Concrete contractor in Ralston, NE - replacing worn driveways, walks and steps
Excel Bellevue Concrete Construction is a concrete contractor based in Bellevue that pours driveways, patios, sidewalks and steps for homes in Ralston, NE, from tearing out the old slab to digging and packing the base underneath.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free on-site estimates.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
Established homes and yards across Ralston
Ralston is a small city tucked right up against Omaha and La Vista, and most calls we get there are for houses that have been standing a long time. On those jobs we're usually replacing something: a driveway that's heaved at the joints, a front walk tipped toward the house, steps that have pulled away from the stoop, a patio a tree root has lifted. We hear from a few small business owners there too, who need a walk or a lot redone.
We work across Omaha and the cities around it on both sides of the river, so a week can take us from Ralston over to Glenwood, IA and back. In neighborhoods this settled, most jobs start with tearing something out, and what we find under it decides how much base work comes next.
Our services in Ralston, NE
- Concrete driveway building
Older Ralston driveways often crack and sink because the base under them was never packed. We break out the old slab, dig to firm ground and compact fresh base before we pour.
- Concrete sidewalk building
Roots and frost leave many front walks here lifted or tipped. We replace the bad sections and set the new ones so water drains away from your house.
- Concrete steps construction
Steps on older houses often sink and pull away from the stoop, leaving a gap that holds water. We tear them out and pour new ones on packed base.
- Concrete patio construction
Older backyard patios here often sink toward the house, so rain sits against the foundation. We break them out and pour new ones that slope away from your walls.
- Concrete pool decks
Decks around older backyard pools tend to chip and shift as the ground moves. Our concrete pool decks get a broom finish, a light texture that helps wet feet grip.
- Garage floor concrete
Older garage floors here are often pitted by road salt and low where water pools. We break out the old floor, rebuild the base and pour a new slab.
What Ralston winters and soil do to concrete
Our winters freeze and thaw again and again, and each time water under a slab freezes, it swells and pushes the concrete up, then lets it drop when it melts. The clay that's common in yards around here holds that water, so on a Ralston job I spend as much time on the subgrade, the dirt the slab sits on, as I do on the surface. We dig out the soft ground, pack new base in layers and set the slope so rain runs away from your house. If a budget has to come down, I'd rather trim the finish than the base, because nobody sees the base on day one and everybody sees it when a slab starts to sink.
Price here mostly turns on how much old concrete has to come out, the size and thickness of the new slab, how much base the ground needs and whether it gets rebar, steel bars that hold the slab together if it cracks. The schedule turns on the city's permit review, the weather on pour day and curing, the wait while new concrete gains strength before it takes weight. The on-site estimate is where you get the figure for your own job.
Get an estimate for your Ralston driveway, walk or patio
Send the form or call (402) 206-0944, and we'll get back to you within one business day to set a time. I come out to your Ralston place myself, look at the slab and the ground under it, and give you a free estimate with no obligation to hire us.
Driveways, patios and steps
Ralston concrete questions answered
Do I need a permit to replace a concrete driveway in Ralston, NE?
Check with the city before any concrete goes in, because Ralston says building permits are required for most projects, and its building and planning department reviews them against the city's codes. Before we schedule, we confirm which office covers your address and look into the permit side, then we take care of the application or walk you through it.
How do I apply for a building permit in Ralston?
You apply through the city's online permit portal, or you can ask for a paper application at City Hall. The city reviews each submission and lets you know when it's approved or needs more from you, and permit questions go to the chief building official at 402-331-6677, ext. 1310. When we're doing the job, we handle this part or sit down with you and go through it.
Does my concrete contractor need to be registered with the state of Nebraska?
Yes, Nebraska law requires contractors and subcontractors to register with the state Department of Labor before doing any construction work, and contractors with employees also have to give the department a current workers' comp certificate. The department is clear that registration is a requirement, not a guarantee of good work, so it's worth asking any contractor how they'll prepare the ground before you hire them.
How much does a new concrete driveway cost in Ralston?
A Ralston driveway is priced on what your slab takes, and the biggest swings come from breaking out and hauling off the old one, fixing the base under it and how easily we can get a truck to it. A tight drive between houses adds labor, and stamped or colored finishes cost more than a plain broom finish. I measure on site and go over each part with you, including where the joints go, so you know what you're paying for before we start.
How long does it take before I can drive on a new driveway?
You'll be parking somewhere else for longer than you'll be staying off it on foot, because concrete has to cure, sitting undisturbed while it gains strength, before it can carry a car. Weather sets the pace, so cool fall days slow curing down, and in summer we pour early because concrete placed in midday heat dries too fast and can end up with a weak, dusty top. When we set the pour date, I'll tell you when you can walk on it and when you can drive on it.
What causes concrete driveways to crack and sink in Ralston?
Most sinking comes from a base that was raked level instead of dug out and packed, so it settles over a few wet winters and the slab goes down with it. Cracks come from frost and from the slab shrinking as it dries, which is why we cut control joints, shallow grooves that give a crack a straight place to happen, soon after the pour. Concrete cracks, and I'd rather show you where the joints go before we pour than promise you a perfect slab.