Base prep: granular fill raked, graded and compacted before any forms go in.
What actually decides if it lasts
The part you never see is the part that matters
A driveway that cracks or heaves in a few winters almost always failed underneath, not on top. We excavate to proper depth, bring in clean granular base, and compact it in lifts — not just dumped and levelled — before a form ever goes in.
Forms get set to a grade that carries water away from the garage and the house, not toward it. Reinforcement — rebar or mesh, depending on the load the slab needs to carry — goes in before we pour, and control joints are planned in before the truck ever shows up.