Exact words for the review ask on a concrete job, and the two best days to send it
Concrete customers are happiest the day the forms come off and the first time they use the slab. The exact review ask for each, by text and in person.
You poured a great driveway. The customer said it looked perfect. Then you packed up, sent the invoice and never heard from them again. No review, no referral, no photo on your profile.
That is normal for concrete, and it is fixable. Most contractors either never ask or ask at the wrong moment, like on the invoice, when the customer is thinking about money. There are two better moments on a concrete job, and the right words for each are short.
Why reviews matter more than usual in concrete
Concrete companies tend to have very few reviews. The median concrete contractor in our benchmark report has only 7 Google reviews, and 57.9% have fewer than ten. That is a low bar. A contractor with fifteen or twenty recent reviews, with photos of finished pours, often looks like the safe choice on the map without spending a dollar on ads.
Homeowners are also nervous buyers. A driveway or patio is a big, permanent purchase. They want proof you show up, do clean work and stand behind it. Reviews are that proof.
Moment 1: the day the forms come off
When the forms come off and the surface is clean, the customer sees the finished work for the first time. That is the high point. They are relieved and impressed.
In person, at the final walkthrough:
"Glad you like it. One favor: a short Google review helps us a lot, especially with a photo of the finished slab. I'll text you the link tonight so you don't have to look for it."
Keep it that short. Do not explain how reviews work or why you need them.
The text, sent that evening:
"Hi [name], [your name] from [company]. Thanks again for having us do your [driveway/patio]. If you have a minute, here's the link for a quick Google review: [link]. A photo of the finished concrete helps other homeowners see the work. Reminder: keep cars off it until [date]."
The curing reminder is useful and shows you care about the job after you leave. It also makes the text feel like service, not a request.
Moment 2: the first time they use it
A week or two later, the customer parks on the driveway for the first time, or has people over on the new patio. That is the second high point. Many customers who did not leave a review the first time will do it now.
The text, sent about 10 to 14 days after the pour:
"Hi [name], [your name] again. By now you should be able to use the new [driveway/patio]. How does it look? If you have a minute for a review, here's the link: [link]. Thanks for trusting us with it."
The question at the start matters. If something is wrong, like a hairline crack or a drainage issue, you hear about it from the customer directly, not in a public review. Handle it first, then ask.
When to stop
Two asks are enough. If they have not left one after the second text, let it go. Pushing a third time can turn a happy customer into an annoyed one.
What makes the review useful
You cannot tell customers what to write, and you should never offer a discount or anything else in return. Google does not allow that. But you can make it easy for them to write something helpful.
Asking for a photo is the biggest one. A review with a picture of a clean broom-finish driveway or a stamped patio does more for you than five stars alone. When a customer mentions the town, the type of work or how the crew left the site, that helps future homeowners and it helps your profile show up for those searches.
Our Google reviews guide covers more on timing, how to make the review link, and how to reply.
Reply to every review
When a review comes in, reply within a day or two. Thank them by first name and mention the job.
"Thanks, [name]. That driveway on [street name or neighborhood] came out great, and you were easy to work with. Enjoy it."
Short replies show future customers that a real person runs the company. If you get a bad one, reply calmly and offer to fix the problem. Do not argue in public.
Put it to work
Once you have new reviews with photos, use them. Add the photos to your Google profile with a caption naming the town and type of job. Our Google Business Profile guide shows where. Copy two or three good reviews onto your website's main service pages. That is free proof on every page a homeowner reads before calling.
Set it up today
Make your review link. Save the two texts above in your phone as templates. Add "send review text" to your end-of-pour checklist and a reminder for day 10 to 14. That is the whole system. It costs nothing and it keeps working into next season.
If you want the review texts set up and sent automatically, the free 14-day trial covers any one service, no card. Text or call (385) 832-6924.
Steven has spent the last several years running growth campaigns for local service businesses, concrete contractors among them, and builds the benchmark datasets on this site from public Google listings. About the editor