When a driveway, patio, walkway, or pool deck is too far gone to patch, the company you hire to tear it out and pour it again decides whether the new slab lasts. This guide shows how to compare concrete replacement companies in San Antonio, what replacement typically costs, what a good quote lists, and how permits and timelines work here.
- What do concrete replacement companies do?
- Should I replace my concrete or repair it?
- What should I look for in concrete replacement companies?
- How much does concrete replacement cost in San Antonio?
- What should a concrete replacement quote include?
- Why does San Antonio clay soil matter for replacement?
- Do I need a permit to replace concrete in San Antonio?
- How does a concrete replacement project run?
- How long does concrete replacement take?
- What are the red flags when hiring a replacement company?
- Where do we work?
- What else are homeowners asking?
Hire concrete replacement companies that inspect the slab in person, explain why it failed, and list tear-out, base, thickness, steel, and finish in a written quote. A broom-finish driveway replacement typically runs about $7 to $12 per square foot in San Antonio. Clay soil often caused the failure, so call a pro before you repour.
What do concrete replacement companies do?
Concrete replacement companies break out failed concrete, haul it away, rebuild the base, and pour and finish a new slab in the same spot. The good ones also fix whatever made the old slab fail, such as drainage, soft soil, or a thin pour.
- Driveways: Full tear-out and repour, or removal and repour of individual panels.
- Patios: Replacing a cracked, sunken, or badly sloped slab, often with a new finish.
- Walkways and sidewalks on your lot: New panels where old ones heaved, cracked, or became a trip hazard.
- Pool decks: Removing broken or hollow concrete around the pool and pouring a new deck.
Our concrete driveway repair and replacement page covers the most common job we see, and we handle patio and pool deck replacement through our patio repairs and pool deck repair services.
Should I replace my concrete or repair it?
Replace when damage covers more than about 30% to 40% of the surface, the base under the slab has failed, or the same repairs keep coming back. Repair or resurfacing makes more sense when cracks are limited and the slab is still solid.
| What you see | Usually means | Typical fix |
|---|---|---|
| A few hairline or stable cracks | Surface movement, base still sound | Crack repair and sealing |
| Worn, stained, or scaled surface | Top layer is tired, slab is solid | Resurfacing overlay |
| One or two sunken or broken panels | Local base failure | Section removal and repour |
| Cracks wider than 1/4 inch or edges offset | Movement under the slab | Repour, with base work |
| Widespread cracking, heaving, or standing water | Failed base or poor drainage | Full replacement |
For driveways, our guide on when to replace a concrete driveway goes deeper. For patios, see should I repair or replace my concrete patio, and for pools, pool deck repair vs. replacement. Our driveway repair cost guide shows what repairs typically run.
What should I look for in concrete replacement companies?
Look for a local, insured crew that visits the site, tells you why the old concrete failed, and lists tear-out, base, thickness, steel, and finish on a written quote. A company that only talks about the new finish is skipping the part that makes replacement last.
- A site visit, not a phone price: Slab size, access, thickness of the old concrete, and drainage all change the work.
- A cause, not just a cure: Ask what made the slab fail and how the new pour will avoid the same problem.
- Base and steel in writing: A compacted crushed-stone base and rebar set on chairs, not lying on the dirt.
- Insurance you can see: Ask for a certificate showing at least $1 million in liability. Our service pages state $2,000,000 in coverage.
- Several bids on the same spec: Ask each company to quote the same thickness, base, and finish so prices compare fairly.
Checked against our driveway repair and replacement page and our driveway, patio, and pool deck replacement guides on October 21, 2026.
How much does concrete replacement cost in San Antonio?
A broom-finish concrete driveway replacement in San Antonio typically runs about $7 to $12 per square foot, including tear-out, base, steel, and the new pour. Stamped replacement and pool decks cost more, and patios are priced after a site visit.
| Replacement job | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Driveway, broom finish | About $7 – $12 / sq. ft. | Demo, base, steel, pour, and finish |
| Driveway, stamped | About $14 – $20 / sq. ft. | Pattern, color, and sealer |
| Tear-out and haul-away alone | About $1.50 – $3.00 / sq. ft. | Often bundled into the full rate |
| Section removal and repour | About $8 – $14 / sq. ft. | One or more panels, not the whole slab |
| Pool deck replacement | About $12 – $20 / sq. ft. | Demo, base work, new deck, and cure |
| Two-car driveway, about 500 sq. ft. | About $3,500 – $6,000 | Simple arithmetic from $7 – $12 |
| Patio or walkway replacement | Written price after a free visit | Size, access, and finish vary too much |
Typical estimate ranges as of October 2026, in line with our driveway replacement cost per square foot guide and our pool deck repair vs. replacement guide. These are not quotes; your price is set in writing after a free site visit.
What most San Antonio homeowners can expect
What should a concrete replacement quote include?
A good replacement quote lists measured square footage, tear-out and haul-away, base depth, slab thickness, steel, finish, joints, total price, and schedule, all in writing. If those lines are missing, you cannot compare one company to another.
- Demolition: How the old slab is broken out and hauled away, and who pays dump fees.
- Base: Removal of soft soil, then a compacted crushed-stone base.
- Thickness: About 5 inches is the local standard for driveways with cars; pickups, trailers, and RVs usually need about 6 inches.
- Steel: Rebar grid size and spacing, set on chairs.
- Finish and joints: Broom, stamped, or other finish, plus control joint layout and slope away from the house.
- Payment and warranty: Deposit amount, payment schedule, and what the workmanship warranty covers.
Why does San Antonio clay soil matter for replacement?
Much of San Antonio sits on expansive clay that swells when wet and shrinks in drought, and that movement is a leading reason slabs crack and sink here. A replacement that skips base and drainage work can fail the same way the old slab did.
- Base first: Firm, compacted base keeps the new slab from settling early.
- Drainage: Standing water at joints or against the garage means the grade needs correcting, not just a new pour.
- More than about 30% of the slab is cracked, scaled, or broken
- Panels are sunken, heaved, or hold standing water
- Cracks are wider than 1/4 inch or one side is higher than the other
- Earlier repairs keep coming back, or the slab meets a curb or public sidewalk
Call (713) 504-2341 for a free site visit, or see our driveway repair and replacement page.
Do I need a permit to replace concrete in San Antonio?
Replacing a driveway or sidewalk inside your property line usually does not need a City of San Antonio permit, because both are on the City’s No Permit Required List. Work in the public right-of-way, such as a curb cut or drive approach, needs a separate permit.
- Inside your property line: Sidewalks and driveways are on the No Permit Required List (checked October 21, 2026).
- Right-of-way work: Drive approaches, curbs, and public sidewalks use the City’s Sidewalk-Curb Permit.
- Special districts: Historic, Neighborhood Conservation, and Corridor Districts can restrict design and materials.
- Questions: Call Development Services at 210-207-1111 before demolition starts.
How does a concrete replacement project run?
Most replacements follow the same path: site visit, written estimate, permit and HOA check, tear-out, base work, forms and steel, pour, cure, and a final walkthrough. A clear plan keeps your driveway or yard out of use for as little time as possible.
- Call or request online: Tell us what is failing and send photos if you have them.
- On-site assessment: We measure, check drainage and the base, and find out why the slab failed.
- Free written estimate: Itemized scope and price before any tear-out.
- Permit and HOA check: Right-of-way permits and any HOA approval come first.
- Tear-out and base: The old slab comes out, soft soil is removed, and the base is graded and compacted.
- Forms, steel, and pour: Rebar on chairs, the pour, the finish, and control joints.
- Cure and walkthrough: Traffic limits through the cure, then a final walkthrough with you.
How long does concrete replacement take?
Most residential driveway and patio replacements take a few days of on-site work, then curing time before heavy use. Pool deck replacement usually takes about 7 to 14 days with demolition, base work, and cure.
- Day 1: Demolition, haul-away, and base prep.
- Day 2 or 3: Forms, steel, pour, and finish.
- Driveways: About 7 days before cars and about 28 days before heavy trucks or RVs.
What are the red flags when hiring a replacement company?
Walk away from a company that prices the job without seeing it, will not put thickness and base in writing, or asks for most of the money before work starts. Those habits usually show up later as cracks.
- A phone quote with no site visit
- No square footage, thickness, base, or steel on the estimate
- A price far below every other bid with no scope explanation
- A large cash deposit or full payment up front
- No proof of insurance when you ask
- “No permit needed” for a new curb cut or drive approach
Ready for a real number? See our concrete driveway repair and replacement page, our driveway installation page, or request a free written quote.
Need concrete replaced in San Antonio?
Free site visit, a straight answer on repair vs. replacement, and an itemized written quote before any tear-out. Licensed and insured, $2,000,000 liability coverage.
Where do we work?
Affordable Concrete San Antonio works across San Antonio and nearby areas from our shop at 1247 W Thompson Pl, San Antonio, TX 78226.
We replace driveways, patios, walkways, and pool decks in San Antonio and these nearby areas: Helotes, Leon Valley, Shavano Park, Terrell Hills, Alamo Heights, Converse, Universal City, Schertz, Boerne, Cibolo, Fair Oaks Ranch, Bulverde, Spring Branch, New Braunfels, Pleasanton, Floresville, Castroville, Lytle, and Von Ormy. Not sure about your address? Call (713) 504-2341.
What else are homeowners asking?
These are the short answers people want before they book a quote.
What do concrete replacement companies do?
They break out failed concrete, haul it away, rebuild the base, and pour and finish a new slab. A good company also fixes the cause of the failure, such as drainage or soft soil.
How much does concrete replacement cost per square foot in San Antonio?
A broom-finish driveway replacement typically runs about $7 to $12 per square foot, stamped about $14 to $20, and a pool deck about $12 to $20. Patios and walkways are priced in writing after a site visit.
When should I replace concrete instead of repairing it?
Replace when more than about 30% to 40% of the surface is damaged, the base has failed, or repairs keep coming back. Limited cracks on a solid slab can usually be repaired or resurfaced.
Do I need a permit to replace my driveway in San Antonio?
Usually not inside your property line, because driveways and sidewalks are on the City of San Antonio No Permit Required List. Curb cuts and drive approaches in the right-of-way need a Sidewalk-Curb Permit.
How long before I can drive on replaced concrete?
Most crews allow cars on a new driveway after about 7 days and heavy trucks or RVs after about 28 days.
How many quotes should I get for concrete replacement?
Get at least two or three written quotes on the same thickness, base, steel, and finish so you can compare prices fairly.
Sources used in this article:
- City of San Antonio, No Permit Required List, checked October 21, 2026, sa.gov
- City of San Antonio, Development Services Department, sa.gov
- City of San Antonio, Sidewalk-Curb Permit Application, docsonline.sanantonio.gov
- Affordable Concrete San Antonio, concrete driveway repair and replacement page, affordableconcretesanantonio.com/concrete-driveway-san-antonio/
- Affordable Concrete San Antonio, driveway replacement cost per square foot guide, affordableconcretesanantonio.com/concrete-blogs/how-much-to-replace-driveway-concrete-in-san-antonio/
- Affordable Concrete San Antonio, pool deck repair vs. replacement guide, affordableconcretesanantonio.com/concrete-blogs/pool-deck-repair-vs-replacement-san-antonio-guide/
This article is general information for San Antonio homeowners. Prices are typical estimates as of October 2026 and can change. City rules can change too, and the City of San Antonio is the final authority on permits. It is not a quote and does not replace a site visit.
What should I read next?
Start with our driveway repair and replacement page, or keep reading if you are still deciding between repair and replacement.