Arpino Cement

There are many different types of concrete used depending on the application. It's important to know the difference so that your project can stand the test of time all while looking great. We use various mixes for driveways, patios, porches, walkways, and more. Why be subject to one choice with your concrete contractor? Here at Arpino, we like to educate you on which choice fits your needs, budget, and design choices. These 3 types of concrete are the best 3 options. Our competitors tend to use the standard mix available.

Did you know that where you live affects how we approach your job? That is because each geographical region has slight differences in soil type, ranging from thick clay to sandy to rocky, or a mix of those. All of these sub-grades are important to consider when getting concrete poured, as it affects what type of foundation is required to be put in first. As the saying goes, a good foundation is the key to success, and we couldn't agree more. For that reason, you need to make sure you have a professional, local, knowledgeable concrete contractor do your work for you.

An informed customer is our best customer, and we aim to educate you so you know exactly what you are getting. What separates us from our competitors is our attention to detail and our many options that we offer. Below is a list that you should be asking your concrete contractor before giving a deposit. We will be glad to answer these questions and any other you may have so that you feel confident in choosing us as your cement contractor. Contact us to start your quote or ask a question! We aim to educate our clients so they feel confident that they are getting the best results possible at the most affordable rates.

Patios, unlike a driveway, actually have many different options and choices. There are different design considerations such as being round, square, or other. You can have different heights or tiers, or make have the entire patio be flat. Another great option is the ability to color the concrete for your patio, which can serve as a nice design element. Patios can be designed to be added onto later with a brick border and foundation to give the best design feature. We can walk you through all of those options plus the finish type (broom finish, hand finish, or a wavy broom finish).

When are footings or ratwalls needed? Typically, there are necessary when building a garage (for the floor), building on a patio or Florida room, for brick or block porches and patios, and sheds. There are a number of different factors that go into how deep and wide they must be, and depend on the type of application and city where you live. This is because of the regional differences, which we explain in our City Guide. When a contractor is providing a quote, they are looking at the degree of difficulty that the footings require, due to things like trees, roots, clay, existing footings, and so on.

Having over 100 years of combined experience, we at Arpino Cement know a thing or two about concrete driveways. We are the premiere concrete driveway contractors serving the greater Metro Detroit area, including Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties. Based out of Livonia, we are centrally located and know the sub grades and ground types of all the communities in the area, which is important when installing driveways. To learn more about why where you live makes a difference, check out our page on regional differences.

Garage floors are much more susceptible to failure when they are not done correctly. At Arpino, we know how to properly install a garage floor so you can be assured that it will last. For example, we always completely cover the perimeter with Rubber Reflex Expansion Joints, to allow for expansion of concrete while also acting as a termite barrier. Another way we have perfected garage floors is how we implement saw cuts in the proper areas. We focus on the footing and entrance to the garage, where most of the abuse on the concrete occurs, and also divide up the rest of the garage evenly with saw cuts.

Heated driveways are a great amenity, but do their benefits add up to make them worth the expense? We will lay out the facts for you, and let you decide! This option is just one of many options we offer, check out our Materials and Options page for more information. We also offer brick paver driveways with the heated driveway element included if interested. We aim to educate our clients so they feel confident that they are getting the best results possible at the most affordable rates. To learn more about us, ask a question, or to receive a FREE detailed quote, contact us now.

City and service walks are not only for curb appeal, but also are functional for getting around your house, yard, garage, and more. They are the pathways that invite you to move around with ease. We have been installing sidewalks all over Livonia and the greater Metro Detroit area since we started back in 1969. We can replace sidewalks that have trip hazards, or are holding water that can't drain correctly. We also can replace sidewalks that are raised from tree roots. We dig down and actually remove the root before replacing the sidewalk, so you can be assured that you won't have a root issue again.

Exterior waterproofing sounds pretty involved, but actually is a straightforward process. After determining the problem area from inside the basement, we work with homeowners on determining how wide of an area to dig based on time and budget. From the outside, we then dig approximately 8 feet down to the drain tile. With the wall now exposed, we thoroughly clean it and the crack before applying black tar all over. From there, a waterproof plastic is applied, and then more tar goes on top. Then, the hole is filled with pea gravel to ensure proper drainage down to the drain tile, to quickly and effectively move any water that would have otherwise found your wall.