What to know before you start
Concrete looks simple until it cracks. Most problems with a Douglas County driveway or patio trace back to what happened before the truck showed up: the base, the slope, the joints and the reinforcement.
DougCO Builds puts those details in writing first. Our estimator measures the area, checks drainage and notes the soil and any old concrete that has to come out. Every contractor then bids on the same scope, so you compare prices on the same slab.
What the job includes
- Tear-out and hauling of old concrete or asphalt
- Excavation and a compacted gravel base
- Forms set to a slope that carries water away from the house
- Rebar or wire mesh where the scope calls for it
- Control joints to manage cracking
- The finish you choose: broom, smooth, exposed aggregate or stamped
- Curing and sealing instructions
What we scope
Driveways
New driveways, replacements and widening, including the approach where the town allows it.
Patios
Plain, stamped or colored patios, often paired with a pergola or fire pit area.
Walks and steps
Front walks, side-yard paths and steps that follow the slope of your lot.
Garage and shed slabs
Slabs for detached garages, sheds and RV pads.
What drives the cost
Every project is different, so your True Bid prices yours line by line after the site visit. These are the things that move the price most.
- Area and thickness
- A driveway that carries vehicles is poured thicker than a patio or walk.
- Tear-out
- Breaking up and hauling away old concrete adds labor and dump fees.
- Site access
- A truck that can back up to the forms costs less than a job that needs a pump or wheelbarrows.
- Base and soil
- Soft or expansive soil may need more excavation and a thicker base.
- Finish
- Stamped and colored concrete takes more labor than a broom finish.
- Reinforcement
- Rebar, mesh and thickened edges add material and time.
Permits and HOAs in Douglas County
Flatwork on your own property often doesn't need a building permit, but the rules change once you touch the street. Replacing a driveway approach, curb or public sidewalk usually takes a right-of-way permit from your town's public works department, or from Douglas County in unincorporated areas like Highlands Ranch.
Your HOA is the other gatekeeper. Many Douglas County associations review driveway widening, stamped patterns and colors before work starts. We note both in the scope so nobody pours first and asks later.
Built for Douglas County
Douglas County is hard on concrete. Freeze-thaw cycles, deicing salt and the expansive clay soils found along the Front Range all push and pull on a slab. Good drainage, a solid base, well-placed joints and a sealer go a long way.
Timing matters too. Concrete needs the right temperatures to cure, so cold-weather pours need blankets or additives, and most homeowners schedule flatwork for spring through fall.
How DougCO Builds runs your project
- Tell us about itSend the basics through the project form. We call to set up a site visit.
- One site visitOur estimator measures, photographs what's there and talks through what you want.
- Your True BidYou get a written, line-by-line scope and a budget before any contractor sees the job.
- Contractors bid on the same scopeVetted local contractors bid without your contact details. You compare the bids side by side.
- We manage it with youWe check insurance and licensing before work starts, then walk the job at milestones and at the finish.
Questions to ask before you hire
- How thick will the slab be, and what goes under it?
- Is rebar or mesh included, and where will the control joints go?
- Who handles the right-of-way permit if the approach or sidewalk is involved?
- What does your warranty cover if the slab cracks or heaves?
- When can we walk or drive on it, and when should it be sealed?
Concrete and Flatwork questions
Do I need a permit for a new driveway in Douglas County?
Often not for the slab on your own lot, but work on the approach, curb or public sidewalk usually needs a right-of-way permit from your town or the county. Your contractor pulls it, and we note it in the scope.
Will my new concrete crack?
Most concrete develops some small cracks. Control joints decide where they happen. A compacted base, proper slope and the right thickness keep cracks small and the slab flat.
Stamped or plain concrete?
Stamped concrete looks like stone or brick and costs more to place and maintain. Plain broom-finished concrete is the most durable and the easiest to repair. We can scope both so you can compare.
How soon can I drive on a new driveway?
It depends on the mix and the weather, so ask your contractor for their timeline. Foot traffic comes first, and vehicles wait longer.
