Concrete Contractor in New Deal TX

Four inches suits cars, but acreage lots often see trucks, trailers and equipment. Five or six inches with steel is smarter. Aprons at the road take the most wear, so we thicken them.

We compact the base well, since long drives cross different ground. A good base is what keeps the slab flat.

Acreage lots often have long driveways that cross swales and low spots. We add culvert pipes where needed and thicken the concrete over them so the drive holds up to trucks and farm equipment. If you notice puddles that stay for days after rain, tell us, because that spot needs a better slope before anything is built over it. Curing means keeping the surface damp or covered after finishing, and it matters as much for strength as the mix itself. Every job gets a final walk through, where we check the finish, the edges and the slope with you before we leave.

Yes. We can pour the slab first or after the frame, depending on your builder. We coordinate footings, anchor bolts and the floor height with your plans.

See shop and barn floors for details.

If you are building a metal shop, tell your builder to share the foundation plan with us. We can pour the footings and slab together and set anchor bolts where the frame needs them. Walking the site together is the best way to find problems early, and we are glad to do it at no charge as part of your free estimate. A lighter color stays cooler under bare feet in July, which is worth thinking about for patios, pool decks and walks. Leaving a small gap or sleeve for future pipes, wires or posts now is much easier than cutting concrete later. Clay soil moves as it gets wet and dry, which is why a compacted base and steel inside the slab are never optional on our jobs.

We slope slabs about a quarter inch per foot, raise them above low spots and add aprons or swales so water leaves. We also look at where roof water goes.

If your yard floods, tell us, and we will plan the fix into the slab.

Flat land holds water, and a few inches can make a big difference. We shape slabs with a slight slope, add aprons at gates and plan swales that carry water away from buildings. Keep gutters clean and downspouts extended, because roof water pouring next to a slab can wash out the base. A level slab is easy to see, and a slab with a proper slope is just as important, because water needs somewhere to go. Cold snaps can arrive quickly in winter, and fresh concrete must never freeze, so we watch the overnight lows before every pour. A walk through your yard after a heavy rain shows where water really goes, and it helps us design the slope correctly.

A broom finish. It grips, hides dust and is easy to sweep. A sealer keeps dirt from soaking in. Smooth finishes show dust and are slick when wet.

Dust is part of life on the plains, and a broom finish hides it well. A clear sealer also keeps dust and oil from soaking in, so a quick sweep or hose down keeps the slab clean. The more we know about your plans, the better we can design the slab, so share your ideas even if they are not final. Keep roof water and sprinkler spray away from the edges of your slab, since wet soil next to concrete is a common cause of movement. If the forecast turns bad the night before, we call and reschedule, because a short delay is better than a damaged slab. Texas heat can push concrete to set faster than expected, so we bring extra hands and plan the finishing order before the truck arrives.

Wait about seven days for cars and light trucks and about 28 days for heavy loads. We tell you exact dates and mark off the slab.

Heavy trucks should wait about four weeks. If you must drive on it sooner, tell us, and we may suggest pouring in sections so part of the pad is ready earlier. If you have an HOA, get approval in writing before the pour, and we will help with a simple sketch and finish samples. We keep the same crew on your job from start to finish whenever we can, so the people who plan it also build it. Please call with any question, large or small, because we would rather answer it now than have you wonder. Tell us what will sit on the slab or drive across it, since the weight on each wheel decides how thick the concrete should be. Rinse oil, grease and fuel spills off concrete as soon as you can, because they soak in and stain over time.

Call us or use the contact form with your address and project. We visit, measure and give you a written price with no pressure.

Our estimate visit covers access, soil, drainage and the loads your slab will carry. We write all of it down so you can see exactly what you are paying for. Fresh concrete is alkaline and can irritate skin, so keep kids and pets away and wash off any wet concrete right away. Do not use de icing salt on new concrete, because it can scale the surface, and a little sand gives traction without harm. The first week after the pour is the most important time for the concrete, so a little patience then pays off for decades. We follow the plans for steel size and spacing, and we use chairs to hold rebar off the dirt so it ends up in the middle of the slab. Our estimates are written, with the scope and the price spelled out, so you can keep them and compare them fairly.