Concrete driveway building
We dig out the old driveway, pack a new base and pour a slab with control joints, the cuts that tell cracks where to go, so a narrow drive stays level.
Concrete Contractor in Brookline, MA - Driveways, Steps and Patios Built on a Solid Base
K&R Somerville Concrete Construction is a concrete contractor based in Somerville that pours driveways, front steps, patios, walks and foundation work for houses in Brookline, MA, digging out and packing the base before any concrete goes down.
Concrete work on Brookline's older homes
Brookline sits just outside Boston, and a lot of the houses we work on there are older, with narrow driveways squeezed close to the neighbors, front steps that climb up from the sidewalk and, on some streets, lots that run uphill. A slope like that sends rain somewhere, so before we talk about finish I want to know where the water goes now and where it'll go once the new slab is down. It's the same kind of work we do in Cambridge and Chelsea, and it fails the same way when the dirt underneath was only raked flat.
Before we settle the plan, we check with the Town of Brookline's Building Department, since it issues the building permits for work here. If your house sits in one of Brookline's local historic districts, the Planning Department has its own permit for alterations there, so that's a question I ask on the first visit.
Most of the price sits in what you won't see once it's done: how much old concrete comes out, how deep we dig and pack the base, how close the truck can get on a tight lot, and the slab's thickness and finish. The schedule turns on the permit, our crew's calendar and curing, which is the wait while the concrete gains strength, a few days before you walk on it and longer before you drive on it. You get your own figure in the estimate after I've measured on site.
The base gets the time
When a budget gets tight, I'd rather trim the finish than the base, because a slab is only as steady as the dug-out, packed ground it sits on, called the subgrade.
Water runs away from the house
We check where the rain goes before we set the forms, so the new slab falls away from your foundation instead of sending water back toward the basement.
Neighbors still on good terms
Brookline driveways often sit close to the next house, so we keep trucks, washout and dust off their side and leave the site cleaner than we found it.
Concrete services for Brookline homes
Concrete patio construction
Back patios here are often small and tucked behind the house, so we slope them to carry water toward the yard, with a broom finish, a brushed texture for grip.
Stamped concrete services
Stamped concrete gives a patio or walk the look of stone or brick to sit with an older house, and we still build the base the same way underneath the pattern.
Concrete sidewalk building
We replace front walks and side paths that have sunk or cracked, and set the height to meet your steps and the public sidewalk so nobody catches a toe.
Garage floor concrete
Older detached garages often have thin, broken floors, so we break out the old slab, pack the base and pour a new floor sloped toward the door to shed water.
Decorative concrete
Colored, stained or exposed-stone finishes can set off a front entry or a garden path, and I'll show you samples on site so you pick the look before we pour.
Concrete retaining walls
Where a yard steps down toward the street or a neighbor, a concrete retaining wall holds the soil back, and we give the water behind it a way out.
Concrete floor installation
We pour basement and interior slabs on a packed base with rebar, the steel that holds the concrete together if it cracks, often working through a narrow bulkhead or doorway.
Concrete pool decks
Around a pool, the deck has to drain away from the water and give bare feet grip, so we set the slope first and pick a finish that isn't slick when wet.
Concrete steps construction
Front steps here often climb a good way up from the sidewalk, so we form each step to the same height and set the whole run on a solid footing.
Slab foundation building
For additions, garages and sheds, we pour slab foundations with thickened edges and rebar, after the ground is dug out and packed to carry the weight of the building.
Foundation installation
We dig, form and pour foundation walls for additions and rebuilds on tight lots, and line up the other licensed trades the job needs so you deal with one person.
Concrete parking lot building
Small landlords often need a rear lot or a few spaces behind a multi-family, and we grade them so water runs off, then pour a slab thick enough for daily parking.
Concrete footings
Decks, porches, additions and steps all start on footings, the concrete pads that carry the load into firm ground, and we dig them to the depth the plan calls for.
Foundation raising
When an older porch, slab or foundation corner has sunk, we look at why first, because lifting it back up does little good if the ground keeps giving way underneath.
Concrete cutting
We saw-cut openings, trenches and clean edges in existing concrete, which matters on a shared driveway where only your half comes out and the neighbor's half stays.
Get a free estimate for your Brookline job
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set a visit. I come out, measure, talk it through with you and then send a free estimate, with no pressure to book.
I come out myself
I come out to look at the job myself, and I stay on it through the digging, forming, pouring and finishing, so you have one person to ask.
The plan before the pour
Concrete is hard to undo, so I go over the base, the slope and where the joints fall with you before anything is poured, so you know what you're paying for.
Licensed and insured
We're fully licensed and insured. Satisfaction guaranteed on every job, and if something about the work bothers you, I'd rather hear it while the crew is still there.
Brookline permit and contractor questions
Practical questions about permits, fees and contractor registration for concrete work in Brookline, with what the rules say and what we do.
Do I need a permit for a new concrete driveway in Brookline?
Yes. Brookline requires a building permit to install a driveway, and the application needs a photograph or plans of the existing or proposed driveway. Applications go through Brookline's online permit portal, where first-time users set up an account. When the filing is ours, we put it together and keep it moving, and when it's yours, we tell you what to bring.
Can I pull the building permit myself as a homeowner in Brookline?
Yes, if it's a one- or two-unit home you live in or plan to live in, though Brookline usually issues building permits to state-licensed construction supervisors. The catch is that you may be liable for the contractors on your property, and you lose the protection of the state's home improvement contractor law. I'd talk that through with you before you decide.
Does a concrete contractor in Brookline need to be registered with the state?
Yes, when the work is on an existing, owner-occupied home with one to four units, Massachusetts requires the contractor to register as a Home Improvement Contractor. The registration number has to show on the permit, the contract and any ads, and work estimated at $1,000 or more needs a written contract. You can also look up a construction supervisor's license on the state's site.
How much does a building permit cost in Brookline?
Brookline's Building Department charges $21 for every $1,000 of the job's estimated cost, with some exceptions. The permit lapses if work doesn't start within 180 days of issue, though the building official can extend it up to 180 days at a time on written request. We set the start date with that window in mind.
Cities we cover for concrete work
These are the cities with their own page on our site, not the only places we work. If your street isn't listed, call or send the form and ask.
Call about your Brookline concrete job
Call (617) 284-0921 as late as 11 PM on weeknights or from 6 AM on weekends, or send the form whenever it suits you.