Concrete Contractors in Oxbow, ND

Oxbow is a small city about 15 miles south of Fargo, incorporated on October 25, 1988, and described on Wikipedia as an upscale bedroom community. Its 2020 census population was 381. The homes here sit around the Oxbow Country Club, and the concrete contractors Oxbow homeowners hire are usually asked for outdoor living work: stamped patios, walkways, driveways and the occasional repair.

The levee changed the neighborhood

Golf Course Architecture reported in 2019 that the first phase of the regional flood project built a levee around the Oxbow community, after 42 nearby homes were found to be at risk from Red River flooding. The levee cut through the golf course, so the clubhouse and more than half the holes were relocated, and the levee rises 14 to 20 feet above the landscape where the new holes play against it.

For homeowners, that means the town has seen a lot of construction, and many yards now relate to the levee and new grading. Before any slab goes in, we look at how your lot drains today, not how it drained ten years ago.

Patios that match the setting

Many Oxbow homes back onto the golf course, and a patio there is often meant to be more than a slab by the door. Popular choices include:

• Stamped concrete patterned like slate, stone or wood plank
• Colored concrete with a contrasting border
• Multi-level patios with concrete steps between them
• Walkways connecting the patio to the driveway or a side gate

Stamped and colored concrete need a quality sealer, and resealing every few years, to hold their color through North Dakota winters.

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Driveways for bigger homes

Larger homes often have wider driveways and three-car garages. A wide slab needs a joint plan that keeps panels roughly square, so it does not crack randomly. We also thicken the apron where vehicles turn in and plan the slope so meltwater runs to the street, not into the garage.

Building on valley clay

Oxbow sits at 915 feet on flat Red River Valley ground. The clay here swells when wet and shrinks when dry. A compacted granular base, good grading and properly placed joints are what keep a patio or driveway level over time. We do not skip the base, even on a small walkway.

Repairs and upgrades

Some Oxbow concrete has been in place since the community was built. Common fixes include settled walk panels, cracked steps and driveway aprons that have dropped at the garage. We look at whether a section can be raised or should be replaced, and explain why before we quote.

Steps between levels

Many Oxbow homes have a walk-out lower level or a raised deck, which means steps between the patio, the yard and the house. Concrete steps should have even risers, treads deep enough for a full foot, and a slight pitch so water runs off before it can freeze. We pour them with footings and reinforcement and tie them to the patio so the two do not separate. Stamped or colored finishes can carry from the patio onto the steps for a matched look, though we often recommend a broom finish on the treads themselves for better grip in winter.

Before the first frost

Decorative concrete needs a dry stretch to cure and take its sealer. For stamped work in Oxbow, we aim to finish well before fall weather turns cold.

Permits

Oxbow is its own city with its own rules. We confirm permit needs for your property before we schedule.