The red flags in a concrete bid are mostly absences: no thickness, no steel size and spacing, no base or compaction line, no joint plan, no permit, no insurance certificate, no written warranty. Add a few behaviors: a large deposit, a cash-only discount, pressure to sign today, and a price far below the others for the same scope.
Updated November 10, 2026 · Metroplex Concrete & Stone
The slab thickness is the single most important number on the bid and the easiest to leave off. If the bid does not say 4, 5 or 6 inches (and which sections get which), ask. A crew that will not commit to a number in writing may not commit to one in the forms either.
Source: ConcreteNetwork, how thick should a concrete driveway be
Reinforced means nothing without a size and spacing. Fort Worth's parkway standard spells it out as #3 bars at 18 inches on center both ways on chairs; your bid should be at least that specific. A related flag: steel listed but no mention of chairs or supports.
Source: City of Fort Worth, Parkway Standards (driveway approaches and sidewalks)
If the bid goes from "remove old driveway" to "pour new driveway" with nothing in between, the plan is to pour on what is there. On Blackland clay that is the slab that cracks first. Look for material, depth and compaction.
Source: Texas Parks & Wildlife, Blackland Prairie ecoregion
Concrete will crack; joints decide where. A bid with no joint spacing is leaving that to chance. The Portland Cement Association's two-times-thickness rule of thumb is the quick check.
Source: Portland Cement Association, FAQ: joints, what type are used and where
Many DFW cities permit the approach at the street and some permit all flatwork. Dallas issues its paving permit only to bonded paving contractors; Sachse requires a pre-pour inspection on patios. A bidder who waves off permits may not be able to get one.
Source: City of Dallas, paving permit checklist (drive approach, sidewalk, curb and gutter)
Ask for it before you sign. A current general liability certificate naming the contractor is routine; hesitation is not.
The Texas Attorney General's guidance is to expect to pay part in advance but never in full before the work is done and inspected. A deposit that covers most of the job before a truck arrives is a flag.
Source: Texas Attorney General, how to avoid home improvement scams
Both are on the Attorney General's list of things to avoid: insist on a contract that states exactly what will be done, with no blanks, and keep copies of everything you sign.
Source: Texas Attorney General, how to avoid home improvement scams
Concrete prices do not change by the hour. A "this price is good until I leave" pitch is a sales tactic, and the Attorney General's guidance says plainly not to let anyone rush you.
Source: Texas Attorney General, how to avoid home improvement scams
The low-ball bid is called out by the Attorney General specifically: a very low price may reflect missing tasks or cheaper materials. Before you take it, find the line that is missing.
Source: Texas Attorney General, how to avoid home improvement scams
New concrete does not match old exactly, and all concrete can crack. A bidder who promises either is overpromising; a bidder who explains how cracks are controlled and where the color line will fall is being straight with you.
Ask what is covered, for how long, and what voids it. Verbal is not a warranty.
A bid that excludes the engineer's fee and says so. A bid that is higher because it includes the base, the permit and the haul-off. A bid that asks you to confirm the HOA approval first. A bid that schedules the pour at sunrise in July. Those are signs of a crew that has done this before.
Yes, a partial one. Full payment before the work is done is not.
Ask your city whether it registers or licenses contractors; rules differ by city. Insurance, a written contract and the permit record are the checks that matter everywhere.
Check the city's website or call the permit desk. It takes five minutes and settles it.
Tell us the job and where it is. One independent, insured North Texas contractor will look at it and send a written quote with thickness, steel, base, joints, finish, permits and dates on it.
Residential and commercial, in all eleven DFW counties. No price on this site, because the lot decides the price.
One vetted, insured North Texas contractor will call or text within one business day to set a time to look at it. You get a written quote with the full spec.