Concrete Contractors in Spencer, IN

Spencer's winters are hard on outdoor slabs, and concrete contractors here should plan around them first. Wikipedia's climate table lists 49.69 inches of yearly precipitation, 15.8 inches of snow and a record low of -33°F. Water plus deep cold is exactly what breaks down outdoor concrete. Spencer, the Owen County seat, was platted in 1820, and in 2020 it had 2,454 people and 1,199 housing units, 7.3% of them vacant.

What freeze-thaw does

Concrete is porous. Rain and snowmelt soak in, freeze, expand and push the surface apart a little each time. Over many cycles, the top layer flakes off. Salt makes it worse by pulling in more water. To protect a Spencer slab:

• We use air-entrained concrete, which gives freezing water room to expand
• We avoid adding water on site to make the mix easier to place
• We finish without overworking the surface, which weakens the top layer
• We cure the concrete so it gains full strength
• We recommend a penetrating sealer after curing, and sand instead of rock salt in the first winter

Downtown walks and steps

Several downtown landmarks are on the National Register, among them the Owen County Courthouse, the Spencer Public Library and the Spencer Town Hall and Fire Station. Houses on the older blocks around the square often have walks, stoops and steps that have settled or crumbled. We replace them with properly based, reinforced concrete and keep step risers even.

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Near McCormick's Creek

McCormick's Creek State Park, about 14 miles west of Bloomington with Spencer as its nearest city, was dedicated in 1916 as Indiana's oldest state park. Wikipedia lists sinkhole formations among its features. That is a reminder that the limestone ground in this part of Owen County can shift. We compact bases well, reinforce slabs and steer water away from new concrete.

Households living alone

The 2020 census counted 1,112 households in Spencer; in 43.4% of them, one person lived alone, and a quarter of residents (25.6%) were 65 or older. For many owners, safe, easy access to the door matters more than a big patio. Projects that fit that need:

• A level walk from the driveway to the door
• Steps rebuilt with even risers, or replaced by a gentle ramp where space allows
• A parking pad close to the house
• Fixing trip hazards where walk panels have lifted

A note on salt and deicers

In a town with winters this cold, deicers are hard to avoid. Rock salt is hardest on young concrete, and some other deicers attack the surface too. In the first winter, sand is the safer choice. After that, shovel first, use deicer sparingly and rinse heavy salt residue off in spring. Around the square, where the town hosts events such as Christmas at the Square and the Apple Butter Festival, walks see heavy foot traffic in cold months, which is one more reason to plan grip and drainage into any downtown pour.

When to pour in Owen County

Spring and fall are comfortable seasons for concrete, and summer works with an early start and good curing. We can pour in cool weather with insulated blankets and adjusted mixes, but we do not pour on frozen ground, because the base can settle once it thaws. If your project is not urgent, we may suggest a window that gives the concrete a few weeks to gain strength before the first hard freeze. For a driveway, that early strength matters, since the first winter's salt and plowing are hard on a young surface.

The rest of our services

We also pour new driveways and replace old ones, build patios with a broom or stamped finish, and pour garage and shed slabs with reinforcement and thickened edges. Call (812) 286-8782 for a written estimate.