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.
What residential concrete work costs in Canada
Compare concrete thickness, reinforcement, base preparation and finish. A square-foot price is meaningful only when those specifications match.
| Service | Planning budget | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Broom-finished concrete driveway | C$9–C$16per sq ft installed | New residential broom-finished slab on an accessible site; thickness and reinforcement must be written into the quote.Installation and ordinary base preparation; old concrete removal and major excavation are extra. Thickness and reinforcement must be specified in the quote.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Routine granular base preparation, forming, concrete placement and finishing Budget separately or confirm: Old slab removal; Major excavation, drainage changes and enhanced reinforcement |
| Plain concrete patio or walkway | C$9–C$16per sq ft installed | Ground-level patio or walkway with straightforward access and a standard finish.Installation and ordinary base preparation; old concrete removal and major excavation are extra. Thickness and reinforcement must be specified in the quote.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Routine base, forming, concrete and finishing Budget separately or confirm: Demolition, steps, deep excavation and structural design |
| Stamped concrete patio | C$15–C$30per sq ft installed | Accessible ground-level stamped patio with a standard pattern and colour.Installation and ordinary base preparation; old concrete removal and major excavation are extra. Thickness and reinforcement must be specified in the quote.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Routine base, forming, concrete, stamping and initial sealing Budget separately or confirm: Old slab removal; Intricate borders, multiple colours, steps and deep excavation |
| Existing concrete removal | C$3–C$10per sq ft removed | Accessible residential slab roughly 4–6 in thick; normal equipment access.Demolition and disposal only. Heavy reinforcement, thick foundations, poor access and contaminated material need a separate quote. Add this only when it is needed and is not already included in the agreed package.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Breaking, loading, haul-off and normal concrete disposal Budget separately or confirm: New concrete; Thick reinforced footings, buried structures and restricted access |
| Sunken slab lifting | Scope-based quoteper assessed repair | Existing suitable slab assessed for lifting rather than replacement.new concrete; underlying drainage repairs Void size, slab condition, access and injection method must be assessed. Ask whether sealing joints and correcting the drainage cause are included.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Specified lifting work Budget separately or confirm: New concrete; Underlying drainage repairs |
Example: replace a 400 sq ft plain patio
Assumptions:
- Illustrative measured patio area: 400 sq ft
- Ordinary existing slab suitable for the stated removal rate
- New plain patio rate and removal are separately quoted
400 × C$9–C$16 = C$3,600–C$6,400 for the new patio. 400 × C$3–C$10 = C$1,200–C$4,000 for removal and disposal.
Illustrative combined budget: C$4,800–C$10,400. Confirm applicable tax and separately agreed site work.
Not included:
- Major excavation, unstable soil and upgraded reinforcement
- Steps, drainage alterations and landscaping
What changes the price
- Slab thickness, reinforcement, base depth and soil condition
- Truck or pump access and minimum concrete delivery
- Demolition, grading, drainage and decorative finish
Ask before accepting a quote
- What base depth, concrete thickness and reinforcement are included?
- Are removal, disposal, joints, curing and sealing included in the total?
- What additional work is charged if the ground is unsuitable or drainage needs correction?
Compare the same slab specification
- Ask for slab thickness, concrete specification, reinforcement, base depth and joints in writing before comparing the per-square-foot prices
- The measured slab area is not the lot area; request demolition and disposal separately if they are not included
Canadian context
Ask how the specification and curing plan address the local climate and expected exposure to de-icing salts.
Planning amounts in Canadian dollars. Published tax treatment varies; confirm applicable taxes and the final total in your written quote. Rows can be different services, alternative packages or separately priced extras. Add only work that is needed and not already included in your quote.
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.
