CONCRETE FLATWORK AND FINISHING

PSF CO. CONCRETE FLATWORK & FINISHING

Concrete slabs can perform well for decades and beyond.  As you can see by visiting our older neighborhoods, there are sidewalks which may have been installed during the middle decades of the 1900s.  Much about the life and performance of a concrete slab relates to the type of soil beneath it, how it was batched and exposures to weather, chemical treatments and the like.   Soils vary and while steps are taken to mitigate cracking and heaving, there are times when nature defeats best efforts.  When soil is expansive, an option (quite often a design requirement) is to remove a layer of existing soil and replace it with a fill material which can perform better.

ENGINEERING, MUNICIPAL SPECIFICATIONS,
AND ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

Concrete installation located in city right-of-way areas (for example sidewalk, curb and gutter, and driveway approach) is performed under proper permits, design specifications, and codes.  Concrete slabs on private property often don’t require a permit and are not inspected by the building department or other governing bodies.  If you’re building a new structure, your architect may include information about guidelines for a driveway, sidewalk, and floor slab.   New build plans also require that entry steps, and other elements comply with building codes for safety (for example, step rise and design and handrails).   Foundation engineering will often have specifications and recommendations for concrete slabs.

 ATTENTION TO DETAIL

An important part of flatwork is viewing the property where it will be installed before work begins.   Depending on various circumstances this observation may happen before the work is quoted, or after.  Things we look at are concerns with the performance of old concrete (if replacing or abutting) or existing soil conditions, priorities for new concrete (safety, appearance, property value, decorative enhancement, etc…) as well as budget, design requirements, etc… Understanding existing site conditions, what purpose(s) the new concrete will serve, owner needs and priorities will help us to serve you better and provide the best solution.   Occasionally after reviewing the site conditions and understanding owner or user needs, we recommend going another way – we’re not reluctant to recommend another solution, or another reputable company if it appears PSF Co is not a good option for the circumstance.