Concrete driveway building
Most Medford driveways we see are narrow strips beside the house. We break out the old slab, pack a new base, add rebar, steel that keeps pieces from drifting apart, and pour.
Concrete contractor in Medford, MA - driveways and steps built for tight city lots
K&R Somerville Concrete Construction is a concrete contractor based in Somerville. We dig, form and pour driveways, steps, patios, walls and foundations for Medford homeowners and landlords, and I stay on each job from first look to cleanup.
How we handle concrete jobs in Medford
Most of the Medford calls we get are about the same few things: a driveway sinking along the side of a two-family, front steps pulling away from the house, or a patio where water sits after it rains. The lots are tight, so a good part of each job is working out how to get the old concrete out and the new concrete in without blocking the street or a shared driveway. It's the same work we do at home in Somerville and next door in Malden and Arlington.
What moves the price is mostly what's underneath and around the slab: how much old concrete comes out, how deep we dig to reach firm soil, whether the truck can reach or we wheel it in, and whether steps or a wall are part of it. The schedule turns on what the city says about permits and on curing, the days new concrete needs to harden before you walk or drive on it. You get your own figure in the estimate, once I've seen the job in person.
Before we settle any plan, we check with Medford's building department, because it enforces the state building code here and work that needs a permit can't start until the city issues the permit card. Concrete is hard to undo, so I'd rather sort that out on day one than stop a job halfway.
Money goes into the base first
The subgrade, what the slab sits on, is hidden on day one and is the first thing people want to cut. I'd rather spend there than on the finish, because a raked base settles.
Water runs away from the house
Before we form anything, we check where water runs on your lot. A slab that falls toward the house sends rain at your foundation, so we pitch it away.
Joints cut where cracks belong
Concrete cracks, so we cut control joints, shallow grooves that give it a place to crack, before it picks its own. Late or skipped joints are usually why an old slab cracked all over.
Concrete work we do in Medford
Concrete patio construction
Patios on small back lots fit around fences, sheds and back stairs. We lay out the shape with you first, then give it a broom finish, a light texture for grip.
Stamped concrete services
We press a brick or stone pattern into the top while it's soft. It suits a front walk or patio, and it needs resealing now and then to hold its color.
Concrete sidewalk building
We replace walks to the front door and side gate when slabs have tipped and someone keeps catching a toe. New sections sit flush so the seams don't trip anyone.
Garage floor concrete
Old detached garages often have a cracked, sunken floor that holds puddles. We break it out, rebuild the base and pour a new slab pitched toward the door so water runs out.
Decorative concrete
Color, an exposed stone top or a smooth border can dress up front steps or a patio. I'll show you samples so you know the finish before we pour.
Concrete retaining walls
Sloped yards often need a wall beside a driveway or patio. We pour it on footings, a wide base under the wall, and give water behind it a way out.
Concrete floor installation
Basement and addition floors need a packed base and room for the pipes that run under them. We line up the other licensed trades so everything's in before we pour.
Concrete pool decks
A pool deck has to shed splashed water away from the pool and stay safe for bare feet. We pitch it to drain and pick a texture that grips without scraping skin.
Concrete steps construction
Front steps on two-families often settle and pull away from the house. We tear out the old set, pour on solid footings and keep every step the same height so nobody stumbles.
Slab foundation building
We pour slabs for additions, garages and sheds, setting forms and steel to the plans. On a tight lot we work out where the truck parks and how concrete reaches the back.
Foundation installation
New foundations for additions and rebuilt porches start with digging to solid soil and setting forms square. We check the layout before the truck comes so walls land where the plans say.
Concrete parking lot building
Small landlords call us for the parking pad behind a multi-family or a shared lot that's broken up. We plan the slope and thickness for cars turning on it every day.
Concrete footings
These are the buried pads under a porch post, deck or wall that keep it from sinking. We dig down to firm ground and pour them before anything is built on top.
Foundation raising
When a corner of the house or a porch has dropped, I look at why before we lift anything. Then we raise it, add support and deal with what caused it.
Concrete cutting
We saw-cut openings for a basement door or window, trim a slab back, or cut out one cracked section. Water on the blade keeps dust down for the neighbors.
Get a free on-site estimate for your Medford job
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set a time. I come out, measure, talk it through with you and then send the estimate, free and with no pressure to book.
The same person, start to finish
I look at the job myself and stay on it through the work, so the one who walked you through the plan is the one watching the pour.
Our own crew does the work
Our crew digs, forms, pours and finishes, and we line up any other licensed trades the job needs. We're fully licensed and insured.
A clean site and good neighbors
We clean up so the site's in better shape than we found it, and we work around shared driveways so you're still on good terms with the neighbors. Satisfaction guaranteed on every job.
Medford permit questions about concrete work
Here's what Medford's building department says about the permit questions that come up on concrete jobs, and what we do about each.
Do I need a permit for a concrete retaining wall in Medford?
A retaining wall in Medford needs a building permit unless it holds back less than four feet of unbalanced fill, soil sitting higher on one side, and the building official sees no threat to public safety. That pass comes from the state building code. We check with the department before we settle the plan for any wall.
Does a shed on a concrete slab need a building permit in Medford?
Up to 120 square feet, Medford's building department says no, as long as the shed sits at least 3 feet from side and rear lines, 15 from the front and 10 from the house, and stands 15 feet tall at most. The state code's pass for one-story detached sheds goes to 200 square feet, so call the department at (781) 393-2511 before we pour the pad.
Can I pull my own permit for concrete work in Medford, or does the contractor?
You can only if you own a single or two-family house and live in it, since those are the only owners Medford lets take out a homeowner's permit. Contractors filing building permits register their licenses with the city. On our jobs, when the paperwork's ours we file it and keep it moving, and when it's yours, I tell you what to bring.
Cities where we do concrete work
These are the cities with their own page on this site, not the only places we work. If your city isn't listed, call or send the form and ask.
Tell us about your Medford concrete job
We pick up the phone into the evening, weekends included, so call (617) 284-0921 or send the form when you have a minute.