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Concrete Contractor in Dickinson, ND - Slabs That Hold Up to Hard Winters

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New concrete driveway curves around a grassy island toward a house and detached garage on a rural property.
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What Dickinson driveways and patios need to get through winter

I started Vertex Dickinson Concrete here in 2017, and most of what we pour in Dickinson is flatwork, the slabs you walk and park on, like a new concrete driveway, a backyard patio or a garage floor. Some calls come from homeowners whose driveway has seen enough winters that it's broken up and sinking, and some come from builders who need footings and a foundation under a new house. I'm the one who comes out to look, and our own crew does the work with me there running it.

Your price moves with the size of the slab, how much old concrete comes out and how much digging the base needs, and the schedule turns on the weather and the wait while new concrete cures. Once I've seen the spot, you'll have a number for your job. Around here the ground decides most of the work, because the dirt freezes hard every winter and all that snow has to go somewhere when it melts, so the base and the drainage get more of our time than the finish does.

What Dickinson winters do to concrete

  • Frost lifting the slab

    Water in the subgrade, the dirt a slab sits on, freezes and pushes the concrete up, then drops it at thaw. We pack a drained gravel base so less water sits under the slab.

  • Snowmelt running toward the house

    Older slabs here often tip toward the garage, so snowmelt pools at the door and freezes into ice. We check where the water goes and set the slab to fall away from your house.

  • Fill dirt that keeps settling

    Fill dirt around newer houses keeps settling, so a slab poured on it sinks by the garage or the steps. We dig out soft fill and pack the base instead of raking it level.

  • Tops that flake and chip

    A slab poured in midday heat often ends up with a weak top that salt and freeze-thaw chip away. We pour in cooler hours and leave a broom finish, fine grooves for traction.

Should you repair or replace a cracked Dickinson driveway?

If the slab is still level and the cracks are thin, you usually don't need new concrete, because a little cracking is normal and sealing those cracks keeps water out before winter. When sections have sunk, edges trip people or water runs toward the house, the base underneath has given up, and patching the top won't fix that. That's when I'd tell you to tear it out and start over.

A new slab can crack too, and I'd rather be straight with you about that. We cut control joints, shallow grooves that give the concrete a place to crack where you won't notice it, as soon as the slab can take them instead of days later. And if the budget's tight, I'd keep the money in the base and go plainer on the finish, since a bad base can't be fixed later without starting over.

Concrete services we offer in Dickinson

Dickinson concrete questions, answered

  • Do I need a permit for a concrete driveway or patio in Dickinson, ND?

    You need a permit from the City of Dickinson before building or significantly renovating a structure, and the city handles those permits for Stark County too. Whether your driveway or patio falls under that is something I check with the city before each job starts. We take care of the permits that fall to us as the contractor and help you with any that fall to you.

  • Does a concrete contractor need a license in North Dakota?

    Yes, once a job's cost runs over $4,000, whoever does the work has to hold a contractor license from the North Dakota Secretary of State, and that includes subcontractors and contractors from out of state. Doing that work without a required license is a misdemeanor under state law, so it's fair to ask anyone you're thinking of hiring. We're licensed and insured.

  • How much does a new concrete driveway cost in Dickinson?

    The price comes down to the size of the slab, how much old concrete has to come out and how much digging and packing the base needs, so two driveways the same size can land far apart. A thicker slab or one with rebar, steel bars that hold the concrete together if it cracks, costs more, and so does a stamped or colored finish over a plain broom one.

  • How long does it take before I can drive on a new concrete driveway?

    You'll be walking on it well before you can park on it, because concrete keeps getting stronger long after it looks hard, and cold weather slows that down. I'll tell you the day to walk on it and the day to drive on it based on that week's weather, since a car on it too early can crack or mark a slab that isn't ready.

  • What causes concrete to crack and heave in Dickinson winters?

    Water freezing under or inside the slab does most of the damage, and Dickinson gets cold enough for it, with the weather station here recording a low of -39°F. A soft base, a slab that drains toward the house and joints cut late give that frost a place to work, which is why we put our time into those three things. New concrete also needs gentle care its first winter, so use sand instead of de-icing salt on it.

  • Do I need a Stark County permit for a driveway that connects to a county road?

    Yes, Stark County requires a permit to build or change a driveway or approach, the stretch where your driveway meets the road, when it connects to a county road. The county also lists a permit for building or modifying structures in a floodplain, and the state's flood risk map is a good starting point for checking your lot, though FEMA calls that data non-regulatory, so it isn't the final word.

Not in Dickinson? Give us a call

We're based in Dickinson and work in the cities around it too, so if yours isn't listed here, call (701) 495-9954 and ask.

Tell us about your Dickinson concrete job

Put in what you want poured and where. We'll reply within one business day and set a time for me to come out for a free estimate, with no obligation.

(701) 495-9954