Concrete Contractors in Western Branch, VA

Western Branch is Chesapeake's northernmost borough, and it borders Suffolk on the west and northwest, so it is one of the shortest drives we make. Homeowners here hire concrete contractors mostly for replacement and upgrades: tired driveways, small patios, old walks. The 2010 census counted 32,096 people in Western Branch, and Wikipedia describes the area as almost entirely residential.

Built for workers and military families

In the 1970s and early 1980s, many people moved to Western Branch because they worked at the General Electric plant in Suffolk or were military families looking for homes away from busy Norfolk and Virginia Beach. Houses from that era are now 40 to 50 years old. Their driveways and walks have seen decades of use, root growth and settling.

Typical problems on slabs this age:

• driveways with cracks running across them and a sunken section near the garage,
• walks that have lifted at a joint and become a trip hazard,
• small rear patios that were poured without much base and have tilted toward the house.

Replacement done right

When we replace an older driveway here, we remove the old concrete completely, inspect the soil and rebuild the base with compacted crushed stone. Then we pour a new slab at least four inches thick with reinforcement, and saw-cut control joints at the right spacing. Wikipedia describes the terrain as low-lying, sandy coastal plain. Sandy soil drains well, but it must be compacted in layers or it will shift under the slab.

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Water on the east side

The western branch of the Elizabeth River, which gives the borough its name, forms its eastern boundary. Homes near the river and its creeks can have damp yards and a high water table. For patios and walks there, we raise the slab slightly, pitch it to drain and seal it.

Patios and stamped concrete

Lots in established neighborhoods often have mature trees and good shade, which makes a backyard patio an easy upgrade. Stamped concrete gives you the look of stone or brick. A plain broom-finished concrete patio costs less and is easy to maintain. Either way, we keep the slab back from large tree trunks where we can, to give roots room.

Other work in Western Branch

We pour sidewalks and walkways, including front walks that meet the public sidewalk and side paths around the house. We pour concrete slabs for sheds and detached garages. And we offer concrete repair: crack sealing, patching and section replacement when only part of a slab has failed.

Commuter traffic and scheduling

I-664 runs through the middle of Western Branch, and most residents commute to Norfolk, Virginia Beach or the Peninsula. We schedule pours so the work is done and the driveway is taped off before you get home, and we tell you exactly when it is safe to drive on.

Fixing trip hazards on front walks

A front walk that has lifted at one joint is a familiar problem in older Western Branch neighborhoods. If the walk is otherwise sound, we can sometimes grind the raised edge down so it is flush. If a tree root has pushed it up, we remove the lifted section, trim or redirect the root where it is safe for the tree, rebuild the base and pour a new section that lines up with the rest of the walk.

Free estimates

We visit, measure and check drainage, and we confirm whether Chesapeake requires a permit for your project. Call (757) 720-2469 to book.