Concrete Contractor in Bedford, NH - Driveways, Patios and Steps Built for Deep Frost
R&S Manchester Concrete Construction is a concrete contractor pouring driveways, patios, walks, steps and foundations for Bedford, NH homeowners. I look at every job myself, and our own crew digs, preps and pours it with me on site.
Bedford: roomy lots and long driveways
Bedford is mostly homes, usually on bigger lots than you'll find next door in Manchester, with older houses mixed in among newer neighborhoods cut out of wooded land. Most of our calls here are long driveways, backyard patios and front steps, plus footings for sheds and decks. We do plenty of the same work over in Goffstown, but the longer driveways and roomier yards here mean more ground to prep before anything gets poured.
On older houses, the septic system can be the surprise. New Hampshire didn't require approved septic plans until the mid-1970s, so an older system may have no plan on file, and any record that does exist turns up through a records search with the state Department of Environmental Services. Before we dig near one, we find out where the tank and lines run, because a slab poured over a septic line is a problem you'd have to break out later.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
Concrete work we do in Bedford
Concrete driveway building
Long Bedford driveways take a beating from plows and frost each winter. We dig out the soft ground and pack a solid base before the pour.
Concrete patio construction
Old patios here often settle and tip water back toward the house. Our concrete patio construction starts with the slope, so rain runs off to the yard.
Concrete steps construction
Front steps take freeze-thaw and salt tracked up from the driveway, which chips the edges. We set new steps on footings dug below where the ground freezes.
Concrete sidewalk building
Walks from the driveway to the door crack where roots lift them or joints were skipped. We cut control joints, grooves that tell a crack where to go.
Concrete retaining walls
Sloped yards here push soil and water against whatever holds them back. We build walls with drainage behind them, so water doesn't pile up and push.
Concrete footings
Sheds and decks need footings that reach below the frost, or the ground can push them up in spring. We dig and pour them deep enough.
Working in Bedford: permits, prep and what moves the price
The Town of Bedford issues building permits through its Building Code Official, and you apply for one at the Bedford Building Department in the Safety Complex. Bedford requires a permit before any building or structure goes up and before any excavation begins, though ordinary repairs that meet its guidelines need no application. So when a job needs a permit, it has to be issued before the pour date, and that wait sets the schedule along with the weather. Before we start, I check with the Building Department about your job and help you pull together what they ask for, like a site plan. If a permit is needed, we either take care of it or walk you through it, depending on whose name the office wants on the application. We're licensed and insured. If your job includes wiring, like lights set into a patio or steps, Bedford requires a New Hampshire licensed electrician for that part, unless you're doing it yourself in the home you already live in.
What moves the price is mostly what's under the surface. That means how much old concrete or soft ground we dig out, how thick the slab is, the finish you pick, and whether the truck can get close or we're wheeling concrete into a tight backyard. I spent years on restaurant lines, and prep decided how every plate turned out. Concrete's the same. The base is the part you never see once it's poured, and it's the first thing people want to cut, so I'd rather trim the finish than skimp underneath. I walk the property with you and write up what the job includes, so you can see where the money goes. Bedford is right next to Manchester, where we're based, so getting our crew and the trucks here is easy. We also work out past it in Amherst and over the state line in Methuen.
Get a free on-site concrete estimate in Bedford
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 your Bedford property myself, walk the job with you and write up what it includes. The estimate is free, with no obligation and no pressure to book.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
Concrete ideas for Bedford homes
Concrete questions from Bedford homeowners
How much does a new concrete driveway cost in Bedford, NH?
It depends on your driveway's size, how much we dig out underneath and the finish you choose, so I give you a written number after I've walked it. A plain broom finish, a light brushed texture that gives tires and boots grip, costs less than stamped or colored concrete. Tearing out an old slab adds hauling, and a long driveway means more base and more concrete.
Do I need a permit to pour a concrete slab for a shed in Bedford?
Yes. Bedford counts a shed as a structure even when it sits on blocks or a floating slab, which is a slab resting on the ground with nothing dug down below it. Sheds larger than 200 square feet need supports below the frost line, which Bedford puts at 48 inches, so a floating slab won't work for those. You can check the details on Bedford's permit questions page.
What happens if concrete work starts before the permit is issued in Bedford?
Bedford charges a surcharge of at least $100, or twice the project's permit fees if that's more. The Building Department also bars starting any work that needs a permit, including digging for a foundation, until the permit is issued. That's why I check with the office before our crew breaks ground.
Which building code applies to a new foundation in Bedford right now?
Through December 31, 2026, a permit request can follow either the older or the newer version of New Hampshire's state building code, because the state updated it this year and Bedford enforces each new version once the state adopts it. Starting January 1, 2027, every permit request follows the new code. So if you plan a foundation this winter and apply after New Year's, the new code applies.
What causes concrete driveways to crack in Bedford, and how do I stop a new one from cracking?
Most cracks start with a base that was raked level instead of dug out and packed, plus water freezing under the slab, and Bedford's building rules rate the area for severe weathering. We dig to firm ground and pack the subgrade, which is the layer the slab sits on, then check where the water runs. We also cut the control joints on time, so if a crack comes, it lands in a groove and not across the middle. No slab is crack-proof, but a good base makes the biggest difference.
How long does it take before I can drive on a new concrete driveway?
Plan on a few days before you walk on it and longer before you drive on it. Concrete gains its strength while it cures, the slow hardening after the pour, and weight on it too early can crack or mark it. Cool spring and fall weather slows curing, so I give you the dates for your slab before we pour, and you can plan where the cars go.