Concrete Patios and Driveways in Tucson
Slabs poured on a prepared base, at the thickness the load actually needs, reinforced for ground that moves and jointed so the cracks land where we put them.
- Base prepared and compacted before the pour
- Thickness set by the load, not by the minimum
- Reinforcement chosen for the ground under it
- Joint layout planned before the trucks arrive
[ 01 ]The part you cannot see
The least glamorous surface, and often the right one
Concrete does not photograph like a paver patio and it does not sell like stamped work. It is also, for a lot of Tucson projects, the correct answer. A covered patio, a utility pad, a side yard run, a straightforward driveway: a properly poured broom finished slab will serve any of those for decades at a lower cost than anything else in this package.
What it needs to earn that is the same discipline as everything else. A prepared and compacted base, so the slab is bearing evenly instead of spanning soft spots. The right thickness and reinforcement for what will actually sit on it, which for a driveway means a real vehicle spec rather than a patio pour with extra confidence. And a control joint layout planned before the concrete arrives, because after that there is no time to think.
The Tucson complication is the ground. Caliche can be a superb bearing layer or a broken layer over soft soil that traps water underneath, and the two behave completely differently under a slab. Some areas also carry expansive soils that swell and shrink with moisture, which is exactly the condition that lifts and cracks an under reinforced slab. Neither is visible from the surface.
[ 02 ]Scope
What we build
Patios, slabs and pads
Back patios, covered patio slabs, shed and equipment pads, spa pads and side yard runs. Broom finished as standard, with other finishes available where they suit.
Driveways, aprons and parking areas
Full driveway replacement, extensions, turnarounds and RV pads, poured at a vehicle thickness with the reinforcement and joint spacing that loading requires.
Slab removal and replacement
Breaking out and hauling away the cracked, heaved or badly patched slab that is already there, correcting whatever caused it to fail, then pouring properly. This is most of the concrete work we do in midtown.
[ 03 ]In every scope
What is included
Demolition and haul away
Removal of the existing slab and all spoil, shown as its own line so you can see it. On a replacement job this is a real proportion of the price and it should never be hidden inside a square foot rate.
Subgrade and base
Excavation, subgrade compaction, and a compacted base layer under the slab. This is also where we deal with what we find, whether that is caliche, soft fill or an old buried footing.
Reinforcement and forms
Rebar or mesh sized and placed for the ground and the loading, supported on chairs so it sits in the slab rather than on the ground, and forms set to the finished levels with the fall built in.
Pour, finish, joints and cure
Placed, screeded, floated and finished, control joints cut or tooled to the planned layout, then cured properly. Curing matters more in this climate than in most, because a slab that dries too fast in the sun is a weaker slab.
[ 04 ]How it runs
How the build runs
- 01
Site visit and ground check
We look at what is there now, how it failed if it failed, where water runs, and what the ground is doing. An existing cracked slab is free information about the soil.
- 02
Specification
Thickness, reinforcement, mix, finish and joint layout, decided against the actual use rather than the cheapest combination that passes on the day.
- 03
Fixed quote
Itemised with demolition, haul away, base, reinforcement, pour and finish separated.
- 04
Utilities and scheduling
Blue stake locates, forms set, and a pour scheduled around the weather. Pouring into extreme afternoon heat or an incoming storm is avoidable and we avoid it.
- 05
Pour day
Placed and finished in one continuous operation, then joints cut at the right time, which is a matter of hours rather than days.
- 06
Cure and handover
Protected while it cures, with honest timelines for foot traffic and for vehicles. Driving on a slab too early is one of the more common ways a good pour gets damaged.
[ 05 ]Why us
Why build with us
We prepare the base. A surprising amount of residential concrete in this market is poured onto scraped dirt, and it holds up until the ground underneath moves or washes. Base preparation is not exciting and it is not visible, and it is the main thing separating a slab that lasts from one that gets replaced.
We specify against the ground rather than the price sheet. If your lot has caliche near the surface, or expansive soil, the answer is not the same as it would be three miles away, and a contractor who quotes the same detail everywhere is not quoting your job.
And we plan the joints. Concrete cracks. That is not a defect and no one can prevent it. What we can do is make sure it cracks along a line we chose, in a layout that suits the shape of the slab.
Want a real number on your concrete?
Send us the rough dimensions and tell us what is there now. We will come out and look at the ground.
[ 06 ]Questions
Concrete questions
How much does it cost to have a 20x20 concrete slab poured?
The concrete itself is a minority of the price. Demolition and haul away of an existing slab, excavation, base preparation, reinforcement, formwork, finishing labour and access all move the number, and access matters a great deal because a pour that has to be wheeled through a side gate costs considerably more than one a truck can reach.
How do you prepare ground for a concrete patio?
Strip the topsoil and any loose or organic material, cut to the depth the slab and base require, compact the subgrade, then place and compact a base layer. Set forms to the finished level with fall built in, place reinforcement on chairs so it ends up inside the slab, and confirm nothing is buried in the pour area before the trucks arrive.
What should you put under a concrete patio?
A compacted granular base over a compacted subgrade. The base spreads load, gives a consistent bearing surface and provides somewhere for moisture to move rather than sitting directly against the underside of the slab. On some soils a vapour barrier is appropriate, which depends on the location and what the slab is for.
Does a 4 inch concrete slab need rebar?
For a light duty patio on stable, well prepared ground, mesh or fibre may be adequate. On expansive or variable soil, or anywhere vehicles will drive, reinforcement is not optional and the slab is usually thicker than four inches as well. Since a lot of Tucson lots have variable ground, we specify from what we find rather than from a default.
Can I pour concrete directly on dirt?
It is done, and it is why so many slabs here are cracked and uneven. Concrete poured on unprepared soil bears unevenly, moves as the soil moves with moisture, and cracks early and badly. The base is not an upsell, it is the thing that makes the slab work.
What are the common mistakes when pouring concrete?
Skipping base preparation, too much water in the mix to make placing easier, reinforcement lying on the ground instead of sitting in the slab, control joints cut too late or laid out badly, and failing to cure. In this climate the last one is the most underrated: a slab left to dry out in full sun does not reach the strength it should.
What lasts longer, concrete patio or paver patio?
Both can last decades when they are built properly. The honest difference is in how they age and how they fail. Concrete cracks and the crack is permanent unless the slab is replaced. Pavers move, and a moved paver surface can be lifted, the base corrected and the same material relaid. If the ground under your yard is known to move, that repairability is worth real money.
Where we build
We build across Tucson, Oro Valley, Marana, Vail, Sahuarita, Green Valley, Catalina Foothills, Casas Adobes, Rita Ranch, Dove Mountain, Corona de Tucson and Tanque Verde.
See where we build[ 07 ]Related
What people build with this
[ 08 ]Free on site quote
Get a quote for your concrete
Tell us roughly how big the area is, what is there now, and what will be on it. We will come out and look at the ground.
Thanks, that is with us
We will call you back, usually the same working day, and ask a few questions about the space before we come out. If it is urgent, call(520) 555-0168.