Concrete Contractor in Andover, MA - Driveways, Patios and Steps Built on a Solid Base
Solid Form Lowell Concrete is a concrete contractor based in Lowell, MA. We pour driveways, patios, steps, walks and foundation work for homeowners in Andover, from the first look at the ground to the finished slab.
Concrete work we do in Andover
Every service below is available to homeowners in Andover, from foundation installation to a new front walk. Tap one to read more, or call and ask about yours.
- Concrete driveway building
- Concrete patio construction
- Stamped concrete services
- Concrete sidewalk building
- Garage floor concrete
- Decorative concrete
- Concrete retaining walls
- Concrete floor installation
- Concrete pool decks
- Concrete steps construction
- Slab foundation building
- Foundation installation
- Concrete parking lot building
- Concrete footings
- Foundation raising
- Concrete cutting
What we check on your property first
Most of our calls start with something you can see, like a cracked or sinking driveway or a patio where water pools against the house. When I come out, I start under the surface, because the ground and the way water runs are usually what caused it.
The part of a slab you'll never see is the part I care about most. The subgrade, the packed ground the slab rests on, is usually where a tight budget gets trimmed first. I'd rather give up a fancier finish than skimp there, because a nice surface on loose dirt sinks with the dirt.
Where water goes
We watch which way water runs off the roof and across the yard, so the new slab falls away from the house, not toward it.
The base underneath
We dig out soft soil and pack a gravel base under the slab, so it has firm ground under it for years, not just on pour day.
Where cracks will go
Control joints are grooves we cut on purpose so a crack follows a line we chose, and we cut them early, before the slab picks its own.
Coming out to Andover from Lowell
Solid Form Lowell Concrete is a concrete contractor in Lowell, MA. We work in the cities around it on both sides of the New Hampshire line, including Andover, Tewksbury and Methuen. When you call, I come out myself to look at the job and write the estimate.
The price moves with the size and thickness of the slab, how much digging the base needs, the finish you choose and how close the truck can get. The schedule turns on the weather, any permit or wetland review, and curing, the wait while the slab hardens enough to use. The written estimate shows what's included.
Before I come out, it helps to know roughly what you want poured and where your property lines sit, and to have a few photos of the area. Once the job is set, our crew lead and finishers do the forming, pouring and finishing.
- Area
- Andover, MA
- Phone
- (978) 441-3345
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 7 AM–11 PM, Sat–Sun: 6 AM–10 PM
- Based in
- Lowell, MA 01852
Tell us about your Andover job
Send a few lines and photos through the form, or call (978) 441-3345. We reply within one business day to set up a free on-site estimate, with no obligation.
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(978) 441-3345Questions we hear about Andover jobs
Another question? Call (978) 441-3345
Who issues building permits in Andover for concrete work?
Andover's Building Division issues permits for all construction the state building codes regulate, and it does the inspections too. Its list names things like additions, pools and houses rather than driveways or patios. Rules differ from city to city, so I check with the division on each job, and when one needs a permit, we apply for it as the contractor.
Does a patio or driveway near a wetland in Andover need extra approval?
It does if the work is within 100 feet of a wetland or within 200 feet of a riverfront area, because Andover's Conservation department reviews and permits that work. Filings are due two weeks before the meeting that hears them, so tell me at the estimate if your yard is near wet ground or a river.
Will a new concrete driveway crack like my old one did?
Concrete usually gets some fine cracks, and our job is to decide where they go and keep them small. We pack the base so the slab doesn't settle. We set rebar, steel that holds the pieces together, where the job calls for it, and we cut control joints on time so cracks follow the lines we chose.
How long before I can drive on a new concrete driveway?
You'll be walking on it well before you can drive on it, and both waits depend on the weather and the mix, so plan on parking somewhere else for a while. Curing is what you're waiting on, and driving on a slab before it's ready is one of the quickest ways to crack a new driveway.
How do I close an open building permit in Andover?
You send the Building Division an official public records request asking it to review the permit for closure. Only the current property owner or the permit holder can submit one, so if you bought a house with an old open permit on it, the request comes from you.