Concrete contractor in Bedford, MA - driveways, patios and steps on a solid base
Solid Form Lowell Concrete is a concrete contractor based in Lowell, MA. We pour driveways, patios, steps, walks and slabs for homeowners in Bedford, and the owner comes out to look at every job before it's priced.
Concrete work for Bedford homes
Every service listed here is available in Bedford, from driveways and steps to slab foundation building. Call or use the form to 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 I look at in a Bedford yard
Driveways, patios and steps are what we're best known for, and we pour them in Bedford the same way we do in Lowell. I walk the job with you first, because whether the old concrete is cracked, sinking or holding water usually tells me what went wrong underneath.
Bedford also has a lot of protected land. By Bedford's own count, about 21% of its area is protected or conservation-managed, and conservation restrictions cover 308 acres of private land. Bedford protects wetlands and waterways through its Conservation Department, so where a yard backs onto open land or carries a restriction, I check with Bedford's offices before we plan the work.
What's underneath
The subgrade, the ground the slab sits on, gets dug out and packed rather than raked level, because loose dirt settles and takes the slab with it.
Where water runs
We check which way the water runs before we set forms, so the new slab sheds water away from the house instead of toward it.
When we pour
We'd rather pour early than in midday heat when we can, because a slab that dries too fast can end up with a weak, dusty top.
Getting to Bedford from Lowell
We're based in Lowell and work in the cities around it on both sides of the New Hampshire line, so Bedford is one of the places we cover, the same as Chelmsford, Westford and Andover. After you call or send the form, I set a time to come look at the job myself.
Price moves with the size of the slab, how much old concrete comes out, how much base work the ground needs and the finish you choose. The schedule turns on any permit and the weather. If money's tight, I'll simplify the finish before I cut the base, because the base is what keeps the slab from settling.
Have a few photos ready and a sense of what's wrong with the old slab, and I'll write up an estimate that shows what's included. If you'd like to check anything with Bedford yourself, the main directory for the Town of Bedford is 781-918-4000.
- Area
- Bedford, MA
- Phone
- (978) 441-3345
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 7 AM–11 PM, Sat–Sun: 6 AM–10 PM
- Based in
- Lowell, MA 01852
Tell me about your concrete job
Tell us what you need through the form or at (978) 441-3345. We reply within one business day, and I come out for a free, no-obligation written estimate.
To talk now, call
(978) 441-3345Questions before you pour in Bedford
Another question? Call (978) 441-3345
Who issues building permits in Bedford, MA?
Bedford's Building Department issues residential building permits, and it sits under the Building and Zoning Division. Before the inspector reviews an application, another department such as Conservation, Health or Fire may need to sign off, and review starts once all of them have. When a job needs a permit, we apply for it as the contractor.
Who handles driveway permits in Bedford, MA?
Bedford's DPW lists driveway permits and street opening permits among its duties, along with licensing pavement contractors. On a new or wider driveway, I check with the DPW and the Building Department to see what applies to your job, and we tell you which office is involved.
Can I file a building permit online in Bedford?
Yes, contractors and homeowners can file through Bedford's online permitting and upload plans there, though some projects also need a paper filing for technical review. Once a permit is issued, it stays on the job site, because inspectors sign it at each inspection. Inspections are booked through the issuing department's office or by email to the inspector.
Will my new concrete driveway crack like the old one?
Concrete usually cracks a little as it shrinks, so the goal is to control where. We cut control joints, straight lines that give the slab a planned place to crack, and we cut them on time. Rebar, steel set inside the slab, helps hold any crack tight, and the packed base keeps the slab from settling.