Confirm Insurance and Licensing
Ask for a certificate of insurance showing general liability and workers' compensation, issued by the insurer rather than typed by the contractor. We provide ours with every written estimate. Verify any license number the contractor gives you.
Get the Scope in Writing
A usable estimate states square footage, thickness, reinforcement, base preparation, joint layout, finish, demolition and haul-off, and what is excluded. If the price is a single number with no scope, you have nothing to hold anyone to.
Ask About Base Preparation
Base work is where corners get cut because it's invisible once the concrete is down. Ask what will be excavated, what base material is used and how it is compacted. On Abilene clay soils, this is the difference between a slab that lasts and one that moves.
Check Thickness Against Use
Patios, sidewalks and standard residential driveways are normally 4 inches thick; areas where trucks, trailers or RVs park should be 5-6 inches. If a bid is cheaper because it is thinner, that is a real difference, not a discount. Practice guidance is published by the American Society of Concrete Contractors and the Portland Cement Association.
Understand Cracking Honestly
Any contractor who promises concrete that will never crack is overselling. Control joints, proper thickness, reinforcement and curing manage cracking; they do not eliminate it. Ask how joints will be placed and spaced.
Payment Terms and Change Orders
Be cautious about large up-front cash payments. Expect a reasonable deposit, a defined balance at completion, and written change orders if the scope changes after excavation reveals something unexpected.
Compare Bids on Scope, Not Just Price
Line up bids side by side on thickness, base, reinforcement, jointing and demolition. Two very different prices usually describe two very different projects.
Ready to compare? Request a written estimate or review what affects concrete cost.