FAQ • 5 CATEGORIES
Most of What You Want to Know Before Calling — Right Here
Most of what you want to know before calling a concrete contractor is answered below.
Read through the categories that matter most for your situation and call (614) 227-8000 when you’re ready. For full permit guidance specific to your project type and Columbus-area municipality, see our Columbus concrete permits guide.
CATEGORY 01 • TIMELINE & SCHEDULING
Timeline and Scheduling Questions
Most Columbus concrete projects move from first call to finished surface in one to three weeks.
That window covers the consultation, site assessment, any required permit coordination, pour day, and cure time. Larger commercial pours or projects with complex forming take longer. Here’s what the specific milestones look like.
How long does a typical Columbus concrete driveway project take from first call to completion?
Most residential driveways finish within seven to fourteen days of the initial consultation. That includes the site visit, estimate delivery, scheduling, pour day, and the seven-day cure window before you can drive on the surface.
Projects requiring a curb-cut permit from Columbus Public Service add time — typically five to ten business days for permit issuance.
How soon can I walk on new concrete after it’s poured?
Concrete is walkable at 24 to 48 hours under normal Columbus weather conditions. That’s a firm milestone — not a suggestion. Walking on it earlier risks surface damage before the cement matrix has set properly.
How soon can I drive on a new concrete driveway in Columbus?
Seven days. That’s the standard milestone for passenger vehicle traffic on a properly mixed and cured residential driveway.
Full design strength — the 28-day mark — matters more for heavy trucks and commercial applications, but seven days is the practical answer for most Columbus homeowners.
What time of year is best to pour concrete in Columbus?
April through October gives you the widest reliable window. Columbus spring and fall temperatures sit in the ideal 50°F to 80°F range for curing.
Summer pours above 90°F require evaporation retarder additives and wet curing to prevent surface crazing. Late fall pours between October and November are workable with proper cold-weather protocols — just schedule before the first hard freeze.
How far in advance do I need to schedule a concrete project in Columbus?
Two to four weeks is a reasonable lead time for most residential projects during the busy season, May through September.
Spring books fastest — if you’re targeting a May pour, reach out in March. Fall sealing work and smaller repair projects often have shorter lead times.
CATEGORY 02 • WEATHER & POUR CONDITIONS
Weather and Pour Conditions
Columbus concrete goes in rain, heat, and cold — within specific limits.
Central Ohio’s climate creates real constraints for concrete installation. Here’s what those limits are and how we work within them.
What happens if it rains right after the concrete is poured?
Light rain that falls after the surface has been finished and textured is generally not damaging.
Rain that hits the surface while it’s still workable — typically within the first four hours — can wash out cement paste at the top. That weakens the surface layer.
Our crews monitor forecasts closely. When rain is expected within four hours of a pour, we use curing blankets or plastic sheeting to protect the surface immediately after finishing.
Do you pour concrete in winter in Columbus?
Yes, within a defined temperature window. Columbus winters regularly drop into the teens and twenties — which requires cold weather protocols, not cancellation.
Pours between 20°F and 40°F use insulating curing blankets and accelerating admixtures to maintain the hydration process.
We do not pour when ambient temperatures are forecast to drop below 20°F within the first 24 hours of placement. That’s the hard floor.
CATEGORY 03 • SERVICE AREA & LOGISTICS
Service Area and Scheduling Logistics
Columbus Concrete Solutions serves the full Columbus metro and surrounding Franklin County municipalities.
Do you serve Westerville, Dublin, Hilliard, or Upper Arlington?
Yes to all four — and more.
Our service area covers Columbus proper and the surrounding Franklin County communities: Dublin, Westerville, Hilliard, Upper Arlington, Worthington, Gahanna, Grove City, New Albany, Reynoldsburg, and Pickerington.
Projects outside Franklin County are evaluated case by case. Call (614) 227-8000 to confirm coverage for your address.
How do I get a quote from Columbus Concrete Solutions?
Call (614) 227-8000 or email info@ColumbusConcretesolutions.com. Have your project address and approximate dimensions ready — that’s all we need to get started.
For projects that need an on-site assessment, we’ll schedule a visit and deliver a written itemized estimate. No lump sums.
Do I need to be home during the concrete pour?
Not necessarily for the full day. We’ll walk through the site with you at the start and confirm everything is marked and protected. After that walkthrough, your crew doesn’t need you on-site the whole time.
We do ask that someone be reachable by phone on pour day. A decision may come up — finish type, edge detail, or an unexpected sub-base condition that needs your input.
CATEGORY 04 • POST-INSTALL CARE
Post-Install Care
The first two winters are the most critical period for new Columbus concrete.
Columbus roads get heavily salted. What you put on new concrete during that window matters more than most homeowners realize.
What de-icer is safe to use on new concrete in Ohio?
Use sand or calcium magnesium acetate (CMA) for the first two winters. Avoid rock salt and calcium chloride. Both accelerate chloride ingress – the process where salt penetrates the concrete surface and causes spalling. New concrete hasn’t fully hardened in years one and two, making it especially vulnerable. Sand gives you traction without the chemical damage.
Should I seal my new concrete driveway in the first year?
Yes – and timing matters. Wait at least 28 days after the pour before applying a sealer. That’s the point where concrete reaches its designed strength. Sealing before 28 days traps moisture in the slab. For new driveways poured in late summer or fall, get a penetrating silane/siloxane sealer on before the first hard freeze. Our [concrete sealing page] covers the full sealer selection process.
My concrete developed a hairline crack in the first year - is that normal?
Hairline cracks along control joints or at slab corners during year one are typically shrinkage cracks – a normal result of concrete contracting as it cures. They are cosmetic and stable when the crack faces are level and the width stays under 1/8 inch. A crack that widens over time, shows one face higher than the other, or appears between joints rather than along them warrants a professional assessment.
Here’s what most homeowners don’t realize about shrinkage cracks: control joints are placed specifically to give the slab a designated place to crack as it contracts. A hairline crack running along a control joint is the slab behaving exactly as designed.
CATEGORY 05 • GETTING A QUOTE
Getting a Quote
Have five pieces of information ready and your estimate process moves faster.
What information do I need to have ready when I call for a quote?
Five things speed this up significantly:
Confirms we serve your area and helps us review site access
Length by width in feet; an estimate is fine
Are you replacing existing concrete, or is this new ground?
Foot traffic only, passenger vehicles, or heavy loads
Plain broom, stamped, exposed aggregate, or undecided
You don’t need to have all of this perfectly nailed down. The more you can share on the first call, the faster we can deliver a written estimate with real numbers.
Areas We Serve
Columbus Concrete Solutions serves Columbus and the full Franklin County metro.
We work throughout Columbus, Dublin, Westerville, Hilliard, Upper Arlington, Worthington, Gahanna, Grove City, New Albany, Reynoldsburg, and Pickerington. Projects in adjacent counties are reviewed individually.
ColumbusDublinWestervilleHilliardUpper ArlingtonWorthingtonGahannaGrove CityNew AlbanyReynoldsburgPickerington
Call (614) 227-8000 or email info@ColumbusConcretesolutions.com to confirm your location.
Still Have a Question?
Call us directly at (614) 227-8000 — most questions get answered in two minutes.
If you’d rather write it out, email info@ColumbusConcretesolutions.com. If your question involves permitting, our Columbus concrete permits guide covers the full breakdown by project type and municipality.
Columbus, OH 43235
Saturday · 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Sunday · Closed
Ready to move forward? Let’s get your project scoped.