Driveway Aprons in Thornton, CO
We pour new concrete driveway aprons in Thornton, Colorado, where your driveway meets the street.
- Quotes in writing
- 18 areas covered
Thornton Concrete Driveway replaces cracked and sunken driveway aprons for homes across Thornton. We look at the apron, the sidewalk and the curb, and we give you a written quote before we break anything out.
What we mean by the apron
When we say apron, we mean the strip of driveway between the street and your sidewalk, where your car rolls on and off. We treat it as work in the city's right-of-way, which we'd describe as the public land along the street, and that changes who is allowed to do it.
We can replace just the apron and leave the rest of your driveway alone, as long as the rest is still in good shape.
How we replace an apron
First we saw a clean line where the apron meets the driveway, break out the old concrete and haul it off. Then we dig out any soft ground, lay a new base and pack it down hard.
Next we set the wooden boards that hold the wet concrete in shape, pour the new apron and finish it. We slope it so water runs into the gutter and down the street, not back up toward your garage.
Permits for work by the street
The City of Thornton says ROW permits are needed for any work in the city right-of-way that the construction permit for the property does not cover. The city only issues those permits to contractors with a Thornton contractor license.
The city says the standard review time is at least 14 business days, plus 2 more days for processing. We put that wait into the start date on your quote.
The City of Thornton says the permit plans have to show the full scope of work, both in the right-of-way and outside it. When we replace the apron and part of the driveway in one job, we draw both on the same plan.
The sidewalk and the curb
The City of Thornton says once a sidewalk has been cut, the whole panel has to be replaced. If your apron crosses the sidewalk, we price the full sidewalk squares we have to take out, not just the strip under your car.
We keep the curb as it is, because the city says it does not allow curb cuts. The city says that is because it has no approved specifications for them that meet the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Work in the street
The City of Thornton says a traffic control permit is needed if signs or cones go in the city right-of-way. The city says lane and full closures are allowed from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, unless its traffic division approves other hours. We plan the pour and the cone setup around those hours.
What to get in writing
Ask for these in writing, whoever you hire:
- Where the new apron starts and stops, and how many sidewalk squares come out.
- Who applies for each permit, and whether they hold a Thornton contractor license.
- How thick the new concrete will be and what goes under it.
- How the new apron will join the driveway and the gutter.
- The start date, with the permit wait counted in.
- When you can drive over the new apron.
Questions about driveway aprons in Thornton
Do I need a permit if the work is only on my own lot?
The City of Thornton says any type of construction within the city needs a construction permit, even on private property. We tell you which permits your job needs when we quote it.
Can I leave a plastic ramp in the gutter to get over the curb?
The city says temporary curb ramps have to be moved out of the curb right after a car drives in or out. It says they get in the way of drainage and street sweeping.
My house is on a corner. Does that change anything?
The city says a driveway on a corner lot can't be closer than 20 feet to an intersection with a local street. The rule for bigger streets is stricter, and we check which one applies to your corner when we visit.
Who marks the pipes and cables under the apron?
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 we'd describe as the public land along the street.
What happens to the old apron concrete?
The EPA says old concrete, brick and masonry can be recycled right on site as fill or as bedding for a driveway. We tell you on your quote where the broken concrete is going.
Can I email the city my permit application?
The City of Thornton says permit requests sent by email will not be processed, and applications have to be sent in online.
What if someone starts the work without a permit?
The city says anyone found doing construction or digging without a construction permit has to stop all work until they get the right permits. We get the permits before we start.
What if the whole driveway is in bad shape?
Our concrete driveway replacement page covers breaking out and pouring the full driveway. The City of Thornton says residential driveway installations need a permit from Planning & Zoning.
Get a quote for a driveway apron
Call us, or send the quote form with your ZIP code and a note about your apron. We'll come out and look at it, 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.
Ready to talk about your concrete driveway job?
Send the quote form with your ZIP code and what you need. We will get back to you with a written quote.