Frequently Asked Questions

Ask each bidder how the slab will drain, how deep the stone base will be, how thick the concrete will be and whether it is reinforced. In a city as flat and wet as Norfolk, a contractor who cannot explain where the water goes is guessing. Get the answers in writing, along with who handles any right-of-way permit.

Work in the city right-of-way, which usually includes the apron and the sidewalk crossing, goes through Norfolk's Public Works Right of Way division. Its permit list includes a Driveway Entrance Permit for residential aprons up to 20 feet, and adding or extending a driveway needs a zoning certificate from Planning first. The permits office is at 757-664-7306, and we confirm what your address needs before scheduling.

Usually because water is getting under it. Downspouts that dump next to a slab, a walk that slopes toward the house, or a thin base over soft soil can all wash out support until the concrete drops. Lifting the slab fixes the symptom; fixing the drainage keeps it from happening again.

HomeGuide's national cost guide lists a standard concrete driveway at $6 to $10 per square foot, or $2,400 to $6,000 for a 20 by 20 foot two-car drive at standard to basic quality. Removing an old driveway adds $2 to $6 per square foot. Your written estimate after we measure is the actual price.

No, but it needs a plan. July highs average close to 90 degrees, so we start early in the day and keep the surface from drying out while the slab cures. Hurricane season matters too, so late-summer pours get a close look at the forecast.

Often, yes. A lifted panel on your own walk can be removed and repoured, sometimes after the root is cut back with an arborist's advice. If the panel is the public sidewalk in the right-of-way, the city's Right of Way division is the first call, and we can tell you which side of the line it is on.

Yes. Point2Homes, summarizing Census data, puts Norfolk's owner-occupied share at about 46 percent, so many homes here are rentals. We can meet a property manager on site and send the quote to whoever approves it.

HomeGuide's driveway guide says to wait at least 7 days for cars and about 30 days for heavy vehicles, with full cure at 28 to 30 days. Walking on it is usually fine after a day or two. We give you dates based on your slab and the weather that week.

HomeGuide lists 30 to 40 years for a well-built, maintained concrete driveway. In Norfolk, the base and the drainage decide most of that: a driveway that stays dry underneath lasts far longer than one that sits in water.

HomeGuide's guide says at least 4 inches for standard cars and 5 to 6 inches for RVs or heavy traffic, with thicker edges. We add depth at the apron and wherever heavy vehicles park.

An apron in the city right-of-way goes through the Public Works Right of Way division, which lists a Driveway Entrance Permit for residential aprons up to 20 feet. Adding or extending a driveway needs a zoning certificate from Planning first. We confirm what applies to your address.

We rarely recommend it. New concrete over a cracked, sunken slab picks up the same cracks and raises the surface at the garage and the street. Removing the old slab and rebuilding the base is the reliable fix.

HomeGuide says at least 7 days for cars and about 30 days for heavy vehicles. We give you exact dates for your slab.

Size it by what goes on it. A table for four needs less room than a table for six plus a grill, and you want space to walk around the furniture. We mark the outline on the ground so you can try it before we dig.

HomeGuide gives 30 to 50 years for a plain or decorative concrete patio. A good base and steady drainage decide how much of that range you get.

HomeGuide's patio guide lists plain concrete at $4 to $12 a square foot and paver patios at $10 to $30, so plain concrete usually starts lower. Decorative concrete narrows the gap.

Usually because it was poured too flat or has settled toward the house. Small low spots can sometimes be fixed by leveling the slab; a patio that slopes the wrong way across its whole surface usually needs to be replaced.

It can be when it is sealed glossy and wet. Choosing a textured pattern and adding non-slip grit to the sealer makes a big difference, which is why we do both on walks and pool decks.

HomeGuide's stamped concrete guide lists stamped concrete at $8 to $19 a square foot and paver patios at $10 to $17. The same guide notes that pavers need no sealing and are easier to repair one piece at a time, so the choice comes down to look, upkeep and budget.

HomeGuide says every 2 to 3 years to stop color fading. In practice, reseal when water stops beading on the surface or the color looks washed out.

Not by stamping the old slab itself, but a sound, level slab can sometimes take a stamped overlay. A slab that is sinking or badly cracked needs to be replaced first.

The walk along the street is usually in the city right-of-way, which Norfolk's Public Works Right of Way division oversees. You can reach the permits office at 757-664-7306. Your front walk and steps leading to the house are yours to maintain.

Small lips can be ground down, which is how the city handled many of its trip hazards in 2021. A panel that has tilted badly or cracked through is better replaced, especially if a root is still pushing on it.

HomeGuide says most walkways are 4 to 6 inches thick. Four inches suits foot traffic; anything that will see a riding mower, carts or a vehicle crossing gets more.

Repair a chipped edge or a small crack. Replace steps that have pulled away from the house, sunk at one side or cracked through, because the base under them has moved and will keep moving.

HomeGuide's slab guide lists a 20 by 20 foot slab at $2,400 to $4,800 installed. Thickness, site prep and removal of anything already there change the total, and your written estimate is the price.

HomeGuide notes a shed foundation is usually about 4 inches thick, often without reinforcement. We add wire mesh on soft or wet ground or for heavier sheds.

HomeGuide puts a typical two-car garage floor at 4 to 6 inches. We reinforce garage floors and go thicker for heavy trucks or a workshop.

It depends on what the slab is for and where it is. A slab under a new garage or addition is part of a building project, and lots in the Coastal Resilience Overlay or floodplain have extra rules. We check with the city for your address.

Foam is lighter, uses smaller holes and is ready to use sooner; HomeGuide notes polyjacking often lasts longest. Mudjacking costs less per square foot. On soft, wet ground, the lighter weight of foam can be an advantage.

Hairline and small cracks can be sealed to keep water out. HomeGuide says cracks wider than 1/4 inch usually point to a deeper problem, and those slabs are often better replaced.

It can if the cause is not fixed. HomeGuide puts leveling life at 5 to 10 or more years. Moving downspouts and sealing joints so water stays out from under the slab helps a repair reach the long end of that range.

If it is in one piece and only one or two panels have dropped, usually yes. If it is cracked into many pieces, sloped the wrong way or crumbling, replacement is the better value. We price both so you can decide.