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The questions we hear most often, answered honestly.
Fresh concrete reaches about 70% of its design strength within 7 days and is generally ready for foot traffic after 24 to 48 hours depending on temperature and mix design. We ask that you keep vehicle traffic off new driveways for at least 7 days, and heavy vehicles like loaded trucks or RVs for 28 days. We use curing compound on all pours to slow moisture loss and help the concrete reach full strength. We'll give you specific guidance based on your project and the weather at the time of pour.
Concrete cracks. That's not a defect -- it's a physical property of the material. All concrete shrinks slightly as it cures, and that shrinkage causes cracking. The goal of proper installation is to control where cracks occur, not to eliminate them entirely. Control joints are scored or saw-cut into the slab to give the concrete a predetermined weak spot to crack along, keeping cracks out of the middle of the pour and in straight, predictable lines. Hair-thin cracks along control joints are normal and expected. Wide cracks, cracks through the middle of a slab with no control joint nearby, or cracks accompanied by movement are different issues that warrant attention.
It depends on your jurisdiction and the scope of work. In most Denver metro municipalities, residential concrete flatwork (driveways, patios, walkways) does not require a permit unless it connects to public sidewalk, in which case a right-of-way permit is typically needed. Retaining walls over 4 feet in height generally require a permit and engineered drawings in Jefferson, Arapahoe, and Douglas counties. Foundation work almost always requires a permit. We handle permit applications on all work that requires them. If you're not sure whether your project needs a permit, ask us and we'll find out before we start.
Denver's climate is genuinely tough on concrete. You can have a 65-degree afternoon followed by overnight temps below 20 in the same week. That freeze-thaw cycling is the primary cause of surface spalling, delamination, and joint deterioration. We address this with air-entrained concrete mixes, which introduce microscopic air voids that give water somewhere to expand when it freezes, dramatically reducing surface damage. We also specify proper 4,000 psi mix designs for exterior work, use fiber reinforcement in appropriate applications, and place control joints to manage shrinkage cracks. Properly installed, concrete flatwork should last 30-plus years in Colorado with minimal maintenance.
We work year-round. Winter concrete work requires more planning and care, but it's very doable with the right approach. We use heated enclosures and blankets to protect fresh pours from freezing during curing, adjust our mix design for low-temperature placement, and schedule around weather windows that are genuinely unsuitable (pouring in an active snowstorm is not a good idea for anyone). We will not pour concrete when ground temperatures are below freezing without proper protection in place. We're transparent about what winter work requires and will not cut corners to get a job done in cold weather that will fail in the spring.
We work throughout the Denver metro area. If your city isn't listed, call us. We'll let you know if we can make the trip.