Real per-square-foot pricing for every service we pour across the NC Foothills, what actually moves the number up or down, and how to compare two quotes that look nothing alike.
Concrete is priced by the square foot, but the square-foot number on its own tells you very little. Two quotes for the same driveway can differ by thousands because one includes excavation, a compacted stone base, reinforcement and properly cut control joints, and the other does not. This page lays out what we actually charge, and what sits behind the number.
Everything below is installed pricing for the Hickory area and the surrounding six counties, current for 2026. Every estimate is free, given on site, and written down.
| Service | Broom / standard | Stamped / decorative | Typical project |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete Driveways | $8–$15 | $14–$22 | 600 sq ft two-car driveway: roughly $5,000–$9,000 |
| Stamped Concrete Patios | $8–$14 | $12–$22 | 16×20 patio (320 sq ft), stamped: roughly $4,500–$7,000 |
| Sidewalks & Walkways | $8–$14 | $12–$18 | A 4-ft wide, 40-ft front walk: roughly $1,300–$2,900 |
| Pool Decks | $10–$16 | $14–$22 | Priced by the deck's shape and how much cutting it needs |
| RV & Equipment Pads | $9–$16 | — | 5–6 in. reinforced; a 12×40 RV pad: roughly $5,000–$8,000 |
| Retaining Walls | — | — | Priced per face foot; quoted on site because drainage drives the number |
| Commercial Concrete | — | — | Engineered to the actual axle loads; quoted per project |
Ranges are installed cost per square foot unless noted. Retaining walls and commercial work are quoted per project because drainage, engineering and load requirements drive the price far more than area does.
Size is the biggest single factor, but shape matters more than most people expect. A simple rectangle is quick to form. Curves, radius edges, steps and multi-level sections all add forming labour, and forming is where a surprising share of the cost lives.
Four inches over a compacted base is the residential standard for cars. Five to six inches with rebar or wire mesh is what you need for an RV, a work truck, a loaded trailer or commercial traffic. That extra concrete and steel costs real money and is the difference between a slab that lasts thirty years and one that fails in ten.
This is where the Foothills show up on the invoice. Our clay holds water, our lots slope, and freeze-thaw cycling works on anything poured without support. Excavation, base stone and a deliberate drainage plan are not extras — they are what the lifespan is made of.
Removing and hauling away an old slab typically adds $2 to $6 per square foot depending on thickness, reinforcement and access.
Broom finish is the baseline. Stamped patterns, integral colour, colour hardener with an antiquing release, and exposed aggregate all cost more. Multi-colour work is usually the single most visible upgrade on a quote.
A flat, open site the truck can reach is straightforward. A steep grade, a narrow lot, or a back yard needing a pump or buggy adds time and equipment.
The cheapest quote is often cheapest because it is a smaller job. Before comparing numbers, get all three of these from every bidder, in writing:
If one quote is dramatically lower and cannot answer those three, you are not looking at a discount — you are looking at a different, thinner job. See how long a concrete driveway should actually last for what happens when the base is skipped.
Our rates are the same across Catawba, Alexander, Caldwell, Burke, Lincoln and Iredell Counties. What changes is the site work. A hillside lot in Lenoir or Icard often needs retaining and drainage that a flat lot in Conover does not. Long rural driveways around Stony Point or Vale need base preparation along the entire run, not just at the house. Decorative work around Denver and Lake Norman skews to the higher end because the finishes are more involved.
Rates are the same across our six counties; the site work is what changes. These pages cover what that means locally:
For flatwork in the Hickory area, a standard broom finish runs about $8 to $15 per square foot installed, and stamped or decorative concrete runs about $12 to $22. The spread comes down to thickness and reinforcement, how much excavation and base work the site needs, whether old concrete has to be removed, and the finish you choose.
A plain broom finish is the most economical, and on a properly built base it will outlast a decorative slab poured on unprepared ground. If the budget is tight, the honest advice is to save on the finish rather than on the base.
Usually because they are not quoting the same job. A quote that assumes 4 inches on bare graded soil will always beat one that includes excavation, a compacted stone base, reinforcement, and control joints cut on schedule. Ask every bidder for thickness, reinforcement, and base depth in writing, then compare like for like.
Asphalt is usually cheaper up front. Concrete lasts considerably longer — often 30 years or more against 15 to 20 for asphalt — and needs less maintenance, so over the life of the driveway concrete is frequently the better value, particularly with Foothills freeze-thaw cycles.
Tear-out and haul-away typically add $2 to $6 per square foot depending on thickness, reinforcement, and access. It is worth doing properly — pouring over a failed base just relocates the problem by a few years.
No. Every estimate is free, given on site, and put in writing. Site conditions dominate concrete pricing, so there is no honest way to quote a driveway or a wall without walking it first.
The per-square-foot rates are the same across Catawba, Alexander, Caldwell, Burke, Lincoln, and Iredell Counties. What changes is the site work. A hillside lot in Lenoir or Icard may need retaining or drainage that a flat lot in Conover does not, and long rural driveways in Vale or Stony Point need base preparation along the whole run.
Yes, for qualifying customers, so a project can start now and be paid over time. Ask during the free on-site estimate — there is no high-pressure sales process.