Concrete contractor in Piqua, OH - driveways and steps that drain and stay put

Yes. The City of Piqua's Community Services Department issues city permits for any new driveway or sidewalk, and its residential permit covers paving work too. The permit should be approved before work starts and expires six months after approval, so we schedule the pour once the permit is in hand. Some jobs also need a permit from the Miami County Building Department. We check which office covers your address, then we take care of the application or help with the parts that need your signature.

Usually, yes, because the apron where your driveway meets the street and the public sidewalk sit in the city's right of way, and that work may need an extra permit. The city's permits page lists permits for right-of-way work and for sidewalk, curb and drive approach work. It also lists dumpster permits, which matter if a dumpster for the old concrete has to sit on the street. We sort out which ones your job needs before we set a pour date.

Check with the city before you apply for a permit, because the city's guidance asks owners to confirm whether a site is in the floodplain first. Any work in the 100-year floodplain has to be reviewed by the City Planner, and that review helps Piqua keep the discounted flood insurance rates residents get through FEMA's program. If your house sits near the Great Miami River, I'll ask about it at the estimate so the review is part of the plan.

The price comes down to the size of the driveway, how much old concrete has to come out, how much base work the ground needs and the finish you choose. Thicker concrete, rebar, the steel bars that hold the slab together if it cracks, and stamped or colored finishes all add to the price, and so does a tight lot. A plain broom finish keeps the price down. I walk the job with you and put in writing what the work includes.

The usual causes are a base that was never dug out and packed, water getting under the slab, and a pour in midday heat that leaves a weak, dusty top. Control joints are the grooves cut so the slab cracks along a line instead of at random, and when they're cut late or skipped, cracks show up wherever they like. We pour early on hot days and cut the joints on time, along with the base and drainage work. I'll be honest that concrete can still crack, but the goal is for it to crack in the joints, where you won't notice it.

You can usually walk on new concrete within a few days, but a car has to wait longer, and the weather decides the exact day. Curing is the slow hardening as the concrete holds its moisture, and putting weight on it too soon or letting it dry too fast weakens the surface. At the pour I'll tell you when it's safe to walk on and when you can bring the car back.