Concrete contractor in Chatham, IL - driveways and patios that drain and stay put
Allied Springfield Concrete Construction builds driveways, patios, sidewalks, steps, garage floors and foundations for homeowners in Chatham, IL, with the base dug out and packed, the water sent away from your house and the concrete properly cured.
What we find on concrete jobs in Chatham
Chatham is a growing community about ten miles south of Springfield, built on what was once open prairie between Lick Creek and Panther Creek. On our jobs here we see two kinds of houses. In the newer subdivisions, many homes still have the driveway and front walk the builder poured. Closer to the older part of Chatham, the slabs have been through many winters and have had time to sink, crack and lift at the edges.
That old prairie ground is flat, so water won't run off a slab by itself. Whether a driveway or patio here stays dry and level depends on the slope we build into it and the base we put under it.
Permits, contractor registration and what sets the price in Chatham
The Village of Chatham issues its own building permits. Its Building Code Administrator reviews plans for houses and other buildings, and the village also issues fence and solar permits. That list doesn't name driveways or patios on their own, so before anything goes on the schedule I check with the village office what it asks for at your address, and we take care of the paperwork for our work when a permit applies. A permit means plan review before the pour, which is one reason I settle it before we choose a date. If the village needs something from you as the owner, we'll tell you early so it doesn't hold up the job. The village also asks building contractors who work there to register each year with proof of liability and workers' compensation insurance. Registrations run out at the end of December, so it's fair to ask any contractor whether theirs is current. We're licensed and fully insured, and I'm glad to show you that paperwork.
The price here depends mostly on what's under the slab and what has to come out first. That means how much old concrete we break out and haul away, how deep we dig, how much stone we pack back in, how thick the slab is and the finish you choose. Rebar, the steel set inside the slab to hold any crack tight, adds to it where the load calls for it, and so does a backyard the ready-mix truck can't reach. The schedule depends on the weather, on any permit review, and on curing, the days the concrete needs to gain strength before you use it. Your written estimate spells out each of these for your job. Chatham is a short drive from where we're based in Springfield, and we do the same work in Decatur and Taylorville.
What Chatham's houses and ground do to concrete
When a newer house goes up, the dirt next to the foundation is dug out and pushed back in, and it keeps settling for years. That's why so many walks and patios here tilt toward the house or drop away at the step. We dig down to firm ground, then pack the subgrade, the soil the slab rests on, and the stone base in layers before any concrete arrives. If the budget is tight, I'd rather you keep a plain broom finish, the light brushed texture that gives your feet some grip, and spend the money on that base, because a fancy surface over loose dirt cracks just the same. For a concrete patio off the back door, it also means we slope the slab away from the house so rain doesn't sit against your foundation.
Winters here freeze and thaw over and over, and any water trapped under or in a slab pushes on it each time it freezes. We cut control joints, shallow grooves that tell the concrete where to crack as it shrinks, on the day of the pour. In summer we start early to stay ahead of the afternoon heat, and we keep the surface from drying too fast while it cures, so the top stays hard instead of turning dusty and flaking.
Get a free on-site estimate for your Chatham concrete job
We reply to every call and message within one business day to set up a visit, and I come out to your Chatham property myself to look at the job. The estimate is free and in writing, and you're under no obligation to go ahead.
(217) 210-0810What happens after you call us about work in Chatham
Call or send a request
Call us at (217) 210-0810 or send the form with your Chatham address and a few words about the job. Photos of the old slab, the cracks or the places water pools help me come prepared.
I visit and look closely
I set a time to come out, look over the site and listen to what you have in mind. I'll check where the water runs, what the old concrete has done and whether the truck can reach the spot.
Review your written estimate
You get a written estimate that spells out the dig-out, the base, the thickness, the finish and the cleanup. That way you know exactly what you're paying for before we start.
Settle permits before scheduling
We sort out any permit paperwork before the job goes on the schedule. When a building permit applies on a lot under an acre, the village first wants an erosion control plan, and its code enforcement officer approves it or lists the fixes within a week, so the permit comes after that.
Pour, finish and walk through
We dig out and pack the base, set the forms and pour, and I'm on site with our crew while the concrete goes in. Before we leave, we walk the finished job with you and go over how to care for it in its first months.
Driveways, patios and steps
Questions about concrete work in Chatham
When does the last spring freeze usually come near Chatham, IL?
Long-term records for nearby Springfield put the last spring freeze, a low of 32 degrees or colder, around April 14, and the first fall freeze around October 20. Light frost runs a little wider, from about April 25 in spring to October 9 in fall. We plan most pours between those dates and cover fresh concrete with blankets when a cold night comes near either end of the season.
How much does a new concrete driveway cost in Chatham, IL?
The cost of a driveway here depends on its size and how much work the ground under it needs, so I give you a price after seeing it rather than guessing over the phone. Tearing out an old driveway, digging deeper where the soil is soft, a thicker slab for heavier vehicles and a stamped or colored finish all raise it, while a broom finish on a well-packed base keeps it down. The estimate is free and in writing, and it shows what each part of the job covers.
What causes concrete driveways and patios to crack and sink in Chatham?
Most of the cracking and sinking we see here starts underneath, with a base that was raked level instead of dug out and packed, or water that drains toward the slab and softens the ground below it. Freezing winters work that water in and out, and joints that were cut late or skipped let cracks run wherever they like. A new slab can still crack at a joint, which is what the joint is there for, but a packed base and a slope that sends water away keep it from settling and breaking up.
What building codes does Chatham, IL use for concrete work?
The village code adopts the International Residential Code, 2018 Edition, for one- and two-family houses and the International Building Code, 2018 Edition, for other buildings, with some local changes. Editions do get updated, so the village office is the place to confirm what's current before a permit job. For slabs and footings that are part of a building, we build to the code the village is enforcing at the time.
Does the Village of Chatham inspect concrete footings and foundations?
Yes, the village inspects work done under its building codes, and the stages include the site or stakeout, the footing and a final inspection. For a garage, an addition or a slab foundation, that means an inspector looks at the footing stage, so we plan the pour around that visit.
How do I find the covenants for my Chatham subdivision before adding a driveway or patio?
Start with the village's community page, where the village says it will try to post covenants for Chatham subdivisions and for those with annexation agreements. Some copies are hard to read because they were printed from old county microfiche, so if yours is unclear, ask the village office. Covenants can set rules for how a lot looks, so I'd read yours before we settle on a size or finish.
Call about your Chatham concrete job
Call (217) 210-0810 or send the form during the cold months, and we can have your estimate and any permit paperwork settled before the last spring freeze, so the job is ready for the schedule when pouring season opens.