What a concrete estimate is for
Concrete customers compare square foot prices without knowing what is under them: base depth, thickness, reinforcement and joints decide how long a slab lasts. An estimate that lists each of those, with removal of the old slab and the finish, shows the difference between your price and a cheaper one. It also puts the cracking talk in writing before the pour.
What to put on a concrete estimate
- Area, thickness and finish.
- Removal and haul-away of the old slab.
- Base material and depth.
- Reinforcement type.
- Control and expansion joints.
- Permit, curing time and when cars can drive on it.
- What the warranty covers and that concrete cracks.
A worked example
A cracked two-car driveway, about 480 sq ft on the satellite map, to be torn out and replaced at four inches with mesh. Slab and mesh lines use the calculator's typical prices.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway, 4 in * | 480 | sq ft | $13.50 | $6,480.00 |
| Wire mesh reinforcement * | 480 | sq ft | $0.35 | $168.00 |
| Remove and haul old driveway | 480 | sq ft | Your price | |
| Gravel base, compacted | 6 | cu yd | Your price | |
| Sawed control joints | 90 | ft | Your price | |
| Driveway permit | 1 | each | Your price |
Put the curing advice in the notes: when to walk on it, when to drive on it. Most new driveway complaints come from a car parked too soon.
* Typical price from our free driveway cost calculator, which lists its sources. Your own costs and market come first.
Line items concrete contractors use
| Line item | Unit | How to write it |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete flatwork, placed and finished | sq ft | Thickness, finish (broom, smooth, stamped) and mix strength. |
| Remove and haul old concrete | sq ft | Breakout, loading and disposal. |
| Excavation and grading | sq ft | To the depth for base and slab. |
| Gravel base, compacted | cu yd | Depth of base. |
| Reinforcement, mesh or rebar | sq ft | Say which and the spacing for rebar. |
| Control joints, sawed or tooled | ft | Where cracks are encouraged to form. |
| Expansion joint at house or slab | ft | Where new meets existing. |
| Stamped or colored finish | sq ft | Pattern and color; sealer included or not. |
| Concrete sealer | sq ft | Applied after curing. |
| Steps, formed and poured | each | Per step; width and rise. |
| Footings | ft | Width and depth per plan or code. |
| Pump truck | each | When the truck cannot reach the pour. |
| Permit and inspection | each | Driveways and approaches often need one; check locally. |
Terms and deposit language for concrete
- Deposit. A deposit at signing schedules the pour and covers forming materials. Deposit limits for home improvement work differ from state to state, so confirm yours.
- Payment. Balance due on the day of the pour or when forms are stripped, as agreed.
- Warranty. Concrete cracks; control joints guide where. Say what you warrant (such as heaving, scaling or settling beyond a set amount) and what you do not (hairline cracks, damage from salt or heavy trucks).
- Pour dates depend on weather and temperature; say how a rain day is handled.
- Keep cars off a new driveway for the curing time you advise.
- Sprinkler lines, invisible dog fences and buried cables in the dig area are the owner's to mark.
How to fill it in
- Put in your business details once; this browser keeps them for every template.
- Fill in the customer and the job.
- Change the line items to fit this job and add your prices.
- Set tax, the deposit and the good-until date.
- Print to PDF, download Word or CSV, or send it from Koira.
Free tools for concrete
- Driveway cost calculator
- Epoxy flooring cost calculator
- Demolition cost calculator
- Satellite measuring tool
The same estimate for other trades: appliance repair, auto detailing, carpet cleaning, chimney, house cleaning, commercial cleaning, drywall, electrical, fence, flooring, garage door, general contractor, gutter, handyman, hvac, irrigation, junk removal, landscaping, lawn care, locksmith, moving, painting, pest control, plumbing, pool service, pressure washing, remodeling, roofing, septic, snow removal, solar, tree service, waterproofing, window cleaning.