Step 1
Dig out and base
We remove the soil, compact the red clay and lay crushed stone so the slab has something solid under it.
Concrete driveways built from the ground up
New driveways, two-car widenings, parking pads and long country driveways in Raleigh and the Triangle. We dig out, build a compacted base for the red clay, pour, finish and cut the joints. Clean broom or smooth finish: no stamped concrete.
What's included
Everything in concrete driveways
- New driveways
- Two-car widenings
- Parking pads for a boat or trailer
- Long country driveways
- Circular driveways
- Broom, smooth or exposed finish
How we do it
Step by step
Step 2
Forms and steel
Straight forms, the slope set for water, and steel reinforcement on chairs.
Step 3
Pour
Ready-mix concrete, spread and leveled while it is fresh.
Step 4
Finish
Floated, edged and broomed for grip in the rain.
Step 5
Control joints
Cut straight so the concrete cracks where we want it, not across your driveway.
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What you don't see
What goes underneath
Tap each layer.
Thickness:
5 inches: cars, pickups and soft clay.
Finish
Surface
A broom finish gives grip in the rain; smooth or exposed aggregate where it fits. Never stamped: clean finishes last longer and are easier to repair.
Concrete slab
4–6 in
4 inches is the usual minimum for cars; 5–6 inches for pickups, trailers, RVs or soft red clay. Thicker slabs carry more weight before they crack.
Steel reinforcement
Inside the slab
Steel set on chairs so it stays in the middle of the slab, where it helps hold cracks tight.
Control joints
Every 10 ft or less
Concrete always cracks a little. Joints cut about a quarter of the slab deep make it crack in a straight line, where you don't see it.
Crushed-stone base
Compacted
A layer of crushed stone, compacted, so water drains and the slab sits on something solid, not on mud.
Red clay subgrade
Carolina soil
North Carolina's red clay holds water and moves. Soft spots get dug out and compacted before anything goes on top.
Tool
Measure your job
400sq ft
5.3cu yd
4"thick
1truck
- Joints
- Gravel base
- Removal
- Ready to use
What parks on it?
Anything else?
Anything to remove?
- Joints
- Gravel base
- Removal
- Ready to use
Reference numbers, not a price. The estimate is free.
Photos
How it looks
Tap a photo to see it big.
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Questions
What people ask
01When can I drive on my new driveway?Walk on it after 1–2 days and park cars after about 7 days. Heavy trucks…
Walk on it after 1–2 days and park cars after about 7 days. Heavy trucks should wait about 28 days, when concrete reaches its design strength.
Another question? Ask Victor02How thick should it be?4 inches is the usual minimum for cars. On soft red clay, or for pickups,…
4 inches is the usual minimum for cars. On soft red clay, or for pickups, trailers and RVs, 5 to 6 inches is the safer choice. We tell you what your job needs when we see it.
Another question? Ask Victor03Do I need a permit in Raleigh?Yes. The City of Raleigh requires a permit for new or replaced driveways, and…
Yes. The City of Raleigh requires a permit for new or replaced driveways, and the part by the street (the apron, in the public right-of-way) has extra requirements. Other towns have their own rules. Ask us and we will tell you what your job involves before we start.
Another question? Ask Victor04Do you do stamped concrete?No. We focus on clean, long-lasting finishes: broom, smooth, exposed…
No. We focus on clean, long-lasting finishes: broom, smooth, exposed aggregate, and polished, stained or epoxy where it fits.
Another question? Ask VictorWe also do
Related services
Driveway Replacement
Tear out the old one, pour a new one.
Concrete Patios
Back patios, grill pads and extensions.
Walkways & Sidewalks
Front walks, side paths and sidewalk sections.
Pool Decks
Non-slip concrete around your pool.
Finishes & Sealing
Polished, stained, epoxy and sealing.
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Send a text. Get a real answer.
Text a photo of your driveway or yard and what you want done. Victor answers himself, in English or Spanish.