Concrete Driveways in Winston-Salem, NC | Cost & Install
Driveways are priced by the square foot, so the size of the pour sets your base number. A typical two-car drive in Winston-Salem runs about 24 by 40 feet, or 960 square feet, poured 4 inches thick over a compacted aggregate base. Four things move the price from there: whether an existing surface has to be broken out and hauled off, how much grading and drainage the site needs, whether you go with wire or fibre reinforcement, and the finish you pick. Reinforcement adds roughly 10 to 15 percent over a plain pour, and tear-out of an old driveway adds roughly 15 to 25 percent depending on thickness and access.
Almost everything that determines whether a driveway lasts thirty years or cracks out in five happens before any concrete arrives. The base gets graded, compacted and drained, reinforcement gets placed at the right height rather than kicked into the bottom, and control joints get cut where the slab actually wants to move.
What Moves the Price of Concrete Driveways in Winston-Salem, NC
What changes
Effect on your price
Square footage
The single biggest driver. Work is priced per square foot, so measure before you call.
Reinforcement, wire or fibre
Adds roughly 10 to 15 percent over a plain pour. Worth it anywhere a vehicle or a heavy load will sit.
Tear-out of the existing surface
Adds roughly 15 to 25 percent, depending on slab thickness and how easily a machine can reach it.
Slab thickness
4 inches is standard. Going to 5 or 6 inches for heavy vehicles adds material across the whole pour.
Base condition
The wildcard. Sound compacted gravel can lower the price. A failed base that has to be rebuilt raises it more than anything else on this list.
Grading and drainage
Priced separately from the concrete. On a sloped or poorly draining site it can be a large share of the job.
Finish
A broom finish is the baseline. Exposed aggregate costs more, integral colour more again, and stamped work costs the most.
Concrete truck access
Tight lots, long wheelbarrow runs and pump trucks all add labour to the exact same square footage.
Every job is priced on site. We measure, check the base and the grade, and put a written price in your hand before any concrete is ordered.
What's Included
Site grading and slope set so water runs off, not toward the house
Compacted aggregate base sized to the soil and the traffic
Rebar or mesh placed and supported at the correct height
Control joints cut on a proper spacing to manage shrinkage
Broom or float finish, edges tooled, apron tied into the road
Removal and disposal of the old surface where needed
When to Call
You are replacing a driveway that has cracked all the way through
You are paving over gravel or dirt for the first time
Slabs have started moving independently or lifting at the joints
You are widening for a second vehicle or adding a turnaround
Common Questions
How much does a concrete driveway cost in Winston-Salem?⌄
It is priced per square foot, so measure your drive first. A single-car is usually 12 by 30 feet and a two-car about 24 by 40. From there, heavy grading, poor drainage and breaking out an old surface all push the number up, while an existing compacted gravel base can bring it down. We measure on site and hand you a written price before any concrete is ordered.
How thick should a residential concrete driveway be?⌄
Four inches is standard for cars and light trucks over a properly compacted base. Five to six inches with reinforcement is normal where heavy trucks, RVs, or dumpsters will sit on it.
How long before I can drive on it?⌄
Foot traffic after 24 to 48 hours and vehicles after about seven days. Concrete keeps gaining strength for roughly 28 days, so keep anything heavy off it for the first month.
Will it crack?⌄
Every concrete slab develops some hairline cracking as it cures, which is why control joints are cut. What matters is whether cracks stay tight and cosmetic or open up and move, and that comes down to base compaction and joint placement.
