Overview: Concrete Contractors
Concrete companies pour and repair flatwork: driveways, walks, garage floors, basement slabs, pads and front steps. Foundation repair and anything laid in brick or stone belong to other trades. With frost and road salt going after every slab, a lot of what these crews do is repair.
Winter decides how long a pour lasts. The Canadian concrete standard from CSA Group puts outdoor concrete that meets de-icing salt in its own exposure class, with limits on the mix and tiny air bubbles built in so freezing water has room to expand. Ask which class the crew is ordering. The gravel base matters just as much. It has to drain and be packed down in layers, or it holds water and heaves.
Timing is the other trap. Concrete Alberta, the industry's provincial association, warns against late-season pours that can freeze. Cold-weather work needs heaters and blankets, and that costs extra.
Our listings show what each concrete company states on its own website. Use the province and city lists below to find crews working your area.
Frequently asked questions
Why does new concrete crack?
Shrinkage comes first and frost comes second. Concrete shrinks as it cures, and joints cut early give that shrinkage a line to follow. After that, frost does the damage. A base that traps water lifts through the cold months and settles in spring, and the slab snaps across the middle. The fix is a well-drained, well-packed base under the pour, not simply a thicker slab.
Can I use salt on a new driveway?
Not while it's new. Concrete Alberta tells owners to skip de-icing salt through the slab's first winter and use clean sand for grip instead. It also warns never to use ammonium sulphate or ammonium nitrate as a de-icer, since they attack concrete surfaces. Some lawn fertilizers contain them, so keep those off the edges. After that, a penetrating sealer helps keep salty meltwater from soaking into the surface.
Which finish should I ask for outside?
A broom finish, in almost every case. It keeps its grip on a wet or icy walk and patches easily. There's a technical reason too. The Canadian concrete standard says air-entrained concrete, the kind outdoor slabs need, shouldn't get a trowelled finish. Stamped work looks like stone but needs a sealer, which turns slick unless grit goes in. Save the smooth trowelled look for an indoor basement floor.
How long before I can walk and park on it?
Walking on it the next day is normal. A car usually waits several days, and anything heavy waits longer. Cold slows everything down. Concrete Alberta says a pour in near-freezing weather has to be kept warm for at least several days, so a late-fall slab under blankets may need extra time before it takes a vehicle. Ask the crew what they expect for that pour, in that week's weather.
Do I need a permit to widen my driveway?
In Toronto, yes, if the work crosses the boulevard, sidewalk or curb. The city requires a street work permit for that, and the paving on city land has to be done by a City-licensed contractor. Widening a driveway for parking can also raise zoning questions. Other cities set their own rules, so ask who's pulling the permit before the forms go down.
How do I check a Quebec concrete contractor's licence?
Ask for the RBQ licence number and look it up in the Régie du bâtiment du Québec's register. In Quebec, anyone doing construction work for someone else needs that licence unless the law exempts them, and the number has to appear on quotes, contracts and invoices. Make sure the company name on your contract matches the licence holder. A quote with no RBQ number is a reason to walk away.
