Frequently Asked Questions

There is no single number. As national reference points, HomeGuide's cost guides list a standard driveway at $6 to $10 per square foot, a plain patio at $4 to $12 per square foot and a new sidewalk at $7 to $17 per square foot, all installed. Removing old concrete, regrading, extra thickness, steel and decorative finishes push the total up. Your price comes in writing, line by line, after we have seen the site.

For a plain 400-square-foot slab, HomeGuide's slab guide gives a national range of $2,400 to $4,800 installed. Its patio guide puts a 20 by 20 patio at $1,600 to $4,800 plain and $3,200 to $12,000 stained or stamped. Depth, base prep, truck access and any tear-out shift where your job lands.

Most of Rio Rancho is in Sandoval County, where it is the largest city. A small part of the city extends into northern Bernalillo County. That matters for concrete work because permit and right-of-way rules can depend on which jurisdiction your lot is in, so we check your address before we schedule.

It is an informal name for low-cost surfaces that imitate concrete, such as compacted crusher fines, gravel, or soil blended with a little cement. For a garden path or an occasional parking spot they can be fine. They are not as strong, flat or long-lived as a reinforced slab, so for a driveway or a patio with furniture on it, poured concrete holds up better.

Some cracking is built in: concrete shrinks while it cures, and control joints are cut to give those cracks a straight, planned path. The cracks that cause trouble here usually trace back to water getting under the slab, a base that was thin or loosely packed, freezing on an unsealed surface, or loads the slab was never designed for. A lasting repair deals with that cause, not only the crack.

Yes, on the right days. Rio Rancho's mean winter lows sit around freezing, but afternoons are often mild. We pour only on ground that is not frozen, use mixes and blankets suited to the temperature, and protect new concrete from freezing while it gains strength. Some jobs are simply easier in spring or fall.

That depends on the job and the lot. Street-side work, such as a new curb cut or a public sidewalk panel, generally brings in the city or county. Before scheduling, we look up what applies at your address, and if you have an HOA we suggest getting its sign-off early.

For ordinary cars, 4 inches is the floor. HomeGuide's guide suggests 5 to 6 inches for RVs and other heavy vehicles, with thicker edges. Tell us about any trailer, camper or work truck and we will design the depth and base around it.

Foot traffic is generally fine within a day or two. Give it roughly a week before a car goes on it, and longer before anything heavy. Strength keeps building for about four weeks, and we hand you specific dates for your slab.

Narrow cracks in a slab that is still level can often be sealed, or one panel swapped out, for years of extra use. Wide cracks, sunken sections, standing water or scaling across much of the surface usually make a new driveway the better value. When both options are reasonable, we price both.

It is optional but worthwhile here. A penetrating sealer slows how much water soaks in, which means less flaking after winter freezes and fewer stains. It goes on once the slab has cured, usually about a month after the pour.

Size follows use. A bistro set fits on 10 by 10 feet; a six-person dining table with walking room generally wants 12 by 14 or larger. We lay out the shape on the ground so you can try it before the pour.

Yes. Dowels pin the addition to the old slab so both stay level, with a joint where they meet. New and old concrete will not match exactly in color, so some owners go with a contrasting finish or border on purpose.

HomeGuide's patio guide calls for 6 inches plus extra reinforcement under hot tubs and outdoor kitchens, versus 4 inches for an ordinary patio. Your hot tub's manufacturer may set its own requirement; we follow whichever is stricter.

Spring and fall are the easiest, with mild days and cool nights. Summer pours work with early starts and quick curing. Winter pours are possible on warmer stretches when the ground is not frozen.

Fixr's stamped patio guide gives about 25 years, in line with plain concrete. How good it looks over that span comes down to regular resealing and keeping water from washing out the base.

Every two to three years is typical, and sooner for areas in full sun or heavy use. If water no longer beads up or the color has gone flat, it is time.

Wet stamped surfaces can be slick, glossy sealers most of all. On steps, entries and anywhere people walk barefoot, we blend an anti-slip grit into the seal coat.

Neither is always cheaper; pattern, colors and site conditions decide it, so price both. Stamped concrete has no gaps for weeds, while pavers let you lift and replace a single unit.

Not directly, because stamping requires fresh concrete. A stamped overlay can go over a slab that is sound and level. A cracked or sunken slab needs repair or replacement first.

Three feet is a common minimum. Four feet lets a pair walk next to each other and looks more in proportion with most entries. We size it to your front door and driveway.

That rule differs between jurisdictions, and many do put it on the property owner. We find out which rules cover your lot before touching anything in the public right-of-way.

Yes. The damaged panel is saw-cut at its joints and lifted out, the base underneath is repaired, and a fresh panel is poured. It will look lighter than the older concrete for a while, but the trip edge is gone.

Nearly always water: a downspout, a dripping spigot, sprinklers or storm runoff soften or wash out the soil underneath. A lasting fix deals with that water as well as the concrete.

For a plain 400-square-foot slab, HomeGuide's national range is $2,400 to $4,800 installed. Depth, base work, truck access and any old concrete to remove decide where in that range a job falls.

Most sheds sit fine on 4 inches. Heavy buildings, shops full of tools, or anything a vehicle will drive into should be deeper, with thickened perimeter edges.

Under an enclosed building, where ground moisture could reach stored items or flooring, a vapor barrier makes sense. Open pads for RVs or AC units generally do without one.

Light buildings can often go on after about a week. For heavy buildings or vehicles, waiting closer to the full cure of about a month is safer. We give you a date for your slab.

Thin cracks in a slab that is still level usually just need sealing. Wide cracks, dropped sections, broken pieces or flaking over large areas tend to mean replacing that section or the whole slab. We judge it on site and price both routes when both make sense.

HomeGuide's leveling guide says professionally leveled concrete lasts 5 to 10 years or more, with method and soil making the difference and good drainage helping it last longer. That is why a drainage fix is part of every leveling job we do.

That is scaling: the top layer breaking away, usually because water in the surface froze. Finishing that overworked the surface or added water makes it worse. A sound slab can be resurfaced, and sealing helps keep it from happening again.

No. We work on flatwork such as driveways, patios, walks and slabs. If a crack runs into your house foundation or walls, we will recommend a foundation or structural specialist.