white "c" means the offset can be sawcut to a taper at no cost to you. Owners may not grind offsets themselves.

HomeGuide gives 25 to 50 years depending on installation, maintenance and reinforcement. Steps run 30 to 40 years with proper care.

If it is one solid piece that has sunk or tipped, lifting may work. If it is cracked through, crumbling or pulling away in pieces, replacement is usually the better fix.

Foot traffic is generally fine after 24 to 48 hours. Keep salt off it the first winter, as the city recommends for new sidewalk.

HomeGuide says leveled concrete lasts about 5 to 10 years or more, with mudjacking typically 5 to 7 years with good drainage and foam lifting often lasting longest. Fixing downspouts and grading makes the biggest difference.

Mudjacking costs less and works well for many driveways and walks. Foam uses smaller holes, is lighter and is often longer lasting, but costs more. We recommend based on the slab, the soil and your budget.

Small cracks are fine and can be sealed after lifting. HomeGuide says cracks wider than a quarter inch, heavy spalling or severe deterioration usually mean replacement is the better choice.

The public sidewalk in Madison is handled through the city's annual sidewalk program, which can sawcut some small offsets at no charge. We lift slabs on your own property.

Usually the same day or the next, depending on the method. We tell you when it is ready before we leave.

If the slab underneath is solid, yes. A bonded resurfacer can cover scaling. HomeGuide says resurfacing typically lasts 8 to 15 years. If the concrete is crumbling deep or the slab is cracked through, replacement is better.

Hairline shrinkage cracks are normal. Cracks that widen, let water in or have one side higher than the other should be sealed or looked at. HomeGuide says cracks wider than a quarter inch can indicate deeper problems.

HomeGuide lists crack filling at $0.50 to $3 a linear foot and basic driveway resurfacing at $3 to $5 a square foot, against $6 to $15 a square foot for replacement. Your price depends on how much damage there is.

Not exactly at first. New concrete is lighter and weathers toward the old color over time. Resurfacing an entire area gives a uniform look.

Spring through fall, when temperatures are above freezing day and night. Sealing cracks before winter keeps water out during the freeze-thaw months.