1. Site Walk and Scope
We measure the area, check slope and drainage, look at where water currently runs, note access for a ready-mix truck, and identify the tie-in at the street. Utility locates are requested before any digging. Out of this comes a written scope: dimensions, thickness, reinforcement, joint layout, finish and where spoil goes.
2. Demolition and Removal
On a replacement, the old slab is broken and hauled off. This is the noisiest, dustiest day of the project. Expect equipment on the property, and expect the yard immediately beside the drive to take some traffic — we protect what we can and restore edges at the end.
3. Grading and Compaction
Soft or organic material is cut out, the subgrade is shaped to drain away from the house, and the base is compacted in lifts. This is the stage that decides whether the slab settles later. Rutherford County clay in particular has to be worked at the right moisture content, which is why base prep sometimes waits a day after rain.
4. Forming, Reinforcement and Inspection
Forms set the final elevations and edges. Reinforcement — welded wire or rebar on chairs, per the scope — is placed so it sits in the slab rather than on the ground. Before concrete is ordered, everything gets a walk-through against the layout.
5. Placing and Finishing
Concrete is discharged, screeded, floated and edged, then given its final texture, most often a broom finish for traction. Timing here is driven by the weather; on hot afternoons the finishing window shortens considerably. This is why the crew arrives early and works continuously through the pour.
6. Jointing and Curing
Control joints are cut or tooled at planned spacing so shrinkage cracking follows those lines. Curing then keeps moisture in the slab while it gains strength — this is a real step, not a waiting period, and it directly affects surface durability.
7. Cleanup, Walkthrough and First Use
Forms come out, the perimeter is backfilled and raked, and debris leaves the site. We walk the finished job with you and explain when foot traffic, then vehicles, then heavy loads are acceptable, plus the first-year care items on the maintenance and sealing page.
What Affects the Schedule
Weather windows, ready-mix availability, project size and how much subgrade correction the site needs. If you are still deciding on scope, the installation page covers design decisions and the cost page covers what changes the number.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many days will my driveway be unusable?
- Plan on not parking on it for about a week after the pour, with foot traffic possible much sooner. Heavy vehicles and trailers should wait longer. Exact timing depends on mix design and weather, and we confirm it on site.
- Do I need to be home during the work?
- Not for the whole job, but access matters. We need a clear path for the forming crew and the ready-mix truck, and someone reachable by phone for layout decisions on the first morning.
- Where do I park while the driveway is out of service?
- On the street or a neighbor's drive, depending on your subdivision's rules. Identify that spot before demolition day — it is the detail homeowners most often overlook.
- What happens if it rains on the pour date?
- We reschedule. Rain during placement and early finishing damages the surface permanently, so weather windows drive the calendar more than anything else in this trade.