Frequently Asked Questions

We have not found a published Tennessee-only figure. HomeGuide's national concrete price guide lists ready-mix at $119 to $147 per cubic yard with delivery inside 20 miles, and short loads under 10 yards add about $53 a yard. Most homeowners pay for installed concrete by the square foot instead, because labor, base, steel and finishing cost more than the concrete itself.

In Germantown the property owner does. The city's sidewalk maintenance guide puts repairs on the owner, including damage caused by the owner's trees. Replacement needs a permit, and the city's Engineering Department at (901) 751-5720 can explain the requirements.

White paint means the crack can be caulked with the city's approved concrete caulk and then reinspected. Orange paint means the panel must be replaced under a permit. The city says marked repairs must be finished before closing, so call as soon as you get the inspection result.

Usually because the soil under it washed out or compressed. Downspouts and runoff soaking in along the edge carry silt away, and fill placed against a new house often settles for years. A panel that is still in one piece can often be lifted; one that has cracked into pieces is better replaced on a new compacted stone base.

The city's Engineering Permits page lists driveways and sidewalks under its right-of-way permit, and it requires right-of-way contractors to hold a city business tax license and a bond. We confirm what your address needs with Engineering before scheduling and note it on the quote.

Yes. We start early in the day, dampen the base, and keep the slab wet or covered while it cures so it does not dry too fast and crack at the surface. On the hottest afternoons we would rather move the pour than rush it.

HomeGuide lists 30 to 40 years for a concrete driveway that is built and maintained properly. Here the base, drainage at the edges and nearby tree roots decide most of where in that range a driveway ends up.

HomeGuide says to wait at least seven days for cars and about 30 days for heavy vehicles such as moving trucks. Walking on it is generally fine after a day or two. We give you dates for your slab.

HomeGuide recommends at least 4 inches for cars and 5 to 6 inches for RVs or heavy vehicles, with edges of 6 to 8 inches. We thicken the apron and edges where loads are heaviest.

We rarely recommend it. A new layer on a sunken, cracked slab inherits the same movement, and it raises the surface at the garage and the street. Removing the old slab and rebuilding the base is the dependable route.

HomeGuide gives 30 to 40 years for a driveway that is well built and maintained. Drainage at the edges and nearby roots matter most here.

The city lists driveways under its right-of-way permit, and its residential packet shows a $100 public right-of-way fee. We confirm what applies to your address with Engineering before scheduling.

HomeGuide says at least seven days for cars and around 30 days for heavy vehicles. We give you exact dates.

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

HomeGuide calls 4 inches standard for residential patios and recommends 6 inches with more reinforcement for hot tubs or outdoor kitchens.

Large roots can lift a slab. We look at nearby trees at the estimate and may suggest shifting the patio, a root barrier or extra reinforcement over the root zone.

Yes. We pitch it away from the pool and the house and use a textured finish for grip. Pool and retaining wall work in Germantown falls under the city's grading and stormwater permit, so we check what your project needs.

All concrete cracks somewhere. Stamped slabs get control joints like any other, and we cut them along pattern lines so the cracks follow the design.

Sealed stamped concrete is slicker when wet than a broom finish. A textured pattern and grit mixed into the sealer help on steps, walks and pool surrounds.

Every few years on most patios, sooner in full sun or on busy paths. Faded color or water soaking in instead of beading means it is due.

If it is solid and level, a stamped overlay may work. HomeGuide lists single-pattern overlays at $7 to $15 a square foot. A sunken or broken slab should be replaced.

Stamped concrete is one slab with no sand joints to weed and no pieces to shift. Pavers can be lifted and reset one at a time. Price both for the same space and decide which trade-off you prefer.

The owner does. The city's sidewalk guide places repairs on the property owner, including hazards from the owner's tree roots.

White means the crack can be caulked with approved concrete caulk, then reinspected. Orange means the panel must be replaced under a permit. Both must be done before closing.

The city's guide lists it at $100. Homes and condos without a sidewalk do not need one.

HomeGuide puts typical step repair at $300 to $800 for cracks or small sections. Steps that have sunk, pulled away from the house or have uneven risers are usually better replaced.

Often, if the panels are in one piece. HomeGuide lists mudjacking a 100-square-foot walk at $400 to $900. Our repair page covers lifting.

HomeGuide says leveled concrete lasts 5 to 10 years or more, with mudjacking around 5 to 7 years when drainage is kept in order. Foam lifting often lasts longer.

Mudjacking costs less per square foot. Foam is lighter, uses smaller holes and cures fast. On soft silt, a lighter fill puts less new weight on weak soil, which is one reason many people choose foam.

Narrow, stable cracks can be sealed. Wide, offset cracks or a slab broken into many pieces usually call for replacing those panels or the whole drive.

Briefly. Cracks in a slab that is still moving come back through an overlay. Resurfacing is for sound, level concrete with a worn surface.

HomeGuide describes typical two-car garage floors as reinforced and 4 to 6 inches thick. We go thicker where heavy vehicles or equipment will sit.

HomeGuide notes shed slabs are usually about 4 inches thick and often unreinforced. We add reinforcement when the building is large or the ground is soft.

HomeGuide's slab guide says slabs are generally driveable after 1 to 2 weeks and fully cured in 28 to 48 days. We give you dates for your floor.

It depends on the slab and its location. Germantown's site plan checklist lists equipment pads and porches among items to show, so we check with the city before scheduling.