Concrete Contractors in Bowers Hill, VA

Bowers Hill is a Chesapeake borough at the northeastern edge of the Great Dismal Swamp, just south of Western Branch. It is known for the big interchange where three interstates and three U.S. highways meet. Away from the highway, it is a place of homes on low, sandy ground, and those homeowners call concrete contractors for driveways, patios, walkways, slabs and repairs.

Rural for a long time

Bowers Hill was part of Norfolk County and became a crossroads as highways and railroads were built through the area in the 20th century. It was still rural when the 1963 consolidation made it a borough of the new city of Chesapeake. Western Branch borders it to the north. Today, older rural properties sit next to newer homes, and that mix drives the type of work we see.

Sandy ground: good and bad

Wikipedia describes the terrain as low-lying, sandy coastal plain. Sand has real advantages under concrete. It drains, so water does not sit under the slab for long. But loose sand also shifts and settles if it is not compacted. On Bowers Hill jobs, we:

• wet the sand and compact it in thin layers with a plate compactor,
• add a crushed stone base on top for a firm, even surface,
• form edges carefully, since sand can wash out from under unsupported edges,
• and slope the slab so runoff does not wash out the sand next to it.

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Projects for older rural lots

On larger properties, we pour concrete driveways that run from the road to the house, concrete slabs for workshops, barns and equipment, and parking pads for trailers and campers. Heavier loads call for thicker concrete, rebar and thickened edges.

Projects for newer homes

In newer neighborhoods, owners want concrete patios and stamped concrete for the backyard, sidewalks and walkways to the side gate, and driveway extensions. We tie new work into existing slabs with clean joints and matching finishes.

Repair and replacement

Older slabs on sandy ground often settle the same way: water from a downspout or a heavy storm washes sand out from under one edge, the edge loses support, and a crack opens a foot or two in from the side. Our concrete repair service covers crack sealing, patching and section replacement. If the base has washed out, we rebuild it before pouring new concrete.

Close to the swamp

Lots closer to the Great Dismal Swamp can have wetter spots and a higher water table than those near Western Branch. We check for standing water and soft ground during the estimate, and on a wet lot we add stone under the slab, raise it a little above the yard and give runoff a clear path away. Chesapeake averages about 48 inches of rain a year, so drainage planning is never optional.

Where the highways meet

The interchange that gives Bowers Hill its reputation brings together three interstates and three U.S. highways, and Wikipedia suggests the area may grow into more of a transportation hub. For homeowners nearby, the practical points are simple. Heavy traffic on the main roads makes the turn into a driveway matter, so we build the apron thick and on a solid base where trucks and trailers swing in. And on a lot that backs toward the swamp, we check for a higher water table before choosing how much stone goes under the slab. If you have a survey or plat of your lot, have it handy; it shows property lines and easements when a driveway runs close to a neighbor or the road.

Contact us

We visit, check the soil, the grade and truck access, and confirm what Chesapeake requires for your work. Call (757) 720-2469 to schedule.