Frequently Asked Questions

Brentwood's Codes FAQ says that, depending on state law, a contractor may need to be licensed, insured and bonded, and suggests calling the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors at 1-800-544-7693 to confirm status. The city also suggests asking for several references. Beyond that, compare written bids that spell out base depth, slab thickness, reinforcement and joint layout.

Mostly water and clay. Soils weathered from the limestone under Middle Tennessee have clay subsoil that drains slowly, swelling when wet and shrinking when dry, and Brentwood averages over 54 inches of rain a year. A slab without a drained stone base, proper slope and planned joints moves with that soil and cracks.

HomeGuide's national cost guide lists standard concrete driveways at $6 to $10 per square foot installed, and $2,400 to $6,000 for a 20 by 20 foot two-car driveway. Removing an old driveway adds $2 to $6 per square foot. Long, sloped Brentwood driveways often need extra grading and base, so the measured quote is the real number.

It depends on the job. Brentwood Public Works requires a permit for any excavation in the public right-of-way or a public utility easement, which often includes a driveway apron at the street, and state routes also need a TDOT permit. We confirm what your address needs and include it in the schedule.

Yes. July highs average about 89.5 degrees in Brentwood, so we start pours early in the morning, keep the slab damp or use curing compound, and avoid finishing in direct midday heat. Fast drying weakens the surface, so curing is the part we do not rush.

Many Brentwood subdivisions have HOAs that review visible exterior changes such as driveway widening, new parking pads and large patios. Check your covenants or ask the HOA board. We can provide a site sketch, dimensions and finish samples for the application.

The city's Codes FAQ limits building and repair activity to 7 a.m. until dark, and 9 a.m. until dark on Sundays. Our pour days fit inside those hours.

HomeGuide says a properly installed concrete driveway lasts up to 30 years with basic maintenance and 40 or more with premium materials and careful upkeep. In Brentwood the base and drainage decide most of that.

HomeGuide's guide calls for at least 4 inches for ordinary cars and 5 to 6 inches for RVs or heavy vehicles, with thicker edges. We add depth where trucks or trailers park and at the apron.

We rarely recommend it. A new layer over a sunken, cracked driveway carries the same cracks and settling, and it raises the surface at the garage and street. Removing the old slab and fixing the base lasts longer.

Brentwood requires a road work permit for excavation in the public right-of-way or a utility easement, and state routes also need a TDOT permit. We confirm whether your apron is in the right-of-way and file what is needed.

HomeGuide recommends at least 7 days for cars and the full 28 to 30 day cure before heavy vehicles. We give you exact dates based on the mix and the weather that week.

HomeGuide's patio guide says properly installed concrete patios are expected to last 30 to 50 years with regular maintenance. On Brentwood clay, the base and drainage matter most.

HomeGuide lists 4 inches as standard for residential patios. A slab that will hold a hot tub or an outdoor kitchen should be about 6 inches with more reinforcement.

Yes, though a deck around a pool has different needs, such as a slip-resistant surface and drainage away from the water. Our pool deck page covers that work.

Many Brentwood HOAs review large exterior projects. Check your covenants. We can give you a sketch with dimensions and finish samples for the application.

All concrete cracks somewhere. Stamped slabs get control joints like plain ones, and we place them along pattern lines so cracks follow the design and stay hard to see.

Sealed stamped concrete is slicker when wet than a broom finish. A deeper texture and an anti-slip additive in the sealer help, and we recommend both for steps, walks and pool areas.

Every few years for most patios, sooner on busy walkways or in full sun. If water soaks in instead of beading, or the color looks flat, it is time.

If it is solid and level, a stamped overlay may work. HomeGuide lists overlays at $7 to $20 per square foot. A sunken or broken slab should be replaced.

Stamped concrete is one slab with no joints to weed or units to shift. Pavers can be lifted and reset one at a time. Price both for the same space and decide which trade-off suits you.

Textured finishes: broom, exposed aggregate or a spray-textured topping. Stamped concrete can work around a pool when it has a deeper texture and an anti-slip additive in the sealer.

If the deck is solid and level and only the surface is worn, yes. HomeGuide lists pool deck resurfacing at $3 to $12 per square foot depending on the finish. Sunken, heaved or badly cracked sections need replacement.

Usually the deck has settled or moved as the soil under it got wet and dried. The joint there should be flexible sealant, not hard grout. Wide gaps or a tilting deck call for lifting or replacing those sections.

Foot traffic is usually fine after a day or two, but furniture and heavy use should wait about a week. We give you dates in writing for your mix and the weather.

HomeGuide's sidewalk guide gives 25 to 50 years on average, depending on installation, maintenance and reinforcement. A drained base matters most in clay soil.

Small chips and cracks can be repaired; HomeGuide lists step repair at $300 to $800. Steps that have pulled away from the house, sunk or have uneven risers are better rebuilt.

Yes. HomeGuide lists stamped walkways at $10 to $21 per square foot for a 4-foot path. On sloped walks we use a texture with good grip.

Work on your own lot often does not involve the street, but Brentwood requires a road work permit for any excavation in the public right-of-way or a utility easement. We check where your walk sits before scheduling.

HomeGuide says professionally leveled concrete lasts 5 to 10 years or more, with foam lifting often lasting longest. Fixing drainage around the slab is what keeps it from sinking again.

Mudjacking costs less, at $4 to $9 per square foot on HomeGuide, and works well for most sidewalks and patios. Foam costs more but uses smaller holes, adds less weight to soft soil and can be used sooner.

Filled cracks usually stay visible, but sealing them keeps water from reaching the base. If appearance matters, resurfacing a solid slab can give it a uniform new surface.

If it is in large pieces that have dropped but are not crumbling, it is often a leveling candidate. Many small broken pieces, wide offset cracks or widespread spalling point to replacement. We tell you which after looking.