how much will my concrete project cost?

It depends! As we all know, the economy has an affect on the price of all things including the materials needed for you project. So we can't give you a definitive set number but we can tell you what things will matter.

1. How much of the project are you hiring your contractor to do? Obviously the more you want them to do the more it will cost. The "save money and do the prep yourself" theory is great as long as you realize how important the prep of a concrete project actually is.

If your base is not up to grade, the holes will be filled with concrete.. which is more expensive. If the rebar is spaced too far apart, your concrete could end up not as strong as you need. If the forms aren't straight or square, well, your project won't be either.

2. The concrete itself. Concrete strength is measured in MPa (megapascals). The higher the MPa, the more it costs as there are more chemical additives in the mix. And obviously, the more concrete you need, the higher the cost. The size of a project and thickness of a floor all play into this.

3. The type of finish you want on your project. The most common finishes are float, broom, smooth and decorative (ie: exposed & stamped), priced lowest to highest respectively. Float finish is least expensive as it is part of the pouring process and once the concrete has all been laid down and floated, it's done. This one is the simplest finish and may be less aesthetically pleasing but just as functional.

A broomed finish is what you see on most sidewalks and driveways and is exactly what it sounds like. After it has been poured and the concrete has set a certain amount, a broom is drug across the top. This is to make it less smooth and give it more grip for walking or driving on. Different brooms can make a more or less aggressive broomed finish.

Smooth troweled concrete is the most common finish for floors. This takes the most equipment and the longest amount of time but you are left with a smooth sealed floor.

A stamped finished is often used for things like decorative pool decks, patios etc. This is done similar to the broomed finished except instead of a broom, silicone stamp mats with a recurring pattern on the bottom are laid down and literally stamped into the concrete. There are thousands of different patterns, however they are expensive to buy as you need multiple mats to be able to make an accurate pattern. So if you want a pattern your contractor does not have, they can be rented but would take time to get to your location and add to the cost. Exposed concrete follows the same initial steps but a solution is sprayed on the top to slow the setting of the concrete and is then washed down to expose the aggregate underneath.

Stamped and exposed concrete tends to be extremely slippery in the winter.

As there are so many different varying factors, the best way to know how much your project will cost is to get in touch with your contractor, lay out your project and the size of it and get an estimate.