What concrete costs in Denver.

A little. Denver prices sit in the middle to upper end of national ranges: concrete finishers here earn slightly more than the national average, while ready-mix costs about the same. The bigger difference is the ground. Expansive clay usually means digging out soft soil and bringing in compacted road base, which national averages don’t include.

As part of a new pour, breaking out and hauling away old concrete usually adds $2–$4 per square foot. As a standalone demolition job it runs $3–$8, more for thick or heavily reinforced slabs and tight access.

Integral color adds about $1.50–$3 per square foot and exposed aggregate about $2–$3 over plain concrete. Stamped and colored concrete runs $12–$18 per square foot in total, and $18–$25 or more for multi-color patterns and borders. A stamped border around a broom-finished slab is a common way to get the look for less.

Usually. The crew, the truck and the setup cost about the same for a small pad as for a large patio, so small jobs carry a higher price per square foot. Combining projects into one pour is one of the best ways to save.

Not really. Cold-weather protection (heated mix, accelerators, blankets and longer curing) typically adds about $1.50–$3.50 per square foot between mid-November and mid-March. The best price usually comes from booking early in spring.

Professional sealing usually runs $1.25–$2.50 per square foot. On the Front Range, sealing every few years is the cheapest protection a driveway or patio can get against freeze-thaw and de-icer.

Line them up on thickness, depth of compacted base, reinforcement, tear-out, finish, joints, sealing and permits. The cheaper quote is often missing one of these, and it is usually the base.