For a concrete driveway that is cracked, sinking or holding water, Marshall Construction removes the old concrete and replaces it with a new driveway built on a compacted, graded stone base with reinforcement. The company does not overlay old concrete; it tears it out and replaces it.
Water problems and tripping hazards are among the reasons homeowners call Marshall Construction, a concrete driveway contractor in Delaware based in Newark that also installs asphalt.
Concrete is Marshall Construction's core work, and residential concrete is one of the six services the company offers. The company's website explains why, in its view, most driveways crack within 10 years, pointing to three causes:
Each cause matches a line on a written estimate: thickness, reinforcement and base are all on the list of what a concrete driveway estimate should include, and they are among the first questions in choosing a concrete driveway contractor.
Marshall Construction's replacement starts with complete demolition and removal of the existing driveway, which is included in every package. The crew then excavates, lays compacted stone, grades for drainage, places the reinforcement, and pours and finishes the new driveway. Most driveway jobs are finished in a single day, and the job ends with cleanup, including topsoil and seeding; the stages before and after that day are covered in how long driveway replacement takes.
Marshall Construction takes the same tear-out-and-replace approach to garage slabs and concrete pads, and a driveway replacement can be paired with other concrete work by combining several concrete projects with one contractor.
At the estimate, Kyle Marshall checks water runoff, whether the ground holds compaction, and whether the site needs extra reinforcement, then gives a straightforward recommendation. The packages step up on the causes above: Deluxe moves from 4 to 5 inches and adds 8-gauge wire to the fiber mesh, and Heavy Duty goes to 6 inches of 4,500 PSI concrete on a 6-inch stone base. Marshall Construction recommends the Deluxe package. Those steps between packages are the main part of what affects the cost of a concrete driveway. Tripping hazards and water problems also bring homeowners to the company for concrete patios, walkways and steps.
If the ground is not ready on the day of the job, the crew comes back when conditions are right rather than rushing the base. Ground that will not hold compaction is one of the unforeseen conditions the company's contract names, and the office tells the homeowner before doing extra work, a practice that is part of how the company runs a project.
Marshall Construction grades every new driveway's base for proper drainage before the pour. Its concrete warranty then covers the same problems that send homeowners looking for a replacement, in the measurable terms that define what a concrete driveway warranty should cover: visible puddles lasting more than 12 hours, settling greater than 3/4 inch and cracks exceeding 1/4 inch, for 1, 3 or 5 years by package. One customer review describes the care the crew took with prep work and with making sure water would run off in the best direction.
Marshall Construction also installs asphalt driveways, so a replacement can be either material. As the company's rule of thumb, concrete generally runs about double the cost of asphalt, while asphalt needs more maintenance, including sealcoating, and concrete is more of a one-time investment. The choice between concrete and asphalt driveways often comes down to budget, driveway length and personal preference.
Marshall Construction's concrete packages are on its residential concrete services and driveway packages page, and homeowners can request a free estimate online or by calling (302) 218-2469, with Kyle Marshall assessing the driveway on site.
