Frequently Asked Questions

HomeGuide's national figure for ready-mix concrete is $119 to $147 per cubic yard delivered, with an extra fee per yard on small loads under about 10 yards. Local plant prices vary. For a finished driveway or patio, the concrete itself is only part of the cost; labor, base, forms, reinforcement and finishing make up the rest, which is why we quote installed work by the job.

It is a loose term people use for cheaper hard surfaces that stand in for concrete, most often compacted crushed stone or gravel, or soil mixed with cement and packed down. They can work for a parking pad or a path, but they do not give you the strength, clean edge or long life of a properly poured slab. We can talk through where a gravel area makes sense and where concrete is worth it.

HomeGuide puts the life of a concrete driveway at about 30 to 40 years with basic care. In Macon the things that shorten it are poor base, standing water, tree roots and cracks left open. A good base, correct slope, control joints and sealing every few years all help it reach the long end of that range.

Walking on it is normally fine within a day or two. Cars should stay off a new driveway for at least seven days, and heavy trucks for about a month while the concrete gains full strength. We write down the dates for your pour before we leave.

No, but it takes planning. Hot, dry air can pull water out of the surface too fast. We pour in the morning, have the crew and materials ready so the finish is not rushed, and keep the slab damp or sealed with curing compound so it cures evenly.

It depends on the work. A new curb cut or work in the public right-of-way is different from replacing a patio in a backyard. We check with Macon-Bibb County's permit and engineering offices, or your town's office, before we schedule the job.

Repair is worth it when cracks are narrow, the surface is only worn, or a panel has dropped but stayed in one piece. HomeGuide's resurfacing guide says crumbling, spalling, or cracks over roughly a quarter inch wide usually point to replacement. We check the slab and what is under it, then tell you which way we would go.

Per HomeGuide, 4 inches is the minimum for cars and light trucks, with 5 to 6 inches for RVs or heavy vehicles and extra depth at the edges. We base the number on what you park and the ground under it.

Not every driveway needs it, but rebar helps hold cracked sections together and resist settling, especially on slopes, soft ground or where heavy vehicles park. HomeGuide prices it at $1 to $3 per square foot.

Usually not. A new layer over a cracked or sunken slab tends to crack along the same lines, and it lifts the surface against the garage floor and the street. Taking the old slab out and rebuilding the base is the fix that lasts.

Tear-out and pour usually happen over a few days, weather allowing. Then you keep cars off for at least a week while it cures.

Four inches over a compacted base is standard for a patio with furniture and foot traffic. For a hot tub or outdoor kitchen, we pour about 6 inches with reinforcement.

Any surface in full Macon sun gets warm. Lighter colors, a broom texture and placing the patio where it gets afternoon shade all help it stay more comfortable.

Usually, yes. HomeGuide prices extensions at about the same per square foot as a new patio. We tie the new section in with a joint so it can move separately, and we try to match the finish, though new and old concrete rarely look identical at first.

Plain and broom-finished concrete usually cost less than pavers. Stamped concrete can land near paver prices. We can price both finishes on one estimate so you can compare.

Most stamped surfaces want a new coat every two to three years, sooner where they get full sun or a lot of traffic. The sealer is what protects the color and keeps water out.

Once sealed, it can be slick when wet. For walks, steps and pool decks we add an anti-skid grit to the sealer so it grips better.

It can, as all concrete can. We place control joints in the pattern's grout lines wherever possible, so cracks tend to follow those lines and stay hard to spot.

Fixr's stamped patio guide puts pavers at about $15 a square foot on average, which sits inside the $12 to $18 range it gives for mid-level stamped work. Stamped slabs have no gaps for weeds and nothing to settle piece by piece; pavers are easier to fix one unit at a time.

The old slab itself cannot be printed, but a thin stamped overlay can be applied over concrete that is still sound. If the slab is cracked or sinking, a new stamped pour is the better plan.

Yes. We saw-cut at the nearest joints, remove the damaged panels, deal with the root or base problem, and pour the sections back level with the rest.

It can harm a tree, especially large roots close to the trunk. We look at the root first and often recommend rerouting or reshaping the walk instead. For valuable trees, an arborist's opinion is worth getting.

Rules for public sidewalks vary by city and location. We check with Macon-Bibb County or your town before working on any walk or apron in the right-of-way.

HomeGuide notes most concrete walkways are 4 to 6 inches thick. We use 4 inches for foot traffic and go thicker where carts, mowers or vehicles cross.

Four inches over compacted stone is standard for most sheds. Heavier buildings, workshops with equipment, or anything you will drive into need 6 inches with reinforcement.

It depends on the size and what goes on it. Garages, carports and workshops often need one. We check with Macon-Bibb County or your town before we schedule the pour.

HomeGuide notes one cubic yard covers about 81 square feet at 4 inches thick. We calculate the order for you as part of the quote, with a little extra for waste and uneven ground.

Light framing can often start after several days. Heavy loads and vehicles should wait about a month while the concrete reaches full strength.

Often, yes, if the cracks are narrow and the base is sound. HomeGuide notes that cracks over about a quarter inch, crumbling or spalling usually mean replacement. We check and tell you which applies.

HomeGuide puts resurfaced concrete at about 8 to 15 years before it needs more work, depending on traffic, weather and the slab underneath.

Both lift sunken slabs. Mudjacking uses a cement slurry and costs less; polyjacking uses lightweight foam, needs smaller holes and costs more. We recommend one based on the slab and the soil.

Patches and new sections rarely match exactly at first. Sealing or resurfacing the whole area helps blend them.

Common causes are a weak or washed-out base, water from downspouts, tree roots and missing control joints. Fixing the cause matters as much as fixing the crack.