Concrete Contractor in Derry, NH - Solid Bases for Old and New Lots
R&S Manchester Concrete Construction is a concrete contractor based in Manchester, NH. We build driveways, patios, walks, steps, garage floors and foundations for homeowners in Derry, starting with the ground underneath.
Derry: older lots, newer neighborhoods
Derry is a mix I see a lot around Manchester. Close to downtown, houses sit near each other on smaller lots, with short driveways, front steps that come down almost onto the sidewalk and patios fit into tight back yards. Further out, the neighborhoods came later, with longer driveways, two-car garages, backyard pools and room for an addition. It sits right beside Londonderry, and the houses on both sides of the line call for a lot of the same work. Most of what we do here is flatwork, the driveways, patios and walks that lie flat on the ground, plus steps and garage slabs for homeowners, landlords and a few small businesses.
The ground is the part you don't see. When I break out a sinking slab in Derry, I usually find it was poured on dirt or fill that was raked flat and never packed, and some lots turn up rocks and ledge, solid rock just under the soil, once we dig. So the base takes more of my time than the pour does.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
Concrete work we do in Derry
Concrete driveway building
Many older Derry driveways were poured on loose fill and are sinking at the edges. We dig down to firm ground and pack a new base before we pour.
Concrete patio construction
Back yards here often slope toward the house, so we set the patio's pitch before the pour. Rain then runs off into the yard instead of toward your foundation.
Concrete steps construction
Front steps on older Derry houses are often cracked, crumbling or pulling away from the porch. We tear them out and pour new steps that sit level and solid.
Garage floor concrete
A garage slab carries cars and stored gear, and an old one that's pitted or settled is hard to keep clean. We replace it on a packed base.
Foundation installation
Additions and new garages are common projects on Derry's bigger lots, and everything above rests on the foundation. We pour footings and walls level and square to the plan.
Concrete pool decks
Backyard pools here need a surround that drains and isn't slick when wet. Our concrete pool decks get a textured finish and slope water away from the pool.
What we know from working in Derry
Building permits here come from the Town of Derry's Code Enforcement/Building department at the Derry Municipal Center, which also handles inspections. Applications go in online only, with a plot plan uploaded, and no work can start until a permit is approved, so when your job needs one, that approval sets our start date. Before we start any job here, I check with the department about it and help you put together what they ask for, like a site plan, and if a permit is needed we either take care of it or walk you through it, depending on whose name they want on the application. We're licensed and insured, and you're welcome to ask about that before you sign anything.
What moves the price on a Derry job is mostly what's underneath, meaning how much old concrete and soft fill has to come out and how much base we bring in and pack, then the size and thickness of the new slab and any stamped or colored finish on top. The schedule turns on the permit when there is one, the pour day we book and curing, the time a slab sits and hardens before you walk or drive on it. I lay all of that out in the written estimate so you can see what you're paying for before we start. We come down from Manchester for these jobs and do the same work over in Windham, and on houses along busier roads like Route 28 or Route 102 we plan where the concrete truck sits so it stays off the road as much as we can.
Get a free on-site concrete estimate in Derry
Call (603) 314-3764 or send the form, and we'll get back to you within one business day. I come out to your Derry property myself, walk the job with you and write up what it includes, and the estimate is free with no pressure to book.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
Concrete driveways and patios for Derry homes
Concrete questions from Derry homeowners
Which concrete jobs need a building permit in Derry, NH?
Derry's list of work that needs a building permit includes new construction, additions, garages, sheds of any size and pools, so a foundation, a garage slab or a new pool usually means a permit. Driveways, patios and walks aren't named on that list, which doesn't settle it either way, so we ask the department about your job before we start. A new house, or an addition with added bedrooms, also needs a separate plan review, a check of the drawings, through the Derry Fire Prevention Bureau.
How do I check if my property in Derry is in a flood zone?
Enter your address on Derry's online map and look at the 100 Year and 500 Year Flood Zone layers, as the building department's flood zone page describes. The department can't write a letter saying whether you're in one, because nobody on staff is a land surveyor. If you need an elevation certificate, the document that lists your building's lowest point and flood zone for insurance and local rules, you'll have to hire a licensed land surveyor.
Which building code will my Derry foundation or garage permit follow?
If your permit request goes in by December 31, 2026, it can follow either the 2021 or the 2024 codes, and from January 1, 2027, every request has to follow the 2024 codes. The state building code applies in every New Hampshire city and sets minimum requirements for all buildings and structures, so a foundation or garage plan going in near the new year should be drawn to the code your request will fall under.
How much does a new concrete driveway cost in Derry, NH?
Your price comes from the size and thickness of the driveway and how much digging and base work your lot needs, and I give you a written figure after I walk the property with you. Breaking out an old sinking slab, hauling it off and bringing in new base adds cost, and so does a stamped or colored finish, while a plain broom finish, a light brushed texture that gives tires and shoes some grip, keeps it down. The base is the last place I'd cut, because it's the one part you can't fix later without tearing the driveway out.
What causes concrete driveways and patios in Derry to crack or sink?
Most of the cracking and sinking we break out here comes from a weak base, a slab poured on dirt that was raked flat instead of dug out and packed, so the concrete settles as the ground does. Water running toward the house or pooling on the slab makes it worse, and so do control joints, the shallow cuts that give a slab a straight place to crack, that were cut late or skipped. It's like prep on a kitchen line, where the work before the pour decides how it holds up, so we dig to the subgrade, the firm ground the slab sits on, pack the base, slope it away from your house and cut the joints on time.
How do I schedule a building inspection in Derry, NH?
Call the building department at 603-432-6148 at least 24 hours ahead, and make sure the permit has been paid, because no inspection happens until it is. On a foundation or garage slab, I'll let you know when the work is ready for the inspector so whoever holds the permit can make that call in time.