What a good driveway quote includes
Two quotes for "a new driveway" can describe very different jobs. Ask for each of these in writing so you can compare like with like.
- Tear-out and haul-away of the old concrete or asphalt, if there is any.
- A compacted gravel base. Much of Genesee County sits on clay that holds water and heaves when it freezes. Four to six inches of compacted crushed stone (contractors here often call it 21AA) gives the slab even support and gives water somewhere to go.
- Slab thickness. Four inches is the residential standard. Ask for five or six where a plow truck, a trailer or an RV will sit, and at the approach where delivery trucks turn in. Going from four inches to five adds roughly half again as much load capacity.
- The right mix. Exterior concrete in Michigan should be air-entrained and rated at 4,000 psi or higher. Air entrainment puts microscopic bubbles in the concrete, so freezing water has room to expand without popping the surface off.
- Reinforcement. Wire mesh, rebar or fiber will not stop cracks. It holds them tight so the slab stays level.
- Control joints about every 10 feet, cut at least a quarter of the way through the slab, so the cracks that do form follow straight lines.
- Drainage. The surface should fall about a quarter inch per foot, away from the house and garage.
- A broom finish for traction, and a plan for curing and sealing.
What a concrete driveway costs here
For planning, expect $8 to $14 per square foot for a standard broom-finish driveway on prepared ground, plus $2 to $5 per square foot if an old driveway has to come out first.
| Driveway | New pour | With tear-out |
|---|---|---|
| Single-car, 12 × 50 ft (600 sq ft) | $4,800 to $8,400 | $6,000 to $11,400 |
| Two-car, 20 × 40 ft (800 sq ft) | $6,400 to $11,200 | $8,000 to $15,200 |
| Two-car, 20 × 60 ft (1,200 sq ft) | $9,600 to $16,800 | $12,000 to $22,800 |
These are ranges, not quotes. The driveway cost guide has a calculator and explains what pushes a job toward the high or low end.
How long it takes
Most driveway replacements take two to four working days: tear-out and base first, then forms and the pour, with the weather deciding the rest. After that you wait. Plan on parking in the street for about a week. The curing and first-winter guide has the full timeline.
The approach and the sidewalk
The last few feet of your driveway, where it crosses the public sidewalk and meets the street, sit in the road right-of-way. Work there usually needs a permit from whoever owns the road: your city, the Genesee County Road Commission or the state. See driveway permits in Genesee County for who that is at your address.
Common questions
Can new concrete be poured over my old driveway?
It is rarely a good idea. Cracks and movement in the old slab come straight through the new one, and the added height causes problems at the garage and the sidewalk. Most replacements start with a full tear-out.
Do I need rebar?
Not always. A four-inch driveway on a well-compacted base commonly gets wire mesh or fiber. Rebar makes more sense for thicker slabs, heavy vehicles or soft ground. A good base matters more than either.
Is concrete or asphalt better in Michigan?
Concrete costs more up front and lasts longer. Asphalt is cheaper and easier to patch but needs more upkeep. We compare them in concrete vs. asphalt driveways in Michigan.
When is the best time to book?
Crews here pour from roughly April through early November, and spring schedules fill early. Asking for estimates in late winter puts you near the front of the line. More in the best time to pour concrete in Michigan.
Free estimate
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Tell us the town and what you need done. We pass it to one local concrete contractor, who contacts you with a free estimate.