7 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Concrete Contractor in Richmond

Concrete work is one of those projects where the mistakes don't show up on day one — they show up eighteen months later as cracks, heaving, or a driveway that's sinking on one side. By then the crew that poured it is long gone. Asking the right questions upfront is the cheapest insurance you'll ever buy on a project like this.

1. How deep will you excavate and what base material are you using?

This is the single most important question, and it's the one most homeowners never think to ask. A shallow, poorly compacted base is the root cause of most cracking and settling problems we get called out to fix in Richmond, especially on the area's clay-heavy lots. A contractor who can't give you a specific excavation depth and base material off the top of their head hasn't thought it through.

2. Will you use rebar, wire mesh, or nothing?

Reinforcement type matters more here than in a lot of regions because of how much Richmond's clay soil expands and contracts. Wire mesh is standard and fine for many driveways; rebar costs more but holds up better long-term on soil that moves. Get this in writing, not just as a verbal answer.

3. How are you handling any nearby tree roots?

If your property has mature trees near the pour area — common in a lot of Richmond's older neighborhoods — root intrusion can heave a slab within a few years if it isn't accounted for. A contractor who's never brought this up on their own probably isn't planning for it.

4. What's your plan for drainage and grading?

Water pooling against a foundation or driveway edge causes long-term damage that's expensive to fix later. Ask specifically how the slab will be sloped and where runoff is directed. A vague answer here is a red flag.

5. Are you licensed and insured for work in this area?

Ask to see it, not just hear it. If a contractor is uninsured and something goes wrong — property damage, an injury on site — that liability can land on you as the homeowner.

That's why MG Concrete is licensed and insured.

6. What does the written quote actually include?

Demolition and haul-off of old concrete, permit fees if required, cleanup after the pour — these are common line items that get left out of a lowball verbal estimate and added back in later. Get everything itemized in writing before you agree to anything.

7. What warranty do you offer, and what does it actually cover?

A workmanship warranty should be specific — what's covered, for how long, and under what conditions. "We stand behind our work" isn't a warranty; it's a sentence. Ask for it in writing.

Putting It Together

None of these questions are complicated, and any contractor who's actually good at this work will have specific, confident answers to all seven without hesitation. The ones who get vague, defensive, or annoyed at being asked are telling you something important before you've even signed anything.

Getting a Quote in Richmond?

MG Concrete will answer all seven of these questions on the first site visit, in writing, before you ever have to ask. If you're planning a driveway, patio, or foundation project in the Richmond area, we're happy to walk you through exactly what your specific lot needs.

Contact MG Concrete for a free, detailed estimate in Richmond, VA.

MG Concrete — Concrete Contractor Richmond VA | Driveways | Patios | Foundations | Repair | Serving Richmond, Henrico, Chesterfield, Midlothian, Glen Allen & the Greater Richmond Metro