Concrete contractor in Salem, IN - driveways, walks and steps on a solid base
Seymour Concrete is a concrete contractor based in Seymour that pours driveways, patios, walks, steps and garage floors for homeowners in Salem, IN, with the owner on site from forming to finishing.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- We reply within 1 business day.
Homes, walks and driveways around Salem
Salem is a small county seat built around its courthouse square, and our jobs here sort out a lot like they do in Scottsburg. On the streets a few blocks out from the square, the houses tend to be older, with front steps, narrow walks and driveways that have been patched more than once. Farther out, the houses are newer and the lots are bigger, so the calls lean toward wider driveways, garage floors and patios out back.
On the older lots, the job usually starts with breaking out the old slab and seeing what's under it, because a lot of that concrete went down on whatever dirt was there. On the newer ones, it's more about getting the slope right so water runs away from the house.
What we check before a Salem job starts
Building permits in the City of Salem come from its Office of Building & Safety. Its list names additions, garages, decks and pools and says it isn't complete, so I check with that office before we put your job on the calendar and tell you plainly who will take care of the paperwork. That way a permit question doesn't hold up a pour that's already scheduled. The city also says it doesn't require a contractor license at this time, so there's no city license to look up. Ask any contractor, us included, to show proof of insurance and put the job in writing. We're fully licensed and insured.
We come down from our base in Seymour, and I like to see your job in person before I price it, because what moves the price is mostly under the surface. That means how much old concrete has to come out, how deep we dig for the subgrade, which is the packed ground the slab sits on, the size and thickness of the slab, whether it needs rebar, the steel that holds it together if it cracks, and the finish you pick. If something has to give in the budget, I'd keep the base and go with a plain broom finish, the light brushed texture that gives shoes and tires grip, because you can dress up a surface later but a bad base only gets fixed by tearing it out. The schedule turns on our calendar, the permit check and curing, which is the wait while new concrete gains strength before you walk on it and then drive on it. The written estimate puts your price and what's included on paper.
Get a written estimate for your Salem concrete job
We reply within one business day, and the visit to your Salem property is free with no obligation. I come out myself, walk the job with you, answer your questions and then send a written estimate that says what's included.
Call (812) 271-8146Services in Salem, IN
Concrete driveway building
Older Salem driveways often sink where the base gave out. We break out the old slab, dig and pack a new base, then pour.
Concrete sidewalk building
Front walks on the older houses in town often heave into trip edges. We tear out the bad sections and pour new ones that sit level.
Concrete steps construction
A lot of older Salem homes have front steps that have cracked or pulled away from the house. We form and pour new ones sized to your door.
Garage floor concrete
Garage slabs on the newer lots farther out crack and pit with age. We pour a new garage floor that drains toward the door.
Concrete patio construction
Newer Salem lots often have room for a patio off the back door. We slope it so rainwater runs away from the house.
Concrete cutting
Some older slabs here only need one bad section out, not the whole thing. We saw-cut clean edges so the rest stays put.
What happens when you call us about a Salem job
Call and set a time
I ask a few questions about the job and set a time to come look at it with you. It helps if you're there so we can walk it together.
Walk the site together
I look at the old slab, where the water runs and what the base will need, then talk through your options and send a written estimate that says what's included. If the city wants a permit, it says most residential permits are issued when you hand in the information, so that step rarely holds up the start.
Form and pour the job
Once you say go, I'm on site with our crew of experienced finishers from forming to finishing. We dig out and pack the base, set forms and steel, pour, finish and clean up as we go.
Walk the finished job
Before we leave, we walk the finished job together so you can ask anything you want. I'll go over when it's ready to walk on and when it's ready to drive on.
Common questions
Do I need a permit for a concrete driveway or patio in Salem, Indiana?
The city's permit list doesn't name driveways or patios, but it says the list isn't complete, so it's worth asking before anyone pours. The list does name garages, decks, pools and additions, so a slab that's part of one of those projects is one to ask about first. We settle that question before your job goes on the calendar.
Does a Salem, IN address mean the city's building rules apply to my property?
Not always, because some properties with a Salem address sit in another planning jurisdiction, such as Washington County. When you contact the city's office, the first thing they ask is where the project is, and that answer tells you whether the city's rules cover it.
How much does a building permit cost in Salem, Indiana?
The city lists permit fees at $2 for every 100 square feet of floor or surface area, plus $15 for each inspection, because it prices permits by project size and the number of inspections it expects. Those are the city's listed figures, so check with the office for current fees before you count on them.
How do I schedule permit inspections for concrete work in Salem?
Each phase on the inspection sheet the city gives you with the permit needs a request at least 24 hours ahead. The owner, the contractor or a permitting company can get the permit, but the property owner stays responsible for making sure every inspection is requested. A missed one can mean pulling out work and redoing it, a stop-work order, a $15 reinspection fee, or fines of $15 to $500 for each day a violation goes on, so when your job has a permit, we plan the pour around those inspections.
What building code applies to concrete work in Salem, Indiana?
The city enforces the Indiana building codes, including the state's residential code, which the state bases on the International Residential Code, along with Salem's own land usage code. The residential code is in effect statewide, so it's the same one we build to in Seymour and the other cities we work in.
What causes a new concrete driveway to crack, and how do you keep it from happening?
Most bad cracks come from a base that was raked level instead of dug out and packed, and from control joints that were cut late or skipped. Control joints are grooves we cut on purpose, so when the concrete shrinks and cracks, as nearly all concrete does, the crack runs where we chose. We also slope the slab away from the house and pour early in the day, because midday heat can leave a weak, dusty top.
Other service areas
Plan your Salem concrete job with us
Call (812) 271-8146 or send the form, and if you have a few photos of the old slab, I can ask better questions before I come out.