Concrete Contractor in Maple Heights, OH - Driveways and Patios Built on a Packed Base
Bedrock Solon Concrete is a concrete contractor based in Solon that tears out and replaces driveways, patios, walks, steps and garage floors in Maple Heights, with the ground dug out and packed before anything gets poured.
Maple Heights homes and the concrete around them
Most of our calls in Maple Heights come from homeowners on established residential streets, where the driveway, the front walk and the back patio have usually been there about as long as the house. People tell us about the same things. There's a crack that keeps getting wider, a section by the garage that's sinking, or water pooling where it never used to. It's much the same work we do next door in Bedford Heights.
That age is what shapes the job here, because most projects start with breaking out old concrete and fixing what's under it, not pouring on open ground.
Working in Maple Heights starts at the Building Department
Permits in Maple Heights come from the city's Building Department. The city's code requires a building permit from the Building Commissioner before any excavation or site improvement starts, so nothing gets dug out until that permit is in hand. That usually sets the start date more than our own schedule does. The same department keeps a Contractor Registration Application, so you can ask them about any contractor you're looking at. On the state side, the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board licenses electrical, HVAC, refrigeration, plumbing and hydronics contractors for commercial work, and concrete isn't one of those trades.
When your job needs a permit, we file it and schedule the inspections. We also check with the Maple Heights office before we start, because rules differ from city to city, the same way they do when we work in Parma. What moves the price is mostly what you can't see on day one. That's how much old concrete comes out, how much base has to go back in and get packed, how hard it is to get our crew and the truck to the spot, and the finish you pick. My written estimate lists each of those, tear-out and base included, so nothing gets added back later.
Concrete services in Maple Heights
- Concrete driveway building
- Concrete patio construction
- Stamped concrete services
- Concrete sidewalk building
- Garage floor concrete
- Decorative concrete
- Concrete retaining walls
- Concrete floor installation
- Concrete pool decks
- Concrete steps construction
- Slab foundation building
- Foundation installation
- Concrete parking lot building
- Concrete footings
- Foundation raising
- Concrete cutting
Older slabs and tight lots shape the job here
A lot of the driveways and walks we break out here have been patched more than once. When we get under them, the most common reason they sank is a base that was raked level and never dug out and packed, so the slab settled right along with the dirt. We dig down to firm ground and pack the subgrade, the layer the slab sits on. Then we cut control joints while the concrete is still fresh. Those are grooves that give the slab a place to crack where we choose instead of across the middle. If a bid has to get trimmed somewhere, I'd cut the finish before the base, because nobody sees the base on day one but you'll see it fail by year three.
Lots here are often snug, with the driveway running alongside the house, so we plan how the truck and the forms get in before we bid. We also check which way the water runs, because a slab that falls toward the house sends water straight at your foundation. When it's the front walk or steps that people see first, decorative concrete like a colored or stamped border can dress them up without changing how the base is built.
Get a written concrete estimate for your Maple Heights home
We reply within one business day to set a time, and I come out to your Maple Heights property myself to measure and look at the site. The estimate is free, it's in writing, and it comes with no obligation.
How a concrete job goes when you call us in Maple Heights
Call or send the form
Call (440) 560-8533 or use the form, and we'll set a time to come out. It helps to tell us what you're seeing, like sinking, cracks or water pooling by the house.
I come out and measure
I do every estimate myself, so I'm the one measuring, checking the access and looking at where the water goes. If you know where any underground lines run, have that handy.
You get a written estimate
The estimate spells out what's in it, including tear-out, base, thickness and finish. That way you can line it up against any other bid you get.
We file permits and book inspections
If your job needs a permit, we file it with the city and line up the inspections, which are checks of the work at set stages. Maple Heights has SafeBuilt do its inspections and wants 24 hours notice for each one, so we book them ahead of the pour.
We pour and walk it together
Our crew forms, pours and finishes the job, with me or our foreman running it. When it's done I walk it with you and go over curing, the wait before you use it while the concrete gains strength.
A look at finished concrete work
Concrete questions from Maple Heights homeowners
How much does a new concrete driveway cost in Maple Heights?
Your price comes down to size, tear-out and base more than anything else, and you get it in a written estimate after I measure. Breaking out the old slab, digging out soft ground and packing new base are the parts some bids leave out, and they're in mine from the start. Thickness, rebar, the steel inside that keeps cracks from spreading, and a plain broom finish versus decorative work also move the number.
What causes concrete driveways in Maple Heights to crack and sink?
Most of the sinking we see comes from a base that was raked level instead of dug out and packed, so the slab settled with the dirt under it. Cracks in random places usually mean the control joints were cut late or skipped. Concrete still cracks, but a packed base and joints cut on time keep the cracks where we planned them.
What happens if my driveway plan doesn't meet Maple Heights zoning?
The city won't issue the permit until the plan is changed, because building permits are issued only when the work clearly meets the Zoning Code and other city ordinances. The Building Commissioner can't grant exceptions, so the plan has to fit the code. We check that with the city before we draw up the job.
Where can I look up flood maps for my home in Maple Heights?
FEMA says its flood map viewer is the place to start for official flood hazard information, and you can look up your own address there. It's worth a look before a new patio or driveway, because where water sits on your lot decides how we slope the slab. Either way, I check where the water runs on your property when I come out.
How do I pour my own concrete patio in Maple Heights with a permit?
Ask the Building Department about its Homeowners Affidavit, a signed statement the city lists for homeowners doing the work themselves. If you do it yourself, don't skimp on the base. That's what decides whether the slab settles, and it's the hardest part to fix later.
How long do I have to stay off a new concrete driveway?
You stay off it until it has cured enough, and you can walk on it well before you can drive on it. The timing depends on the mix and the conditions the week we pour, so I give you the dates for your slab when we finish. Keeping heavy vehicles off it early is the cheapest way to protect it.
Book a concrete estimate at your Maple Heights home
Have your other bids out when I come by, and I'll show you what each one leaves out.