Concrete Driveways in Carmel, IN
We pour new concrete driveways for homes across Carmel, Indiana, from the stone base up.
- Quotes in writing
- 15 areas covered
Carmel Concrete Pros pours new concrete driveways for homes across Carmel. We measure, look at where the water runs off, and write you a quote before anyone digs.
How we build a concrete driveway
On the driveways we pour, we dig out the soil, lay a stone base and pack it down hard. We set up wooden forms, the boards that hold the wet concrete in shape, and we put steel in the slab where the job needs it. Then we pour the concrete, smooth the top and cut the joints, which are the straight grooves you see across a driveway.
We slope every driveway we pour so rain runs toward the street or the lawn, and not back toward your garage.
Carmel soil and standing water
The City of Carmel says local soils drain poorly and have seasonally high water tables. It also says property owners are responsible for managing groundwater around their homes through foundation drains, sump pumps, grading and similar measures. So we check where the water will go before we draw your driveway, and we tell you if the yard needs to be reshaped first.
Carmel's driveway rules
The City of Carmel's Engineering Department sets out its driveway rules in its online FAQ:
- A home driveway should be at least 12 feet and no more than 20 feet wide where it meets the street. The department says it will not support layouts outside that range.
- Each property gets one curb cut, which is the city's term for an access point from your lot to the street. A second one needs approval from the Board of Public Works and Safety.
- Before any work out at the street, in the area the city calls its right-of-way, you need a right-of-way permit.
- If any part of the driveway sits in an easement, a Consent to Encroach Agreement must be signed. The city describes an easement as part of your property that other parties also have rights to use, such as for drainage or utilities.
- When the board has to approve a driveway, the city wants a plot plan that shows any easements and right-of-way, plus where the new driveway goes and its size. It also wants a letter from your homeowners' association saying the work doesn't break any neighborhood rules.
- Driveway work outside any easement or the right-of-way doesn't need the board's approval.
We check your plans against these rules before we give you a quote.
Calling 811 before we dig
Indiana's Call Before You Dig law requires everyone who digs to contact Indiana 811 at least two full working days before starting. We make that call before we dig out for your driveway, so buried utility lines are marked first.
What to get in writing
Ask for these in writing, whoever you hire:
- How thick the concrete will be, and what goes under it.
- Whether there is steel in the slab, and where.
- Where the joints will be cut.
- How wide the driveway will be where it meets the street.
- Which permits the job needs, and who applies for them.
- When you can drive on the new driveway.
Questions about concrete driveways in Carmel
Can you make my driveway wider while you pour it?
Yes, we can widen it as part of the job, as long as the street end stays inside the city's width range. If you only want more room on the driveway you already have, see our driveway widening page.
Should I replace my old driveway or repair it?
We look at it first. If the slab has broken up or the ground under it has gone soft, we suggest driveway replacement. If it has only cracked or sunk in a few places, we may be able to fix it with concrete repair or concrete leveling.
Can I have a stamped driveway?
Yes, we can press a pattern into the wet concrete so it looks like stone or brick. See our stamped concrete page.
Who fixes the sidewalk in front of my house?
The City of Carmel says sidewalk maintenance is the property owner's job, apart from the sidewalks its Street Department looks after along City streets and around the edges of subdivisions. If you repair one, the city requires you to replace full panels of sidewalk.
Is cutting concrete dusty?
OSHA says cutting, sawing, grinding and drilling concrete makes very small particles of crystalline silica, at least 100 times smaller than ordinary sand. It says workers who breathe them in are at higher risk of serious diseases caused by silica. When we cut joints or break out old concrete, we ask you to keep back while we work.
Do you seal new driveways?
We can, and we'll tell you whether we think your driveway needs it. See our concrete sealing page.
How much does a concrete driveway cost?
We price your driveway once we've measured it, and you get that quote in writing. We base it on the size, how much digging and base work the ground needs, and the finish you pick.
Get a quote for a concrete driveway
Call us, or send the quote form with your ZIP code and the size of the driveway. We'll measure, go through the options with you, and give you a written quote. To see the other work we do, go to the Carmel Concrete Pros home page.
Ready to talk about your concrete job?
Send the quote form with your ZIP code and what you need. We will get back to you with a written quote.