Concrete Contractor in Winchester, MA - Driveways and Patios Built on a Solid Base
Formcraft Medford Concrete Construction is a concrete contractor based in Medford that builds driveways, patios, steps, walkways, garage floors and foundations for homes in Winchester, MA, with a small crew I lead from forming through finishing.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
Winchester homes and the concrete around them
Winchester is mostly houses, and most of our calls here are about the concrete around one: a driveway that's sunk at the garage end, front steps pulling away from the porch, a walk lifted by roots or a patio that holds water after it rains. Many of the homes on the streets around Winchester Center and out toward Wedge Pond are older, and so is a lot of their concrete, often patched more than once.
We come over from Medford, and it's the same kind of work we do next door in Stoneham and Woburn. The difference here is the age of what we're replacing. Old slabs usually come out in chunks with little or no stone under them, so we dig out to firm subgrade, the soil the slab rests on, and pack a new base before anything gets poured. On most Winchester jobs, that groundwork is a bigger part of the job than the finish.
Concrete work we do on Winchester properties
Concrete driveway building
When an old driveway has sunk at the garage or cracked where cars turn, we tear it out, rebuild the base and pour a new slab.
Concrete patio construction
A backyard patio that sits level and drains away from the house, poured on a dug-out, packed base so it doesn't tilt toward the foundation later.
Stamped concrete services
Stamped concrete gives a patio or walk the look of stone or brick in one slab, so there are no loose pavers to settle and shift.
Concrete sidewalk building
A front walk lifted by roots or broken into trip edges gets torn out and repoured with a broom finish, a brushed texture for grip.
Garage floor concrete
When a garage floor is cracked, chipped or holding water, we break it out and pour a new one that sheds water toward the door.
Decorative concrete
Colored concrete or a scored border can make a new entry or patio fit an older house, with less upkeep than loose stone or brick.
Concrete retaining walls
Where a yard steps down toward the street or a neighbor, a poured wall holds the slope back so a driveway or patio can sit flat behind it.
Concrete floor installation
In older basements and new additions, we pour interior floors flat and smooth enough for whatever goes on top, from tile to a workbench.
Concrete pool decks
Around a pool we pour a deck textured for wet feet and pitched so splash water runs to the lawn, not back into the pool.
Concrete steps construction
Front steps that have pulled away from the house or crumbled at the edges get rebuilt with even step heights and rebar, steel bars that hold it together.
Slab foundation building
For a garage, shed or addition, we pour the slab it sits on, starting with a packed base and the layout set to what the plans call for.
Foundation installation
When an addition or a new house goes up, we form and pour the foundation walls, working from the approved plans and the inspection schedule.
Concrete parking lot building
For a small business or apartment lot near Winchester Center, concrete stands up to daily traffic, and we plan drainage and joints before the trucks arrive.
Concrete footings
Decks, porches and small additions need footings, the concrete pads under the posts, set deep enough and sized to carry the load the plans call for.
Foundation raising
When an older house has settled and doors stick or floors slope, we look at what's under it and plan how to raise and support it.
Concrete cutting
In older houses we saw openings in existing slabs and walls for a new door, drain line or basement window, or cut out a broken section for repair.
Get a written concrete estimate for your Winchester job
Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day to set up a visit. I come out, look at the job and send a written estimate, free and with no obligation.
(781) 628-7780- estimates@medfordconcreteconstruction.com
- Based in
- Medford, MA 02155
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 8 AM–10 PM, Sat–Sun: 6 AM–9 PM
Working in Winchester: permits, licenses and what moves the price
In Winchester, the Building Department reviews plans, issues permits and inspects the work, and whether a concrete job needs a permit is the building official's call, not mine. So I check with the office before a job goes on the schedule, and when a permit is needed we handle the online application and tell you up front that we're the ones pulling it. That review has to clear before we set a pour date, so on permitted work it's usually what sets the calendar. Before you hire anyone here, ask for their state Home Improvement Contractor registration and, on projects that call for one, their construction supervisor license, and the FAQ below says when each one applies.
Once the permit side is settled, the price comes down to the job itself. It moves with the size of the slab, how much old concrete has to come out, how deep we dig for a solid base, how close the truck can get and the finish you pick, and on some tight Winchester lots we have to pump or wheel the concrete in. The schedule turns on the permit review, an open pour date and dry weather, the same as on our jobs in Arlington, and your written estimate spells out the figure and what it includes and leaves out.
Why Winchester driveways and slabs give out
Most of the concrete we replace here failed from underneath. A lot of older driveways and walks were poured on dirt that was raked level instead of dug out and packed, so the slab settled with the ground, cracked in places nobody chose and, in some yards, now tips water back toward the foundation. We dig out to firm ground, pack a stone base, slope the new slab away from the house and cut control joints, shallow grooves that give the concrete a planned place to crack instead of across the middle.
When a new house goes up, Winchester requires a certified plot plan showing the lot lines, water and sewer, paved areas, green space, lot coverage and where the driveway goes, so the layout meets the zoning setbacks. Additions and pools may need one too, so on those jobs we set the driveway, patio or pool deck to that plan, not to the old footprint.
What to expect when you call us about concrete in Winchester
Here's how a job runs from your first call to the cleanup, and who you'll be dealing with at each step.
Call or send the form
Tell us about the job by phone at (781) 628-7780 or through the form, and we'll call back to set a time for me to come out. You don't need measurements or a plan yet.
Walk the site with me
I look at the old concrete, the ground under it and where the water runs, and ask what you're after, so it helps if you're home. You get a written estimate that spells out what's included and what isn't, so you know what you're paying for before you decide.
Permit, materials and pour date
If you go ahead, I line up the paperwork, the materials and the pour date and tell you the order things happen in. When the job needs a permit, the pour date waits until the permit review clears.
Pour, finish and clean up
My crew forms, pours and finishes the concrete, and I keep you posted until the job is done and the site is cleaned up. The new slab then needs time to cure, the wait while it hardens, and I'll tell you when it's ready to walk on and drive on.
Questions about concrete work in Winchester
How do I apply for a building permit in Winchester, MA?
Permit applications in Winchester are filed online through the Online Building Permits page on Winchester's website, after the applicant registers. The contractor uploads copies of their construction supervisor license, HIC registration, insurance, the homeowner contract and any drawings or specs for the job. When your job needs a permit, we do this part for you.
How are building permit fees figured in Winchester?
Winchester's procedures page sets the permit fee at $16.00 for every $1,000 of the job's estimated cost, counting material, labor, site work and any subcontractor work. Residential jobs have a $50.00 minimum, and building projects also need a Certificate of Occupancy, which is another $50.00. Fees can change, so we confirm the figure with the office when we file.
Does my concrete contractor need HIC registration in Massachusetts?
Yes, if the work is on an existing, owner-occupied home of one to four units, because the state requires anyone who bids on or does that work to register as a Home Improvement Contractor. Certain construction projects also need oversight from a licensed construction supervisor. Ask any contractor for both before you sign.
When can I reach a building inspector in Winchester?
Winchester's building, plumbing and gas, and electrical inspectors are in the office only from 8:00 to 9:00 in the morning. If you want to talk to one in person, plan on that hour, and on jobs we're permitting we keep in touch with the office for you.
What causes a concrete driveway to crack, and will a new one crack too?
Most bad cracking comes from a weak base, water getting under the slab, or joints that were cut late or never cut. Concrete does crack a little as it shrinks, so we cut control joints to decide where those lines go and pack the base so the slab doesn't settle. We also avoid pouring in the heat of midday, which can leave a weak, dusty top.
Where should I spend my budget on a new concrete driveway in Winchester?
Spend it on the base first, because a dug-out, packed base is what keeps a slab from sinking and cracking, and you can't fix it later without tearing the slab out. It's hidden the day we pour, so it's the first thing people want to cut, but I'd rather trim the finish than the base. A plain broom finish on a good base will outlast stamped concrete on a bad one.
Medford, MA
Get a concrete estimate in Winchester
Call (781) 628-7780 or send the form early, since a permit review and an open pour date both have to line up before we can start.