Utah's freeze-thaw cycle is brutal on concrete. Water gets into a slab, freezes, expands, and cracks it apart. The difference between a driveway that lasts 5 years and one that lasts 30 is almost entirely what you can't see.
Where the cost really is
Base prep and mix. A compacted, graded sub-base and a 4,000+ PSI air-entrained mix cost more up front and save you a tear-out later. Cheap bids cut exactly here because you can't see it after the pour.
What to ask
Ask any contractor how they'll prep the base, what PSI mix they'll use, and where the control joints go. If the answers are vague, keep shopping.
The Concrete Operator
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