Concrete Driveway Replacement - need recommendation (Bellaire, Howe: contractors, car, best)

[Wolfcamp]

I need to replace my extremely cracked, 50 year old driveway in Bellaire and could use references for contractors to do this job.

Also, if anyone has had this done, what was your experience with your contractor? What are questions I should ask a contractor before deciding on whether to hire them or not?

[Mandres]

Make sure you know exactly what you want, and that the contractors provide apples-to-apples comparisons. How thick of a slab do you want? Do you need rebar, wire mesh, etc? What kind of sub-base is required/recommended for your area? Why did your existing driveway crack so badly in the first place - do you have tree roots or poor bearing soil that will need to be addressed first?

[HookTheBrotherUp]

Make sure they do a proper job in preparing the foundation for the driveway. Some of these companies sub the work out, and you get a crew out there to work, so it looks legit. However, make sure that they prepare the foundation, pack it, put the right aggregate, sand, etc., and then compress it. Your concrete driveway is not supporting the weight placed on it, the foundation is.

When the foundation is not done properly, you get gaps, or the soil compresses at different rates. Over time, when water collects underneath it, the weight of the car off and on creates sort of a bellow effect and you end up with voids, and then the concrete has no support, and then cracks.

[RCH99]

^^^^^ this "advice" is best disregarded in its entirety.

[Wolfcamp]

Originally Posted by RCH99

^^^^^ this "advice" is best disregarded in its entirety.

Why?

[Wolfcamp]

Can anyone supply a recommendation for a contractor who has done a good job for them?