Good Garages and Exteriors

Cincinnati Concrete Company

Work with a Reputable Cincinnati Concrete Company for Professional Results | Good Garages & Exteriors

We are Good Garages & Exteriors, and our goal as an exterior and concrete contractor is to help you get your project done professionally and correctly in Cincinnati.
Our team is licensed, insured, and trained to deal with any projects involving concrete and exterior areas of your residential property. All work is done up to or exceeds the standards set by the American Concrete Institute (ACI).
Moreover, we invest in our employees’ education and training, which allows us to create a healthier and more efficient working environment that will provide you with the most impressive results.

The Importance of Having a Quality Concrete Slab

One of our primary focuses as a concrete contractor is ensuring your concrete has the correct base including load bearing soil and proper gravel for drainage, proper slope in the right direction, and aesthetics. Whether you’re considering a project involving a concrete driveway, concrete sidewalk, decorative concrete, stamped concrete, or anything else involving concrete, we’re positive we can provide you with the results you need.
Not many people pay attention to their concrete slabs until it’s too late, so they end up spending more money they don’t have on residential or commercial concrete services. Let our experience guide you in the right direction for your needs. Depending on how you plan to use your new concrete project, it could determine material for base, whether to use a vapor barrier or not, how thick to pour, what type and how much reinforcement, slump of concrete to be poured, and even the forethought to run conduit for electric or other utilities.
Quality concrete will ensure more load-bearing strength, which will pave the way for other projects you may have in mind for the future.
Having a local concrete contractor like ourselves who understands the local soil conditions and concrete suppliers will ensure a product that has strong characteristics like high compressive strength and tensile strength.

Why Should You Choose Us As Your Cincinnati Concrete Contractor?

Good Garages & Exteriors can help you with any installation or repair project you may have in mind. If you’re looking for decorative concrete to increase the curb appeal of your home or stamped concrete to add more color and texture to your floor, we’re the right people to work with.
Aside from being a concrete contractor, we also specialize in exterior projects like the ones we’ll mention further below. If you already have had a quality concrete repair or concrete replacement project from our expert team in Cincinnati, OH, then we hope you think of us for your next exterior project.
In short, Good Garages & Exteriors as a concrete contractor in Cincinnati, OH, can offer you the following:
    • Quality workmanship
    • Great customer service
    • A free estimate
    • Financing options
    • Wide range of services to choose from

Discover the Services that We As an Exterior and Concrete Contractor Have in Store for You!

Concrete (Driveways, Patios, Sidewalks, Foundations, and Others) We’re experts in all things related to concrete. Whether you want to get a new concrete patio or request a concrete repair, we’re here for you.
Concrete work shouldn’t be done by any person; that’s why we focus most of our efforts on educating and training our team. The beauty of concrete is that there are endless possibilities you can consider with it! You can use plain concrete, stamped concrete, or even stained concrete, depending on your budget and needs.
We as a concrete contractor in Cincinnati, OH, can help you get that new driveway you’ve always dreamed of, or we can help you set the foundation for other projects like a new garage or deck.
In essence, our professional services focus on customer satisfaction, and we aim to do an amazing job done in a timely manner.
Exteriors
Aside from offering an expert concrete repair and concrete replacement service in Cincinnati, OH, we can provide a service for any exterior needs you may have.
Our services in Cincinnati, OH, include but are not limited to:
    • Garages
    • Roofing
    • Siding
    • Windows
    • Gutters
    • Garage Doors
    • Decks & More
    • Shed Foundation

Standard steps for replacing a concrete driveway, patios, and sidewalks

  1. Determine why the old concrete or blacktop driveway, patio, or sideewalked failed
    1. At its lifespan
    2. Poor drainage causing settling
    3. Tree roots
    4. Improper prior installation
      1. Soil (base) was not compacted correctly
      2. Material not placed at the right thickness
  2. Remove existing concrete or blacktop material
  3. Access existing grading, soil conditions, and water management
    1. Remove soil if needed to obtain proper slope, grade, or room for sub-base
    2. Try not to disturb more soil than necessary where the new driveway is going
    3. Install drainage if required
  4. Run compactor on soil if required depending on site
  5. Form
  6. Haul in base material (usually gravel) and set to desired height
  7. Compact base material
  8. Install rebar for reinforcement
  9. Place concrete
  10. Pull forms
  11. Place topsoil, seed, and straw if required

Frequently Asked Questions

5 Inches is standard for most residential applications, but the thickness is only one factor in what determines the strength of a concrete driveway.

4 inches of gravel is standard. What type of gravel base and amount is determined by the type of concrete project.

One important thing to remember is that most reinforcement only works if placed properly in the top of the middle 1/3 of a concrete slab. We use fiber and bar in almost every concrete pour we do. Fiber helps prevent it initially wanting to crack. Bar helps it from moving if it does crack over time
    There are typically three types of reinforcement:
    1. The first is metal rebar which has great tinsel strength and shear which can be used in almost all applications including doweling into a foundation. But it does have limitations with some accelerants used in concrete mixes.
    2. The second is fiberglass which has great tinsel strength and is most commonly used in the grids for flat work (Concrete patios, sidewalks, and driveways).
    3. Road mesh is a metal 7”x7” grid mat that is much thinner than typical #3-#5 rebar.

Typically you can expect 25-45 years, with the average life span being 35 years for a concrete driveway

The first 5-7 days are the most important in the curing process of concrete. In most applications, concrete will cure close to 70% at the 7-day mark. You can drive light vehicles on it at this time but best practice is to wait until 10 days.

Due to the curing process, the moisture content is reduced causing the slab to shrink about 1/16” in about every 10 feet. The faster you can cut in relief joints, the better. It is best practice to cut joints in the first 24 hours. Whether tooling or cutting the joints, they need to be 1/4 of the slab in depth to work effectively.

There are many variables with pouring concrete in the winter. When done correctly and not letting the concrete get below 50 degrees in the first 5 days, it can be done without compromising the integrity of the concrete with blankets, proper mixes, and even heaters.

Typical slope for exterior concrete is 1/8” per linear foot. This helps there be proper drainage and to prevent standing water.

A vapor barrier is required when you are trying to prevent the vapor drive of moisture through the porous concrete. Most commonly it is used when you plan on enclosing the concrete with a structure such as a garage or basement. It is important because If you have ever had an old basement where you set something on the concrete and it accumulated moisture (for example, a cardboard box, and the box got soggy after a period of time), you know you don’t have a vapor barrier.

The PSI rating for concrete along with additives is very important in the strength and the ability for the concrete to stand up to the elements. We pour all of our driveways, patios, and sidewalks with a mix rated at 4000 PSI or greater. This is higher than the industry standard.

In Cincinnati, we have a 30” deep frost depth due to freeze and thaw seasons. We do not dowel our non-frost-protected concrete into the foundation that is frost protected. The reason for this is if bulk water does get below the new slab and freezes, it creates a pressure point in the concrete where the dowel is and could possibly pop the concrete. We choose to place the dowel below the concrete allowing the pad to float up but not settle, keeping it at the correct elevation for the life of the concrete.

Bottom Line - Contact Our Cincinnati Concrete Company Today!

The better the service, the less likely you will be to worry about any repairs in the future. Feel free to contact us–your local concrete contractor–today, and discover how our entire process works!