Concrete Contractor in Windham, NH - Driveways and Patios Built on a Solid Base
R&S Manchester Concrete Construction is a Manchester-based concrete contractor working in Windham, NH. We build driveways, patios, walks, steps and slabs for homeowners and landlords here, and our own crew does the work with me on site.
Windham: wooded lots and long driveways
Windham is mostly homes on wooded lots, many of them set well back from the road, with the historic Town Center near the middle and the rail trail running north through the woods toward Derry. Most of our calls here are for newer colonials and capes, plus some older houses closer to the center. Over at the old Fessenden Mill site you can still see the outline of the mill's foundation long after the building came down, which is a good reminder that what goes into the ground outlasts what sits on top of it.
That setback is what shapes the job. Long driveways, sloped backyards and shade from the trees mean more ground to prep, more water to steer away from the house and soil that stays wet longer in spring, so we plan the base and the drainage before anything else.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
Concrete work we do in Windham
Concrete driveway building
Long Windham driveways cross changing ground, so we dig out soft spots and pack the base before the pour. That keeps the low end from sinking.
Concrete patio construction
Wooded backyards here often tip toward the house, so we set the slope before forming the patio. Rain should run to the lawn, not your foundation.
Concrete steps construction
Front steps take the worst of the frost, so we build concrete steps on a dug-out, packed base. That helps keep them from heaving away from the house.
Concrete retaining walls
Sloped lots often need a bank held back for a flat yard. We drain the back of each retaining wall, because trapped water is what pushes walls over.
Concrete pool decks
Pools here sit among trees and wet leaves, so a deck needs grip underfoot and a pitch away from the water. We set both before the pour.
Garage floor concrete
Winter cars drip road salt and meltwater on garage floors here, and it eats at a weak surface. We pitch the floor toward the door so it drains.
What we know from working in Windham
Permits for work here come from the building inspector at the Town of Windham, and Windham's permit lists name things like buildings, pools, decks and additions without naming driveways, patios or walks, the flat jobs we call flatwork. That list doesn't settle whether your job needs a permit, so before we start I check with the building office 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, and the schedule makes room for it and for the inspector's visits. After that, the calendar turns on dry, mild weather for the pour and on the curing wait, the stretch the concrete needs to gain strength before you walk or park on it. Whoever you hire, ask if they're licensed and insured. We are.
Most Windham houses we work on sit back on wooded lots, and the dig-out often turns up roots, rock and ledge, which is bedrock close to the surface. That ground work moves the price more than anything, followed by the slab's size and thickness, whether there's an old slab to tear out and the finish you pick. If the budget's tight, I'll tell you to keep a plain broom finish, the brushed texture that gives tires and boots grip, and put the money into the base, because nobody sees the base on day one, the same way nobody sees the prep in a kitchen, but it decides how the whole thing holds up. When I come out, I'll write up what your job includes so you know what you're paying for, the same way I do next door in Londonderry and up in Concord.
Get a free on-site estimate for your Windham project
Send the form or call (603) 314-3764, and we'll get back to you within one business day to set a time. I'll come out to your Windham property myself, walk it with you and write up what the job includes. There's no pressure to book.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
Concrete ideas for Windham homes
Concrete questions from Windham homeowners
How much does a new concrete driveway cost in Windham, NH?
A Windham driveway's price comes mostly from its size and the digging and base work the ground under it needs, the things I covered above, so I write up your figure after I've walked the property with you. Long driveways here mean more concrete and more ground to prep, and pulling out an old slab adds to it. If your job does need a permit, Windham's residential permit form lists a $25.00 application fee plus $0.12 per square foot of unheated area.
What causes concrete driveways to crack and sink in Windham?
Most cracked or sinking driveways started with a base that was raked level instead of dug out and packed, so the slab settled as the dirt under it moved. Water running toward or under the slab, a pour in the midday heat that leaves a weak, dusty top, and control joints cut late or skipped all make it worse, and control joints are the grooves we cut on purpose so the concrete cracks there in a straight line instead of wherever it wants. Like prep on a kitchen line, that's where we spend our time, so your new slab starts with what the old one was missing.
How long do I have to start work after getting a building permit in Windham, NH?
A Windham permit becomes invalid unless the work it covers starts within 180 days of being issued. That matters if you're planning a spring pour over the winter, so we time the application to the season instead of filing early and letting it run out.
Which building code applies to a Windham permit filed in late 2026?
For the rest of 2026, a permit request can be filed under either the 2021 or the 2024 state building code, and from January 1, 2027, every request has to follow the updated code. The newer code brings in the 2024 International Residential Code with New Hampshire's own changes, and the state code sets the minimum for buildings and structures everywhere in New Hampshire. When we check with the building office about your job, I'll make sure what we submit lines up with the code it's filed under.
How do I book a building inspection in Windham, NH?
You book a Windham inspection through the online permit portal or by calling the Community Development Department at 603-432-3806, with at least 24 hours' notice. Inspections happen daily except in severe weather, generally between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and for footings poured in sono tubes, the round cardboard forms for post holes, or in piers, the inspector checks that they're four feet deep before any concrete goes in. We plan the pour around that visit so the truck isn't booked before the holes are signed off.
Do flood rules affect a concrete project in Windham?
They can if your property sits in a high-risk area on the flood maps, because Windham is part of the National Flood Insurance Program and proposed development in those areas has to meet its floodplain requirements. FEMA has released updated flood maps for Windham that are still preliminary and will soon replace the current ones, so it's worth checking both on Windham's flood map page. If your lot is near a brook or wetland, I'll bring it up when I walk the property.