We offer high-quality concrete services. We bring a batch plant to your job site & mix the concrete on site. This process saves time & money both in terms of concrete and in cleanup time & cost.

Before starting your project, it is important to properly plan & prepare. Here are some tips to help you get ready for your project:

For common household projects – driveways, walkways, and patios – 4 inches thick should do the trick.  You may require a thicker pour should the area see large amounts of traffic.

Base

In the general Portland area, we recommend using a ¾ minus crushed gravel compacted base.

Drainage

Industry-standard calls for a slope of ¼ inch per foot away from structures. Some projects may be able to use ⅛ inch slope.

Excavation

While taking care to only dig as deep as necessary (keeping an eye out for power lines), ensure you remove tree roots, leaves, wood, and any other organic matter in the desired area.

Compaction

To ensure your slab does not settle or vary in thickness, make sure to compact the soil/gravel base in the desired area.

Forming

Take care to stake your forms securely to the ground, while paying close attention to the slope (for proper drainage). 2x4s are perfectly adequate for use as forms, though make sure you have the desired thickness (usually 4″) available at the edges.

Isolation

Install pre-molded joint material anywhere concrete will meet existing slabs, steps or buildings. The joint must reach the bottom of the slab and ensures the new slab will be separated from existing structures.

Strength

Concrete Exposed to freezing and thawing temperatures should have a compressive strength of 3500 psi and have at least 5% entrained air (+/- 1.5%).

Slump

For our environment, we recommend a slump of 4 inches (+/- 1″). Note: a slump greater than 4″ may prolong the time you have to wait before finishing, particularly in cool weather. It will also increase the tendency for shrinkage cracking.

Chemical Additives

In addition to air-entraining admixtures, chemical additives may be used to accelerate or retard setting, reduce water or plasticize the concrete.

Now that you have your planning down, we suggest you review our Concrete Calculator below to determine your exact needs