Concrete Contractors in Albany, NY

Albany is really two cities for concrete contractors. Wikipedia describes its housing as mostly row houses in the older sections near the river, two-family homes that date mainly from the late 19th century, and one-family houses built after World War II toward the west end. The capital had 99,224 residents and 48,031 housing units at the 2020 census, and the concrete each kind of home needs is very different.

Near the river: stoops, areaways and tight lots

In the older neighborhoods, such as Arbor Hill, Center Square and the South End, a typical project is small in square footage and big on detail. Row houses often have a front stoop right on the sidewalk, a narrow side or back walk, and a tiny rear yard. Work there means:

• Hand demolition and wheelbarrow access where a machine cannot fit
• Rebuilding stoops to the height of an existing door and sill
• Keeping water away from old foundations that share walls with the neighbors
• Pouring small patios that turn a back yard into usable space

We plan these jobs carefully around neighbors, parking and access, since the street is usually the only staging area.

Toward the west end: driveways and patios

West of the old core, postwar single-family homes bring more typical suburban work: Concrete Driveways due for replacement, back Concrete Patios, front walks and Garage & Shed Slabs for detached garages.

Get a Free Estimate

Sandy ground and cold winters

Albany's interior soils are described as sandy, a remnant of ancient Lake Albany. The Albany Pine Bush, once about 25,000 acres, is now around 6,000. Sand drains well, which helps, but it can wash out from under a slab where downspouts or runoff concentrate. We compact the base thoroughly and keep roof water away from the edges of new concrete.

The weather is the other half of the story. Albany averages about 59 inches of snow a season, January highs average 32.8 degrees and lows 15.9, and nights at or below zero happen about nine times a year. That many freeze-thaw cycles, plus salt on stoops and walks, is why every exterior pour we do uses air-entrained concrete and why we recommend sealing new work.

Garage floors behind city houses

Many Albany homes toward the west end have a detached garage at the back of the lot, reached by a long narrow driveway or a shared alley. Old garage floors often crack into pieces and sink toward the middle, collecting water and salt every winter. Replacing one means removing the old slab, often by hand where a machine cannot reach, rebuilding the base and pouring a new floor pitched toward the door. If the driveway leading in is also failing, doing both together lets the two surfaces meet flush with no lip at the door.

We can usually finish a single-car garage floor in a short visit, then keep vehicles off it until the concrete has gained enough strength. We tell you that date before we leave.

Shared walls, shared walks

A row house stoop often butts against the neighbor's stoop, and a back walk may run along a shared fence or a common alley. Before we break anything out, we mark exactly where your concrete ends, protect the neighbor's side, and plan the new slab so it sheds water away from both foundations. Work on the public sidewalk or in a historic district can have city requirements. We check with the City of Albany on what applies before we quote that part of a job.