Concrete installation: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering concrete installation

Concrete installation is the base of most flatwork jobs, and customers judge you on how level, well drained and well jointed the slab looks a year later. Win the job by showing the base and grade work you do, not only the finished surface.

What customers ask

  • How thick will the slab be, and does that suit what I plan to park, store or set on it?
  • Will the slab crack, and where will you put the joints to control it?
  • How long until I can drive on it, and what do I need to do while it cures?
  • Can you pour in hot or cold weather, and what happens if it rains on the day?
  • Do I need rebar or wire mesh, or is fiber in the mix enough for my use?
  • Can I get a broom finish for traction, or will the surface be smooth?

How to win the job

  • On the first call, ask what the slab will carry, such as foot traffic, a car, a trailer or a hot tub, because that sets thickness and reinforcement.
  • Walk the site with a level and string line, note where water runs now and where the new slope has to send it, and write that down for the customer.
  • Show photos of your forms, base compaction and joint layout from recent pours, not just the finished slab.
  • Put the base depth, mix, reinforcement and joint plan on the written quote so the customer can compare it fairly with other bids.
  • Name the permit question in the quote and say who will pull the permit if one is required where the job is.
  • Give a written curing schedule with the day the forms come off and the day the customer can drive on the slab.
  • Confirm truck route, pump access and the wheelbarrow path before the pour date, so the crew does not stall on pour day.

What to put on your profile

  • Photos of forms and grade stakes with the rebar or mesh in place, shot before the pour
  • Finished slab photos in good light, from the same angle, with the joint pattern visible
  • A list of finishes you place, such as broom, trowel and fiber-reinforced mixes
  • The slab types you have poured, such as walks, garage floors, pads and basement floors, and your service area

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • Offer a sealing plan once the slab has cured, with the timing and product type explained so the customer can choose
  • Suggest a joint check after the first winter so small cracks are filled before they open wider
  • Mention repair or leveling only as information if you see settling near the new slab, with no sales push

Licenses and permits

Many areas require a contractor license for concrete flatwork and a permit for new slabs and driveways, so confirm what applies where you work before you bid. Check with your state or local licensing agency and your local building department, and keep your insurance current.

Questions

What should I do when the customer wants a thinner slab than I recommend?

Put your recommendation in writing with the reason, such as a vehicle load or a freeze and thaw exposure. Offer the thinner option only if the customer signs off on it in writing, because that record protects you if the slab cracks under the load.

Should I pour in cold weather?

Pour only when the forecast lets the concrete set without freezing, and plan blankets or enclosure heat if the temperature drops. Explain the curing risk to the customer before the truck arrives so the schedule is agreed in advance.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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