Rock Solid Concrete Tips

Kalan Paul of LCI Concrete has some great advice if you’re looking to replace a weathered driveway.

LCI Concrete specializes in ­pouring and scoring concrete driveways, patios, sidewalks and other flatwork for homeowners, businesses and commercial properties. LCI Director Kalan Paul says the company has served the Tulsa area for the past seven years. “Driveways can show signs of damage from corrosive salt used each winter,” says Kalan. “You’ll know salt has gotten to your driveway when the surface begins to pit or flake.” When this happens, your home’s curb appeal is taking a negative hit as well, and it is time to protect your investment by replacing the driveway.

With 20 years of experience, Kalan offers “concrete” advice when you begin securing price estimates for your project. Make sure the supplier you’re considering has general liability and workers’ comprehensive insurance. If there’s an accident on the job, you don’t want to be held liable for it.

Make sure the supplier has been in business for a minimum of one year. A lot of homeowners have been duped over the past years by individuals selling them a “bill of goods” for home improvement work, only to produce a completed project much more inferior than expected.

Any supplier you talk with about pouring your driveway or doing other flatwork should be able to produce proof that they are a member in good standing of the Better Business Bureau. Call the BBB and check out the company’s record.

Whenever you’re getting an ­estimate, the contractor should mention the word “rebar” ­without you having to ask about it. Using steel reinforcement rebar is a must when pouring a ­driveway. “Not using rebar,” says Kalan, “can reduce the life of your driveway by as much as  10 to 15 years.” LCI Concrete lays 3/8-inch rebar on two-foot grid patterns after properly preparing subsurfaces. Each job is poured and finished to the recommended industry standard of 3,500 pounds per square inch.

Don’t be timid about asking for references and about similar jobs the supplier has done that you can drive to and check out. Reputable contractors have no problem with you inspecting ­previous work or talking with their customers.

Ask how long it will take to start and finish the project. “Average jobs will take about two days,” says Kalan. “If you get an estimate of two weeks for an average job, find out why it would take that long.”

LCI Concrete provides a supervisor and six-man crew for each project, and they always order concrete from the same supplier, Eagle Concrete of Broken Arrow. “We’ve worked with Eagle for a long time,” says Kalan, “and we always know we’re getting the correct mixture of concrete whenever we pour.” When a pumper is needed, LCI uses Heartland Pumping. “Both of these suppliers are well established in our area. They are reputable and supply only quality products and services.”

A minimum order from LCI is 300 square feet. The largest driveway they have completed to date was 10,800 square feet for a home in Tulsa.

Project estimates from LCI are free, and you’ll know in ­writing exactly what the job is going to cost, precisely what materials will be used, and how long it will take to do the job. “Pouring a new or replacement driveway isn’t cheap, but when done correctly with quality ­products, it has a life expectancy of at least 20 to 30 years, making it an ­outstanding investment,” Kalan explains. “We like to make customers happy and always ensure the highest quality and service on every project we have the privilege of doing.”

For more information, contact

LCI Concrete

(918) 960-1440

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www.lcitulsa.com