How to hire a concrete company in Pittsburgh
Concrete is unforgiving. Once it sets, mistakes are permanent and visible for decades. So who you hire matters more here than with most home projects. These are the questions to ask, how to compare quotes and the warning signs that tell you to keep looking.
Updated
What does a concrete company do?
A concrete company prepares the ground, builds forms, sets reinforcement, orders the mix, then places and finishes the concrete. It isn't the same as a ready-mix supplier, which makes and delivers the concrete but doesn't place it. If you want a slab poured, you hire the concrete company, and it deals with the supplier.
Some companies stick to flatwork, such as slabs, driveways and floors. Others do foundations and walls. Large commercial firms pour parking decks and buildings. Make sure the company you call does your kind of job at your kind of size, because a 12x16 shed pad and a warehouse floor call for different crews.
| Company type | Typical work | Good fit for |
|---|---|---|
| Flatwork crew | Slabs, walks, driveways, floors | Most homeowners |
| Decorative contractor | Stamped and colored concrete | Patios and feature work |
| Foundation contractor | Footers, walls, basements | New builds and additions |
| Commercial contractor | Parking lots, tilt-up, structures | Business property |
| Ready-mix supplier | Delivers concrete only | Crews and experienced DIYers |
Concrete vs cement
People use the words interchangeably, and that is fine, but they aren't the same. Cement is the powder. Concrete is cement mixed with water, sand and stone. So a cement contractor and a concrete contractor are usually the same trade. A sidewalk is concrete, never cement.
How to find a good concrete contractor
- Ask neighbors who have had recent work done, and go look at it.
- Look at jobs that are 3 to 5 years old, not just new ones.
- Check that the company answers its phone and has a local presence.
- Ask for proof of bonding and insurance.
- Get two or three quotes, and make them cover the same scope.
- Pay attention to how the estimator walks your site.
Questions to ask a concrete contractor
| Ask this | A good answer |
|---|---|
| How thick will it be? | A number, chosen for your use |
| What PSI and is it air-entrained? | 4,000 PSI air-entrained outdoors |
| What goes under it? | Compacted crushed stone, with a depth |
| Rebar or mesh, and how is it held up? | Set on supports, not lying on the ground |
| Where do the joints go? | A planned pattern at the right spacing |
| Where will the water go? | A clear plan, away from the building |
| Who will run the crew? | A named person on site |
| What is the warranty? | In writing, with what it covers |
How to compare concrete quotes
The cheapest bid often leaves something out. Lay the quotes side by side and look for these items. If a bid doesn't say, ask, and have it added in writing. A quote should include everything from the first shovel to the final cleanup, along with who pulls any permit.
- Square footage and thickness
- Base depth and type
- Reinforcement
- Concrete strength and air entrainment
- Finish and joint plan
- Removal and disposal
- Permits
- Cleanup, backfill and grading
- Payment schedule and warranty
Warning signs
- Wants a large deposit or cash before starting
- Has "leftover concrete from another job" and wants to pour today
- No written quote or vague wording
- Says nothing will ever crack
- Skips stone base or says your soil is fine without looking
- Adds water at the truck without thought
- Rushes finishing, or sprays water on the surface while troweling
- Pushes a decision on the spot
Knowing what to expect on pour day
Concrete has a clock. Once it leaves the plant, it has to be placed and finished within hours. So a good crew will show up early and set up before the truck arrives. They will have enough people on site. Keep pets and kids clear, and move cars out of the way the night before. You don't have to be home, but it helps if someone can check on the layout before the pour starts. Our cure time guide explains what happens next.
Paying for concrete work
A small deposit is normal, especially for larger jobs, and final payment should follow completion. Avoid paying the balance until the job is finished, cleaned up and you have looked it over. For prices, see our concrete slab cost guide, or see all our concrete services.
Why choose a local concrete company
A crew from around here knows our clay, frost depth, steep lots and salt. It knows which township wants a permit for what. And it knows the suppliers, so the trucks turn up when they should. When you search for a concrete company near me, look for someone close enough to come back and stand behind the work.
What a good concrete quote looks like
A good quote reads almost like a recipe. Here is the kind of detail you should expect on a simple garage slab. If what you are given is a single line and a number, ask for more.
| Line | Example |
|---|---|
| Size | 24 x 24 ft, 5 in thick, 576 sq ft |
| Base | Strip topsoil, 6 in compacted 2A stone |
| Steel | #4 rebar at 24 in each way, on chairs |
| Mix | 4,000 PSI, air-entrained |
| Finish | Steel trowel, joints saw-cut within 24 hours |
| Extras | Thickened edges, anchor bolts |
| Not included | Permit fee, electrical, backfill by others |
| Payment | Deposit, then balance on completion |
| Warranty | Written workmanship warranty, with what is covered |
Permits and inspections
Rules vary across Allegheny County, with its many boroughs and townships. Many municipalities want a permit for a new garage slab, footers or work in a public sidewalk, while a small backyard pad may not need one. Ask who pulls the permit and who pays for it. Footers usually need an inspection before the pour, and your schedule should allow for that. Your concrete company should know the local office and be able to say what is needed.
When to book a concrete company
The busy season around Pittsburgh runs from about April to October, and good crews can fill up weeks ahead, especially in spring. Call in late winter for a spring job. If you need work done before the first frost, try not to leave it until October. Winter is a fine time to get a quote, even if the pour has to wait, and it is often the easiest time to reach people.
Common questions
What does a concrete contractor do?
A concrete contractor prepares the site, sets forms and steel, places and finishes concrete and cuts the joints.
What is a concrete contractor?
A contractor who specializes in building with concrete, from slabs and driveways to footers and walls.
How to find a good concrete contractor?
Look at their older work, ask for references, check proof of insurance and compare written quotes with the same scope.
How to choose a concrete contractor?
Choose the one that explains the base, thickness, joints and drainage clearly, puts it in writing and has done work like yours.
What to ask a concrete contractor?
Ask about thickness, base, steel, mix, joints, drainage, permits, cleanup and warranty.
How much does it cost to hire a concrete contractor?
Most jobs are priced per square foot, usually $7 to $12 for a slab around Pittsburgh, with a minimum charge for small jobs.
What is the difference between concrete and cement?
Cement is the powder that binds it all together. Concrete is cement mixed with sand, stone and water.
What does a concrete business do?
It takes on concrete construction jobs such as slabs, floors and walks, and it manages materials, crews and scheduling.
More concrete services
- concrete slabs in Pittsburgh
- concrete garage floors
- concrete basement floors
- concrete flatwork
- exposed aggregate concrete
- concrete footers
- shed slabs and hot tub pads
- concrete leveling in Pittsburgh
- concrete resurfacing in Pittsburgh
- concrete sealing
- epoxy garage floors
- concrete removal