Concrete & Demolition Contractor in River Forest, IL

Concrete and demolition work in River Forest

River Forest has large lots and substantial homes with mature landscaping. That shapes the work we do here more than anything else. The three things we get called for most in River Forest are long driveways and decorative finishes, foundation work for additions, and walks and patios on established grounds.

We are based in Avondale at 3227 N Western Ave, which puts River Forest well inside our normal working radius. Because we run demolition and concrete with the same crew, a tear-out and a new pour in River Forest is one contractor and one schedule rather than two companies negotiating with each other over your driveway.

What River Forest concrete is up against

Chicago is one of the hardest climates in the country on concrete. The freeze-thaw cycle runs from November into March, de-icing salt goes down on every driveway and public walk, and the clay soil underneath holds water instead of draining it. Concrete that survives here is air-entrained, poured on a compacted stone base, pitched so water leaves, jointed on a proper grid, and kept away from salt through its first winter.

The mature trees that make River Forest worth living in are also the reason so much of the walk and driveway here has lifted. Roots do not negotiate, and a new flag over an unaddressed root lifts exactly the same way.

• Slabs poured on bad base. Most cracked driveways in the older neighborhoods were poured straight on disturbed clay with no compacted stone under them.
• Freeze-thaw scaling. Water gets into the surface, freezes, and lifts the top layer off in flakes. It comes from too much water in the mix, finishing while bleed water is still on the slab, or skipping the air entrainment Illinois exterior concrete needs.
• Settled and heaved sections. Where the slab is sound but has dropped, lifting or a single section replacement costs a fraction of a full tear-out.
• Water pitched toward the house. A patio or walk sloping the wrong way puts water against the foundation every time it rains.

Services we offer in River Forest

Every one of these has a page of its own, and a page specific to River Forest.

How a River Forest job runs

1. Diagnose the causeSettlement, base failure, drainage, salt or finishing. The cause determines the repair.
2. Present the optionsLift, section replace, resurface or full replacement, with the trade-offs on each.
3. Address drainage firstIf water is the cause, fixing the slab without fixing the water just resets the clock.
4. Execute the repairSaw cut clean, lift, or tear out and rebuild base as the case requires.
5. Match and finishNew work is finished to match the existing texture as closely as concrete allows.
6. Seal where it helpsSealing extends life on repaired surfaces exposed to salt.

What we look at before quoting in River Forest

Every estimate in River Forest starts with the same five questions, because the answers change the number far more than square footage does.

• How does material get in and debris get out? On the tighter lots around River Forest this is half the labor. A site a truck can back up to and a site where everything moves by buggy are not the same job.
• What is under the existing slab? If the base was never compacted, the new pour needs the bad material dug out, not covered over.
• Where does the water go? Grade, downspouts and where the yard drains. Fixing the slab without fixing the water just resets the clock.
• Does any of it sit in the public way? Aprons and sidewalk sections usually need a permit and have to meet municipal spec.
• What is the slab actually carrying? A work truck, an RV or a dumpster means a thicker slab and more reinforcement than a passenger car.

Taking care of new concrete in River Forest

Once the pour is done, the first twelve months decide how the next twenty go. Keep vehicles off for about a week and foot traffic off until the next day. Do not put de-icing salt on it through its first winter, and get it sealed before the second one. Keep downspouts discharging onto grass or a splash block rather than straight onto the slab, and if a planter or a pile of firewood is going to sit on it, put something underneath so it does not trap moisture in one spot. That is the whole list.

Nearby areas we serve

We work across the near west suburbs and beyond. Close to River Forest we are regularly in Forest Park, Elmwood Park, Oak Park, Berwyn and Riverside. The full list is on the areas we serve page.

River Forest FAQ