Concrete Contractors in Oak Grove, ND

Oak Grove is a residential historic district near downtown Fargo, centered on North and South Terrace Avenues east of Elm Street. Its homes date from 1895 to 1955, mostly working-class gable-front cottages and bungalows, and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 13, 2011. When owners here look for concrete contractors in Oak Grove, they need someone who respects the neighborhood's scale and understands what the river has done to it.

The river leaves a mark

According to the district's Wikipedia entry, most of Oak Grove was flooded with several feet of Red River water in spring 1997 and again in spring 2009. The 2009 crest at Fargo reached 40.84 feet, the city's record. Flood water soaks the soil under walks and slabs, washes out fine material and leaves voids. Years later, that can show up as:

• Sidewalk panels that have dropped or tipped
• Steps that have pulled away from the porch
• Garage floors that have sunk in the middle
• Driveway sections that hold water

Working on homes this old

Concrete around a house this old may be thin and may sit on little or no base. Once it fails, replacement is usually the right call. Our approach on historic lots: 1. Keep the original layout and scale where you want it. 2. Remove the old concrete and any soft or washed-out fill. 3. Build a compacted granular base. 4. Pour air-entrained concrete with a broom or simple finish that fits the house. 5. Slope everything away from the foundation.

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Steps and walks first

The most common jobs in a neighborhood like this are front steps and walks. Older steps were often built without footings that reach below the frost line, so they heave and settle every year. New steps get proper footings, reinforcement and even risers. Walks get a fresh base and joints placed so the panels match the look of the block.

Detached garages

Many cottages and bungalows from this era have small detached garages reached by a narrow driveway or alley. We replace garage slabs on a new base, slope them toward the door, and can pour a new apron and driveway to match.

City sidewalks

The public sidewalk in front of your house is your responsibility under the City of Fargo's rules, and the work must be done by a contractor licensed with the city as a Sidewalk Contractor. Fargo also allows unbroken panels to be lifted by sand or mud jacking, paid directly by the owner.

Mature trees and old walks

Older neighborhoods often have big boulevard and yard trees, and big trees and old sidewalks do not always get along. Roots lift panels, and in dry summers the clay around large trees shrinks and lets slabs drop. When we replace walks near mature trees, we work carefully around major roots, keep the base well compacted, and talk with you about rerouting a path when a tree has repeatedly lifted the same panels. The goal is a flat, safe walk that keeps the neighborhood's character and does not harm the trees that give it.

Plan around spring

In a river neighborhood, spring melt can leave soil wet for weeks. We schedule Oak Grove pours after the ground has dried enough to compact the base properly.

Historic district questions

Oak Grove is a National Register district. If you are unsure whether your project needs any review, we can help you ask the city before work begins.