Concrete Contractors in Covington, IN

Covington winters are hard on exterior concrete, and concrete contractors here build every outdoor slab with that in mind. Fountain County's climate figures for the town average 15°F on January nights and 85°F on July afternoons, with a record low of -26°F in January 1994 and a record high of 105°F in August 1988. Rain peaks in June at about 4.53 inches. Covington has been the county seat since the county formed in 1826, and both its courthouse square and its residential core are historic districts.

The freeze-thaw cycle

Water gets into small pores and cracks. It freezes, expands and pushes the concrete apart. It thaws, soaks in deeper and freezes again. Over enough winters that cycle causes:

• Scaling. The top layer flakes off in patches.
• Spalling. Chunks break away at edges and joints.
• Widening cracks. A hairline crack becomes a gap.
• Heaving. Water under the slab freezes and lifts it.

How we build against it

• Air-entrained concrete. Tiny air bubbles in the mix give freezing water room to expand.
• A drained base. Compacted crushed stone keeps water from collecting under the slab.
• Slope. Every flat surface pitches away from the house so water leaves.
• Control joints. Cut at the right spacing and depth so cracks form in straight lines.
• Proper curing. Concrete kept moist while it gains strength resists scaling far better.
• Sealing. A penetrating sealer after cure, renewed every few years.

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Older homes, older concrete

Both the residential district and the courthouse square district in Covington are on the National Register. The present courthouse, built in 1936-37, has murals painted on its walls between 1937 and 1940. Homes in the older parts of town often have steps and walks that have been through decades of winters, and that is where Sidewalks & Steps and Concrete Repair & Replacement come in.

With a 2020 median age of 46.0 among its 2,668 residents, and 1,227 homes, Covington has plenty of owners who want steps they can trust on an icy morning. We give those steps a broom finish, even risers and a landing at the door.

Caring for concrete through a winter

• Shovel early so snow does not pack into ice
• Use sand for traction on concrete less than a year old
• On older concrete, use deicers sparingly and avoid ones containing ammonium nitrate or ammonium sulfate
• Keep downspouts from dumping onto walks and drives
• Rinse salt residue off in spring
• Fill any cracks before the next winter

These steps cost little and add years to a slab.

Do you need to replace it all?

Often not. When a driveway has a few bad panels and the rest is sound, we replace only the failed sections. When scaling covers most of the surface, or the slab is broken throughout, replacing the whole thing gives a better result for the money. We show you what we see and explain the options.

Pouring around existing features

Older lots tend to have things in the way: a basement window well, a hose bib, a gas meter, a mature shrub. We form around them, leave expansion joints where concrete meets the house or a fixed object, and keep slabs from trapping water against the foundation.

Where US 136 crosses the Wabash

Covington sits on the Wabash where U.S. 136 crosses the river. Lots on lower ground near the river can stay wet into spring, so a pour there waits for firm subgrade or gets a deeper stone base.

Other services

• Concrete Driveways replaced or widened
• Concrete Patios and Stamped Concrete for back yards
• Garage & Shed Slabs for detached garages and sheds

We check what the City of Covington requires for permits before we pour, especially for any work at the street.