Replacing a broken basement floor
When an old basement floor has sunk, heaved or broken into pieces, patching it usually doesn't last, so we break it out, rebuild what's underneath and pour a new slab.
Concrete floor installation in Somerville MA - a smooth, even slab that holds up
Old floor cracked, sinking or dusty? We pour, finish and cure a new slab so you get a hard, level surface to use.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- Replies within 1 business day.
What a new concrete floor involves
Concrete floor installation in Somerville means our crew places a new concrete slab, then finishes, joints and cures it so it becomes the hard surface you walk, park or work on every day.
The price mostly comes down to the size of the floor, how hard it is to get concrete to it and what has to come out first. A basement down a narrow stair or a lot with no room for a truck means more hands and more time, and an old floor that has to be broken out and hauled away adds to it. If you plan to put tile, wood or a coating over the new slab, what goes under the concrete is part of the cost too.
The schedule turns on curing, the wait while fresh concrete gains strength before it can take weight, and on the weather and the permit question, since we check with the city's building office before we settle the plan. I come out, measure and talk the floor through with you, then send an estimate with your figure and the plan.
One person from look to finish
I come out to look at the floor myself and I stay on the job through the work, so you have one steady person to ask instead of a new face each day.
What's underneath gets the time
Concrete is hard to undo, so we spend the extra hours on what the slab sits on, because a floor is only as flat and steady as the ground under it.
A clean site and calm neighbors
On tight city lots the truck, the pump and the noise affect the whole street, so we keep the work orderly and leave the site cleaner than we found it.
How we pour and finish your floor
We start under the floor, not on top of it. The subgrade, the soil and stone the slab sits on, gets dug out and packed instead of just raked level, because a base that settles takes the slab down with it. If the budget's tight, that's the last place I'd cut. Nobody sees the base on day one, and a nicer finish won't save a floor that's sinking.
On pour day, the timing is the job. Concrete placed in midday heat can end up with a weak, dusty top, and Somerville allows construction from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays, so on a warm day we plan to pour right at the start and finish before the heat builds. I'm there myself for the finishing and the curing, because a floor turns out hard and even only when those happen at the right moment. Control joints, shallow cuts that give the slab a straight place to crack, go in on time so any cracks follow lines we picked.
If the floor is part of a bigger project, we also build concrete steps up to the door and concrete pool decks out back, and we line up the other licensed trades a job needs so you aren't chasing them yourself.
Where a new concrete floor makes sense
A floor for a shop or storage
A workshop, storage room or utility space needs a hard surface that sweeps clean, and finishing at the right moment is what keeps the top from turning dusty.
An addition or new room
When you add a room or a mudroom, the slab sets the height and level for everything built on it, so we work out those heights with the other trades first.
Rental units between tenants
Many of our calls come from small landlords who want a floor redone between tenants, with one person to deal with and a site left tidy for the people next door.
Get a free on-site estimate for your floor
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set a time. I come out, measure, talk the floor through with you, then send the estimate, and there's no pressure to book.
Have the floor size handy
A rough size in square feet, even paced off, helps us plan the visit and gives you a first sense of the job before I measure it properly.
Tell us about the building
Let us know how many units the building has and whether you live there, because that decides who can apply for the permit and which state rules apply.
Mention any planned covering
If tile, wood or a coating is going over the new slab, say so up front, because it changes what goes under the concrete and how we plan the pour.
Concrete floor and flatwork examples
Example finishes and layouts to talk over, from smooth troweled floors to plain slabs, steps and decks, so you can point at what you like.
Questions about concrete floors in Somerville
Straight answers to what homeowners and small landlords in Somerville ask most before they book a new concrete floor.
How much does a concrete floor cost near Somerville?
An installed concrete slab in the Boston area usually costs about $7 to $13 per square foot. Where your floor lands mostly comes down to the size, the access and what has to come out first. We're based in Somerville and work across the cities around it, and I measure on site before sending your estimate.
Will my new concrete floor crack?
Probably a little, and that's normal. Concrete industry guidance says floors free of cracks and curling, where the edges lift slightly, aren't realistic even with the best design and proper construction. Before we start, I go over which small cracks to expect and where the control joints will steer them. That talk is part of how we keep our promise, satisfaction guaranteed on every job.
Where should the vapor barrier go under a concrete floor?
If you plan to cover or coat the floor, the national concrete guide says the barrier gives floor coverings and coatings the most protection when it sits in direct contact with the slab. Before we start, we settle where it goes based on what you're putting down, so the plan for the floor covering is set before any concrete arrives.
Do I need a permit for a concrete floor in Somerville?
Ask the city before you plan around it. Somerville's Inspectional Services Division issues building permits to construct, reconstruct, alter, repair or demolish a structure, and exempts painting, tiling and flooring, so whether your slab needs one is their call. You can reach them at 617-625-6600 ext. 5600 or isd@somervillema.gov, and we check with them early on every job.
Who should pull the permit for a concrete floor in Somerville?
That depends on the building. The city lets an owner who lives in a 1 or 2 family home take out the permit, but a 3 family or larger needs a licensed contractor to apply. The state's homeowner guide says an owner who applies may not be eligible for compensation from its Guaranty Fund. When the paperwork is ours, we file it and keep it moving.
Who is allowed to install a concrete floor in Massachusetts?
On an existing, owner-occupied home with one to four units, the state requires the contractor to be registered as a Home Improvement Contractor. For 1 and 2 family homes, it also requires a licensed construction supervisor or a registered design professional to oversee construction, though its rules include homeowner exemption language. We're fully licensed and insured.
Other concrete work that goes with a floor
Tell us about the floor you need
We pick up evenings and weekends, so call (617) 284-0921, email contact@concretesomerville.com or use the form whenever it suits you.