Concrete Contractor in Amherst, NH - Driveways and Walks That Suit the House
R&S Manchester Concrete Construction is a concrete contractor pouring driveways, patios, walks, steps and foundations for homeowners in Amherst, NH. I come out to look at the job myself, and our own crew does the work.
Amherst: Federal-era homes near the common
Most of what I see in Amherst is homes, and the village around the common sets the tone, with a lot of Georgian, Federal and Greek Revival houses that have stood a long time. Out past the village it's more of a mix, with newer houses set back on wooded roads, and the calls we get there are a lot like the ones from Bedford next door and down in Nashua.
On an older house, a new walk or set of steps has to meet stone and trim that were there long before us, so we spend as much time on how it meets the house as on the slab itself. On the newer places it's usually the driveway or the patio, and getting the ground under them dug out and packed right.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
Concrete work we do in Amherst
Concrete driveway building
Driveways out on Amherst's back roads tend to sink where the base was raked level, not packed. We dig out soft ground and pack the base first.
Concrete steps construction
Front steps on the older village houses chip and pull away from the house over time. We rebuild them to meet the house cleanly and shed water away.
Concrete sidewalk building
A walk to an old front door should look like it belongs there. We set the width, edges and finish to suit the house.
Foundation installation
Barns, garages and additions on Amherst lots need a sound base under the walls. We handle foundation installation from the dig to the pour.
Concrete patio construction
Backyard patios here often sit against older foundations, and one that tips toward the house sends water at them. We check where water runs before we set forms.
Concrete footings
Decks and porches on older Amherst houses often lean because the footings under the posts have shifted. We dig new ones to firm ground and pour them square.
Working in Amherst: permits come first
Building permits in Amherst come from the Town of Amherst's building department, and the Town asks you to call and talk your plans over with the Building Official before construction starts. The work it says usually needs a permit includes new buildings, sheds, barns, additions, decks and pools, so a foundation for a new barn or an addition is part of a project on that list, while a driveway or patio isn't named and is a question we put to the office instead of guessing. Before we dig, we check with the building office about your job and help you pull together what they ask for, like a site plan, and if a permit's needed we either take care of it or walk you through it, depending on whose name they want on the application. That paperwork, and in the village any historic review, comes before the pour, so we start on it as soon as you book.
We're a concrete contractor based in Manchester, NH, a short drive from Amherst, so I come out to look at the job myself and I'm on site with our crew when we pour. What moves your price here is mostly how much soft ground has to come out under the job and the finish you choose, and the schedule turns on the permit, our calendar and curing, the wait while the concrete hardens before you walk on it and a longer one before you drive on it. When I walk the property with you, I write up what the job includes, so you know what you're paying for before we start.
Get a written concrete estimate for your Amherst job
Send the form or call (603) 314-3764, and we'll get back to you within one business day to set a time. I come out to Amherst myself, walk the property with you and write up what the job includes, free and with no pressure to book.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
Concrete ideas for Amherst homes
Concrete questions from Amherst homeowners
Do I need a permit to pour a concrete driveway in Amherst, NH?
It may need one, so check with the building department first, because the Town lists a Driveway Permit among its forms and permits. Some projects also have specific requirements before an application can be processed. We ask the office about your driveway before we plan a pour, so nothing catches you short.
Does a new walk or steps in the Amherst historic district need HDC approval?
It may, because most projects in the Historic District Commission's area that change a building's outside or the property's features need its approval before a building permit is issued. The Town's own examples include doors, windows, sheds and generators, so a front walk or new steps near the common is worth raising early. If your house is in the district, we bring it up with the Building Official first and set the start date after the review.
How do I schedule an inspection for a new foundation in Amherst?
Plan on one or two days' notice, because that's what inspection requests in Amherst usually need. Inspections check that the work matches the permit, the plans and local and state codes, and the Building Official will tell you about how many your project may need. We build that notice into the schedule so nobody's standing around waiting on a truck.
What if my Amherst property is in a wetland or aquifer protection district?
A Conditional Use Permit may come into it, because the Town has that application with checklists for the Wetland / Watershed Conservation District and the Aquifer Conservation / Wellhead Protection District. Those checklists apply to properties inside those districts, so the first step is knowing whether your lot is one of them. I ask about it at the start, since it can change the paperwork and the timing before we dig.
How much does a concrete driveway cost in Amherst, NH?
Your price comes from the driveway's size, the ground under it and the finish you pick, so I give you a written number after walking the property. Digging out soft ground, breaking up and hauling off an old slab, a long reach for the truck and a stamped or colored surface all add to it. A plain broom finish, the light swept texture that keeps it from getting slick, keeps it down.
What is the best way to keep a new concrete driveway in Amherst from cracking?
Start underneath, because most cracking comes from a base that was raked level instead of dug out and packed, and from joints cut late or skipped. We dig down to firm subgrade, the ground the slab sits on, pack the base, check that water runs away from the house and cut control joints, shallow grooves that give the slab a straight line to crack along, on time. It's like prep in a kitchen, so if the budget's tight I'd trim the finish before I'd trim the base.