Cost comparison
Why Not Let the City Fix My Sidewalk?
Because it costs you 2–3× more, takes 6+ months, and ends with a lien if you don't pay in time. Here's the math.
Letting the city fix it
- 💸 $45–$65 / sqft (2–3× market)
- ⏱ 6+ months queue
- 📬 90-day payment window
- ⚠️ Unpaid → 18% lien
- 🏛 City picks the contractor + materials — you have zero choice
- 💥 Repeated tree-root damage — no barrier installed
Hiring us
- ✅ $15–$25 / sqft (private market)
- ✅ 3–7 days turnaround
- ✅ Pay on completion — net 0
- ✅ No lien risk
- ✅ You choose finish, edge detail, color
- ✅ Root barriers included on tree-line jobs
Real-world math on a 60 sqft job
- City contractor: $45 × 60 = $2,700 (low end)
- Us: $17 × 60 = $1,020
- Savings: $1,680 — and you skip the 6-month wait and lien risk.
The one case where the city is "free"
NYC Parks runs a Trees & Sidewalks Program that repairs tree-root sidewalk damage at no cost — but only for 1, 2, or 3-family owner-occupied homes, and only for tree-root damage. The waitlist is multi-year. If you have a DOT violation with a 75-day clock, the Parks program is not your solution.
FREE ESTIMATE
Get a binding quote in under 24 hours.
- ✓ Free on-site measurement
- ✓ Written quote — no surprises
- ✓ All permits filed by us ($70 DOT permit included)
- ✓ DOT re-inspection guaranteed or full refund
Got a DOT violation? We'll clear it in 3–7 days.
Free estimate. Licensed, bonded, insured. 100% inspection guarantee.