▪ Concrete contractors are also known as "flatwork contractors". These are similar to, but no the same as, concrete foundation contractors. Whereas concrete foundation contractors construct thick footings and basement walls, other concrete contractors handle basement floors (slabs), driveways, sidewalks, etc.

▪ When comparing concrete driveway estimates, be sure you are comparing apples to apples. While one may have charged you for the truck to pump the concrete (if needed), the other may not have included that in the bid. Pump trucks are required if the regular concrete mixing truck is unable to get close enough to the location where the concrete needs to be poured. In these cases, a pump truck actually has a pipe that will pump the concrete into out of the way locations.

▪ Be sure you and your concrete contractor consider the flow of water. I like to put a slight channel in the middle of my driveways so that any water will be led out along the driveway to the street.

Former builder and instructor of "Save Time and Money in Home Remodeling" cont. ed. course at Emory University