Concrete

About our concrete work

Poured concrete is the backbone of nearly every hardscape and structural slab on a Texas property — patios, driveways, walkways, equipment pads, sidewalks, and footings. We pour everything from 4-inch residential flatwork at 3000 PSI to 6-inch reinforced commercial slabs at 4000 PSI, with mix designs adjusted for the pour conditions and intended load. Sub-grade prep is where most failures start, so we strip topsoil, compact base in lifts, and run a 2–4 inch crushed-base pad before any forms go down. Reinforcement is sized to the slab — #4 rebar on 18-inch centers for driveways and structural pours, welded wire mesh for low-traffic flatwork. Control joints are saw-cut or tooled within 24 hours at slab-thickness times 24–30, expansion joints isolate the pour from adjacent structures, and curing is run a full 7 days under blanket or membrane in summer. San Antonio's expansive clay and caliche shift seasonally — without proper base and joint spacing, slabs crack on a predictable schedule. We pour to last, not to look pretty for 18 months.

How the project runs

1. 1

   Site Assessment and Layout

   We walk the site, mark utilities, verify grade and drainage, and stake forms. Slope is set away from structures at minimum 1/8 inch per foot before a shovel turns.

2. 2

   Excavation and Base Prep

   Topsoil and unsuitable material are stripped, the sub-grade is compacted to 95 percent Proctor, and a crushed-base pad is placed and re-compacted to a uniform depth.

3. 3

   Forming and Reinforcement

   Forms are set true to line and grade, rebar or mesh is tied on chairs at correct cover, and embeds, dowels, or sleeves are placed before the pour.

4. 4

   Pour, Finish, and Joint Cut

   Concrete is placed, screeded, bull-floated, and finished to spec. Control joints are saw-cut within 12–24 hours to slab-thickness × 24–30 spacing.

5. 5

Frequently asked questions

How thick should my slab be?

Residential walkways and patios pour at 4 inches. Driveways and parking pads run 4–6 inches depending on vehicle loads. Structural slabs, equipment pads, and commercial flatwork start at 6 inches and scale up with engineering. We size the pour to the use.

When can I drive on a new slab?

Foot traffic at 24–48 hours. Light vehicle traffic at 7 days. Full design strength at 28 days. Driving on green concrete is the fastest way to spider-crack a fresh pour, so we tape off the area and ask you to wait.

Will my concrete crack?

All concrete cracks. The question is whether cracks land in the control joints (where we put them) or randomly across the slab (where you don't want them). Proper joint placement at slab-thickness × 24–30, correct reinforcement, and 7-day cure put the cracks where they belong.

Do you pull permits?

Yes — driveway approaches, structural slabs, and most commercial flatwork require City of San Antonio or county permits. We handle the application, inspections, and final sign-off as part of the scope.

Can you tie into an existing slab?

Yes. We drill and epoxy #4 dowels into the existing edge on 12-inch centers, install an expansion joint between the pours, and match finish and elevation. The dowels transfer load while letting the slabs move independently.

Why hire us for concrete