If you've been getting quotes for sidewalk repair or a DOT violation notice, you may have come across Zicklin Contracting. We put this guide together to walk through what's published on their site and how it lines up against us, QuickFix Sidewalk NYC, before you sign anything.
About Zicklin Contracting
Zicklin Contracting is a family owned general contracting company founded in 1987, putting it at just over 37 years in business, a number repeated consistently across the site. It operates from a single site, zicklincontracting.com, with listed offices in the Bronx, Flushing, and Brooklyn, plus a Manhattan address on Wall Street. The company serves all five boroughs and parts of Nassau and Westchester counties, and it publishes two license identifiers: NYC DCA License #2107837-DCA and DOB Contractor ID #617843.
One page on the site states that Zicklin only handles sidewalk repairs. Most of the rest of the site tells a different story. Roofing, waterproofing, masonry, interior and exterior renovation, demolition, and insurance restoration work all show up as active service lines, and several client testimonials on the sidewalk page are actually about brickpointing, bathroom remodels, and waterproofing rather than sidewalks. It's worth asking directly whether the crew quoting your sidewalk job specializes in sidewalks specifically or splits time across the company's other trades.
Timing claims move around depending on which page you're on. Sidewalk-specific pages promise a free estimate within 24 hours. The site's general FAQ says 48 hours after an inspection instead. Permits are said to take 3 to 4 days once you sign, and one page states the crew can then take another 1 to 2 weeks to start work, depending on their schedule. From there, one page estimates 5 to 7 business days to finish the physical repair, while another page's banner promises "1-2 weeks." After the repair is done, the site separately notes that DOT itself typically takes 1 to 2 months to schedule its own reinspection, which is a city timeline no contractor controls.
Zicklin states it guarantees a passing DOT inspection and will return to fix any flagged issue at no cost. It also advertises a 100% refund if a customer isn't satisfied and cites a 4.9 star customer rating. It doesn't publish per square foot or flat pricing; every job is quoted after a free estimate.
What We Think You Should Check Before Hiring Anyone
A few things are worth confirming no matter who you hire:
- The specific license number tied to whoever's actually signing your contract
- Whether the DOT guarantee is written into your estimate, not just stated on a web page
- Whether permit filing is included in the quoted price
- What concrete spec they use; 4000 PSI is the standard for NYC sidewalks
- A written, itemized estimate before work starts
- Payment terms confirmed in writing
Ask us the same questions. We'd rather earn the job because the answers hold up.
How We Compare, Side by Side
| Zicklin Contracting | Us (QuickFix Sidewalk NYC) | |
|---|---|---|
| Web presence | One site, zicklincontracting.com, with listed offices in the Bronx, Flushing, and Brooklyn | One site: sidewalkrepairnyc.com |
| Years in business | Founded 1987, 37+ years, stated consistently | Since 1995, 30+ years, stated consistently |
| Scope, as described | One page says sidewalk repair only; the rest of the site and its testimonials cover roofing, waterproofing, masonry, and general renovation as well | Sidewalk repair, replacement, and DOT violation removal, described the same way throughout |
| Licensing (as listed) | NYC DCA License #2107837-DCA, DOB Contractor ID #617843 | DOB, DOT, DCA, NYC Parks, and OSHA |
| Published pricing | Not published; free estimate offered | $8-$25/sq ft for repairs; $1,700-$2,500 per slab replacement; $50-$80/linear ft curb work |
| DOT guarantee | States it guarantees a passing inspection and will return at no cost if DOT flags an issue | If a DOT reinspection flags an issue with our repair, we fix it again at no extra cost |
| Estimate turnaround | 24 hours on sidewalk pages; 48 hours per the site's general FAQ | Within 24 hours |
| Permits and start of work | Permits in 3-4 days; work start and completion timelines vary by page, roughly 1 to 3 weeks total | Permits in 3-4 days; 1-3 days for repairs, 3-5 days for full replacement |
| Service area | Five boroughs, plus parts of Nassau and Westchester counties | Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island |
Figures above reflect what's published on each site as of this writing and can change. Where a company's own pages don't agree with each other, we've noted that too rather than pick the number that flatters them, or us, most.
About Us
We started repairing sidewalks in New York in 1995 and have completed more than 9,500 repair and replacement projects since, across the Bronx, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island. We're authorized by the NYC Department of Buildings, the DOT, the Department of Consumer Affairs, NYC Parks, and OSHA.
Every quote starts with a free site visit, and we send a written estimate within 24 hours, the same figure on every page. Photos of your sidewalk or a violation notice are enough to get started. Once you sign, we typically file DOT permits within 3 to 4 days. Most repairs take 1 to 3 days; full replacements take 3 to 5. We use 4000 PSI ready mix concrete on every job, built for the freeze thaw cycles, road salt, and foot traffic that wear sidewalks down fastest in this city.
Our guarantee covers the DOT reinspection specifically. If the department flags anything tied to our work after the fact, we come back and fix it at no extra cost. We accept Zelle, wire transfer, check, and cash. If you've already got a written quote from someone else, bring it in. We'll beat it.
Why We Think We're Worth a Call
Zicklin's been in business longer than we have, and on paper a lot of their sidewalk claims sound close to ours: a 24 hour estimate, a DOT guarantee, no cost if something's flagged later. What we'd point to as the real difference is focus and consistency. Sidewalks and concrete are the only thing we do, so the numbers on our site don't shift depending on which page you land on. If that kind of consistency matters to you, give us a call before you sign with anyone.
FAQs
Are you the same company as Zicklin Contracting?
No. We're QuickFix Sidewalk NYC, a separate company. We focus only on sidewalks and concrete, while Zicklin's site covers a broader range of general contracting work.
Who is legally responsible for sidewalk repair in NYC?
Under NYC Administrative Code, the property owner adjacent to the sidewalk is generally responsible for its repair and maintenance, with limited exceptions for certain owner-occupied residences and some government-adjacent properties.
How long do I have to fix a DOT sidewalk violation?
Property owners typically get 75 days from the violation notice to complete the repair. Miss that window and the city can perform the repair itself and bill you at a higher rate, plus place a lien on the property.
How much should I expect to pay for sidewalk repair in NYC?
Zicklin doesn't publish rates and prices each job after a free estimate. We publish ours directly: $8 to $25 per square foot for repairs, and $1,700 to $2,500 per slab for full replacement. Either way, get the number in writing before agreeing to anything.
Are you licensed?
Yes, we're authorized by the NYC Department of Buildings, the DOT, the Department of Consumer Affairs, NYC Parks, and OSHA.
Why does DOT reinspection take so long after the repair itself is finished?
DOT sets its own schedule once a repair is filed as complete, and it can take several weeks to a couple of months for an inspector to actually show up. That part isn't something any contractor controls, so it's worth asking upfront how a company handles the wait and what happens if the inspection turns up an issue.
What happens if my sidewalk fails DOT reinspection after you repair it?
We come back and correct it at no additional cost until it passes. Ask for this in writing from anyone you're considering, us included.
How fast can I get a quote from you?
Within 24 hours of sending us photos or a violation notice, often the same day. We can usually start filing permits 3 to 4 days after you sign.
Get a Free Estimate
If you've got a DOT notice, a cracked slab, or a sidewalk that needs work, we're happy to take a look. We offer free, no-pressure estimates across the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island.
Call us at (718) 682-6680 or request your written estimate right here on sidewalkrepairnyc.com, and we'll get back to you within 24 hours.