Check a contractor. Don't just trust one. This checklist works for a driveway, patio, slab or pool deck anywhere in Brevard County, and every step uses a public lookup or a question you can ask on the phone.
What should you look for when hiring a concrete contractor?
- A license you've looked up yourself. Ask which one they hold.
- Proof of insurance, including workers' comp if they have employees.
- Photos of their own work, and the story behind each one.
- Recent reviews, and how they answer the bad ones.
- Clear answers about the base, the thickness and the steel.
- A straight answer on who pulls the permit.
- A written quote before any money changes hands.
The sections below cover each one, with the official lookup tools, and finish with how we answer the same list.
Who are the reputable concrete contractors in Brevard County?
We won't answer that with a list. Any contractor's list of reputable contractors starts with itself, and you'd be right not to trust it.
Get names the usual way: neighbors whose driveway you like, a local Facebook group, Google reviews. Then run every name through the checks below. A company that passes them is worth a free estimate. One that dodges them isn't, however good the price sounds.
Do you need a license to pour concrete in Florida?
For a driveway, the state doesn't issue one. Florida's Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) lists installing a driveway as work that does not need a DBPR license. State law also bars local governments from requiring a license for "driveway or tennis court installation" (s. 489.117(4)(a)1., F.S.), and Brevard County lists concrete as an unregulated trade.
That surprises most people, and it's the reason to ask carefully. "Licensed" can mean a state contractor license, a county certificate for another trade, or a local business tax receipt. So:
- Ask which license they hold and what it covers. Get the number in writing.
- Look it up. Search the state's Verify a Licensee tool by name, license number, city or license type. Then try Brevard's Licensed Contractor Search, which shows the license and insurance information the county has on file.
- If nothing comes up, ask why. The county's lookup says a missing record means the contractor "may be unlicensed or may need to register." There may be a simple answer, but you should hear it from them.
DBPR also tells homeowners to check with their county or city about a local certificate of competency or business tax receipt (DBPR). Brevard's licensing office is at (321) 633-2187.
What insurance should a concrete contractor carry?
Two kinds matter to you: liability coverage for damage to your property, and workers' compensation for the crew.
Florida's Division of Workers' Compensation says construction employers "with one or more employees" must carry workers' comp (DFS). An owner can opt out of coverage for themselves with an exemption. That choice covers the owner only. If they bring employees, those employees still need coverage.
You can check both online: the state's Proof of Coverage database and its Exemption Search. Ask for a certificate of insurance before work starts, and check the dates on it.
How do you check a contractor's photos and reviews?
Photos. Ask for pictures of their own finished jobs, and ask where and when each one was done. Stock photos, or a portfolio nobody can explain, should make you cautious. The strongest proof is a job you can drive past.
Reviews. Look at how many there are, how recent they are and what people complain about. One angry review isn't a verdict. How the company answers it tells you more than the stars do. Check that the reviews describe work like yours, too. A great review for a garage floor says little about a driveway.
What questions should you ask a concrete contractor?
You don't need to know the right answers. You need to hear clear ones.
- How will you prepare the base? In Brevard's sandy soil, the compacted base you never see decides how long the slab lasts.
- How thick will it be, and what reinforcement will you use? There's no single right answer. It should match what will sit on it, and they should tell you why.
- Where will the control joints go? Control joints are the cuts that tell concrete where to crack, so it cracks in a straight line instead of across the middle.
- Which way will water drain? Ask where the water goes after an afternoon storm.
- Who does the work? Their own crew, or subcontractors?
- Who pulls the permit, if one is needed?
- What happens if it rains on pour day? Weather can affect concrete scheduling. Ask how they plan around it.
- When can I walk and drive on it? For a new driveway, industry guidance is at least 24 hours before walking on it and 7 days before driving and parking a car on it (Concrete Network).
- What's the payment schedule? When is the deposit due, and when is the rest due?
For how these choices play out on a driveway, see our concrete driveway page.
Who pulls the permit?
Many driveway jobs need a permit. In the City of Melbourne, driveways are on the Building Department's list of work that requires one, and starting without a permit can bring a penalty of 100% of the usual permit fee (Building FAQ). Palm Bay and unincorporated Brevard County have their own rules for driveways that meet a city or county road.
Ask up front who is applying for the permit. If the answer is "you don't need one," check with your city's building department before you believe it.
Rules last checked September 24, 2026.
How do you request a quote, and what should it include?
Call or message two or three contractors and give each one the same details: the size, what the concrete is for, the finish you want, any old concrete that has to come out, and any requirements you have for thickness or reinforcement. Then you're comparing the same job, not three different ones.
A useful written quote shows:
- what's being built, and its size;
- tear-out and haul-off of old concrete, if any;
- base preparation;
- thickness and reinforcement;
- the finish;
- the permit, if one is needed;
- cleanup;
- the total price and the payment schedule.
If something on that list is missing, ask about it. A low quote that leaves out tear-out or base prep isn't really low.
Know Florida's lien law. For a home of up to four units, Florida requires any direct contract over $2,500 to include a construction lien notice (s. 713.015, F.S.). It warns that unpaid subcontractors or suppliers can claim against your property even if you've paid your contractor in full. The notice advises requiring a written release of lien from anyone who sent you a "Notice to Owner" before you pay. The statute itself recommends talking to an attorney, because the law is complex.
How much does it cost to hire a concrete contractor?
There's no separate fee for hiring one. You pay for the job, and the price depends on its size, the site and the finish.
Our estimates are free. For typical market ranges on a driveway, with sources, see our concrete driveway cost guide. When quotes come in, compare the scope line by line, not just the total.
Red flags: when should you walk away?
- No written quote, or a single number with no breakdown.
- Pressure to sign today because "the price is only good today."
- Cash only, or most of the money due before any work starts.
- They can't tell you which license they hold, or won't show proof of insurance.
- "You don't need a permit," with no check of your city's rules.
- Photos they can't place, or no photos of their own work at all.
- Vague answers about the base, the thickness or the steel.
How we answer this checklist
- License: We're licensed.
- Insurance: We're insured, and we'll show you proof when you ask.
- Who does the work: Every concrete job is done by our own crew. We don't outsource it.
- Permits: If your job needs a permit, we handle getting it.
- Quotes: We gather your project requirements and write down what you tell us, including thickness or reinforcement if you specify them. Then we prepare a free written quote, itemized if you'd like.
- Weather: Florida weather can affect concrete scheduling, so leave a little room in your plans. We'll confirm cure and drive-on timing for your job before we start.
See what we pour and repair, or read more about us.
Ask us anything on this list. Call or text 321-321-9704, Mon–Fri, 7am–7pm, or request a free estimate.