Concrete Contractors in Florence, CO

Florence sits on the south side of the Arkansas River in eastern Fremont County, 33 miles west of Pueblo, and much of what concrete contractors do here is fixing and replacing concrete around older homes. The town was incorporated on September 13, 1887. Oil in commercial quantities was found nearby in 1862, which made Florence the first significant oil center west of the Mississippi, and railroads were later built to haul coal from Rockvale and Coal Creek. The houses that grew up around that work have had generations to wear out their walks and drives.

A steady, small town

Florence had 3,881 residents in 2010 and 3,822 in 2020, so it has held steady rather than grown. The town covers about 4.3 square miles at 5,181 feet. With a population that has barely moved, most concrete work in town is on existing homes:

• Sidewalks and walkways broken by tree roots or frost heave.
• Driveways that started as two concrete strips or gravel and need a full slab.
• Steps and stoops that have pulled away from the house.
• Concrete repair of cracks and spalled edges.

High desert climate

Florence lies in the semi-arid high desert of southern Colorado. Dry air and strong sun cure the surface of fresh concrete faster than the inside, which is a main cause of early surface cracks. We pour early, keep the slab moist during finishing and apply a curing compound right after. In winter, cold nights and sunny days create frequent freeze-thaw cycles, so outdoor slabs get air-entrained concrete and sealed joints.

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Doing it right on an older lot

Replacing concrete next to an old house often reveals problems: a base that was never compacted, a slab only 3 inches thick, or downspouts pouring straight under the walk. We fix the cause, not just the surface. That means: 1. Removing the old concrete and checking the soil underneath. 2. Adding and compacting a gravel base. 3. Setting forms with slope away from the house. 4. Placing rebar or wire where loads call for it. 5. Pouring, finishing and cutting control joints at the right spacing.

The Colorado Geological Survey says cracked and heaved sidewalks, patios and driveways are common signs of expansive clay in Colorado, and poor drainage makes them worse. Good drainage is cheap insurance.

Front-of-house upgrades

On an older Florence home, the walk, steps and driveway are the first things people see. Replacing all three in one project costs less per square foot than doing them separately, because forming, delivery and cleanup happen once. It also lets us plan one drainage pattern for the whole front yard instead of patching around old slabs. A stamped or colored border along the walk is an easy way to dress up a plain front without the price of a fully decorative surface.

If you only need one piece now, we can still plan the joint layout and grades so later sections fit cleanly.

Sidewalk trees and roots

Where a mature tree stands beside a walk, its roots can lift the panels over time. When we replace a lifted section, we can widen the gap around the trunk or route the walk slightly so the new concrete is not sitting on a growing root. Cutting large roots can harm the tree, so we discuss options with you first.

New projects, too

Florence homeowners also ask about patios for the backyard, stamped concrete that dresses up a front entry, and slabs for sheds, shops and carports. We check the City of Florence's permit requirements when work touches the public right-of-way.