Concrete Driveway Replacement in Thornton, CO

Thornton Concrete Driveway replaces worn-out concrete driveways for homes across Thornton. We look at the old slab, work out why it failed, and give you a written quote before any concrete comes out.

Replace or repair?

When the damage is small, like one crack or one broken corner, we repair it. When big parts of the slab have sunk, broken up or tipped toward the house, we suggest a new one. If a repair will do the job, we'll tell you, and our concrete driveway repair page covers that work.

How we replace a driveway

First we saw the old slab into pieces, break it out and haul it off. Then we look at the ground under it, and we dig out any soft or washed-out spots, add a new base and pack it down hard.

Next we set up the wooden boards that hold the wet concrete in shape, pour the new slab, smooth it and give it the finish you picked. We slope it so rain runs toward the street, and we cut straight lines across it, called joints, so the concrete has a set place to crack.

What happens to the old concrete

The EPA says old concrete, brick and masonry can be recycled right on site as fill or as bedding for a driveway. It also says concrete and rubble are often recycled into new asphalt and concrete products. We tell you on your quote where the broken concrete is going.

Checking for buried lines first

The City of Thornton says all requests to have buried utility lines marked should go through Colorado 811. The city marks its own lines, such as water, sewer and fiber, in the right-of-way, which is the public land along the street.

The city also says private lines, the ones the property owner owns, will not be marked with the 811 request. It says the person digging has to get those located, at the property owner's expense. Before we dig, we ask you about any private lines, like one running out to a yard light.

Thornton's rules for the new driveway

The City of Thornton says residential driveway installations need a permit from Planning & Zoning. It takes driveway permit applications through its City View Portal.

When we replace a driveway, we also check it against the city's gap rules. If your garage holds two cars or more, the city says the driveway has to stay at least 3 feet from the side property line in front of the house. With a one-car garage or no garage, the gap can be as small as 12 inches, but the city also wants a 6-inch curb or something like it to send water away from your neighbor's lot. We measure the old driveway against these rules before we draw up the new one.

What to get in writing

Ask for these in writing, whoever you hire:

• How the old concrete will be broken out, and where it goes.
• What will be done about soft ground under the old slab.
• How thick the new concrete will be and what goes under it.
• Where the joints will be cut, and the finish on the surface.
• Who applies for each permit, and whether they hold a Thornton contractor license.
• The start date, and when you can drive on the new driveway.

Questions about concrete driveway replacement in Thornton

Get a quote for concrete driveway replacement

Call us, or send the quote form with your ZIP code and the size of your driveway. We'll look at the old slab, go through the options with you, and give you a written quote. To see the other work we do, go to the Thornton Concrete Driveway home page.