subject: What Will Concrete Cost [print this page] The cost of any project will depend first on where you are located since there are different prices and labor costs in different areas of the country. The current rates of labor and materials also change from season to season. And then, each contractor may charge a dramatically different price than another. The basic cost analysis that a contractor gives you will include several aspects of the job.
A complete job start to finish will cost more, of course, than if you do some of it yourself or know someone else who can do part of it cheaper. The grading portion of the job is a good example of that. If your brother-in-law owns a grader it might cost you a lot less to prepare the area than if the concrete contractor does it. That may be because he or she will subcontract that part out anyway. The grading of the area involves creating a good level spot in which to pour the concrete and an average cost is $45 per hour.
The foundation for the concrete will need to be put down to support any large project. Gravel is the usual material that is laid down and leveled to prepare for the concrete to be poured onto it. Approximately $12 per cubic yard is the cost of the base layer. That will most likely include the delivery charge.
Now comes the labor. Form building and finish work cannot be done by the machines so you'll need to pay for people to do that. Figure on about one dollar for each square foot of project. The human work in a concrete job is back breaking so it will be worthwhile to get the contractor and let him hire whomever he needs to get the job done.
Some sort of reinforcing material will need to be installed to keep the project from getting cracks when the weather changes. The concrete will expand and contract with warmer and colder conditions so you will need to add reinforcement wire, mesh, or rebar to hold it together. These materials typically costs about a dime per square foot. Check with the contractor to be sure you are using the right kind.
So altogether, the price of a typical concrete job will include all of the mentioned items combined. Estimates for construction projects are typically free. Concrete costs around $70 per cubic yard so add to the other aspects and you'll have your estimate.
