Concrete sidewalk building in Sioux Falls SD - a walk built on solid ground
Old walk heaved, cracked or tipping toward the house? We dig out the soft ground and pour a new walk that sheds water.
What goes into building a new sidewalk in Sioux Falls?
Concrete sidewalk building in Sioux Falls means pouring a new walk, or tearing out a cracked or heaved one and replacing it, on a packed base that carries the concrete through freeze and thaw.
Most calls start with a walk that's heaved at a joint and catches a toe, tips toward the house so water pools by the foundation, or is chipping apart on top. The concrete usually isn't the real problem. It's the ground under it, and concrete is patient enough to show you a bad base every spring until someone fixes it. If your front concrete steps are in the same shape, it's worth looking at both at once.
The price moves with what's under there and what the walk has to meet. That means how much old concrete comes out, how much soft ground has to go, and whether the walk ties into steps, a driveway or the street. The schedule turns on the permit and the weather, because a pour waits for a decent stretch of nights. Your estimate puts each piece in writing.
- Breaking out the old walk and hauling it away, or starting fresh where there's only grass.
- Digging out soft ground and packing a gravel base so the new walk has firm support.
- A broom finish for grip, and control joints cut so cracks land where we chose.
What happens after you call about a new sidewalk?
Here's who does what, from the first call to the day we pack up. I handle the estimate and stay on site for the pour, and our crew does the digging, forming and finishing.
Call or send the form
Tell us where the walk runs and whether it reaches the street or a driveway. We call you back to set a time for me to come look.
I walk the site with you
I look at the old walk, the ground and where your water goes, listen to what you want and walk you through the choices. Then I write an estimate that spells out what's included, so you can hold it up against other bids.
We pull permits and pick a date
Once you say yes, we line up any permit the job needs and handle the paperwork ourselves. We set the pour date around the forecast, and if the nights are turning cold I'd rather move it than gamble.
We pour, finish and explain care
Our crew forms, pours and finishes the walk with me on site for the work. Before we leave, we go over how to treat the new concrete while it cures, so you're not guessing.
Concrete flatwork like walks, driveways and patios
Flatwork is the trade's word for concrete that lies flat on the ground, like walks, driveways and patios. These photos show that kind of work so you can picture finishes and edges before we talk about yours.
A raised gray exposed-aggregate concrete porch meets a curved walkway, bordered by smooth river stones and white columns.
A covered backyard patio has a smooth pale concrete floor, wooden seating, and a manicured lawn with a trampoline beyond.
Stamped concrete patio with large square stone patterns in front of a curved stone retaining wall and wood fence.
Polished speckled concrete floor in a large unfinished commercial interior with red support columns.
A swimming pool is edged with red brick and surrounded by a light textured concrete deck.
Stamped concrete patio beneath a wooden pergola, bordered by a low curved stone retaining wall and lawn.
Get a free on-site estimate for your new sidewalk
Send the form with your address and where the walk runs, and we'll reply within one business day to set a time for me to come look. The estimate is free, itemized and comes with no obligation.
(605) 305-1165Sidewalk questions we hear from Sioux Falls homeowners
These are the questions people ask me most often while we stand on the old walk. If yours isn't here, ask it on the estimate, because I'd rather answer it before the pour than after.
How much does it cost to build a concrete sidewalk in Sioux Falls?
It depends on your site, and I can't give you a fair number until I've seen it. Tearing out old concrete, digging out soft ground, tying into steps or a driveway approach, and choosing a decorative finish over a broom finish all raise the price, while a clear path on firm soil keeps it down. The estimate lists each of those, so you can see what you're paying for.
Do I need a permit to put in a new sidewalk in Sioux Falls?
Yes. The City of Sioux Falls requires a sidewalk permit before anyone installs, replaces or repairs a sidewalk, and the contractor working in the right-of-way is the one who gets it. We pull it ourselves and handle the paperwork, so it isn't another errand for you.
What causes a concrete sidewalk to heave and crack?
Usually it's the ground underneath, not the concrete. Soils that heave with frost, such as muck, peat and soft clay, push a walk up in winter and let it drop in spring, which is why the city wants those soils dug out and replaced and a packed gravel base put under sidewalk concrete. Ask any contractor what they'll do if they hit soft ground, and expect a straight answer.
When is it too cold to pour a concrete sidewalk?
Once the air drops below 40°F, or is forecast to while the new concrete is still being protected, it's a cold-weather pour. Cold slows the set and can freeze concrete before it's strong, and early-fall and late-spring nights can get there after a warm afternoon, so we watch the overnight low as closely as the high. One concrete trade group's guide says to cover new concrete right away with insulated blankets, straw or a heated enclosure and keep it at 50°F or warmer for at least 3 days.
How do I take care of a new sidewalk in its first winter?
Skip the deicer that first winter and put down sand for grip, which is what a concrete trade group's cold-weather guide advises. Before the pour, ask whether the mix has entrained air, tiny bubbles mixed into the concrete, because it helps the surface hold up to freezing and thawing when it's soaked and cuts down on flaking from ice melt.
What should a sidewalk contractor have to work in the right-of-way in Sioux Falls?
The city requires a bond and general liability insurance, with proof of both given to the City Engineering Division, and it asks for license paperwork only for sewer and water work. Driveway approach repair also has to be done by a bonded, insured contractor registered with the city. The city's guide to hiring a sidewalk contractor says to be wary of anyone who wants you to get the permit, asks for more than 20% down, drives a truck with no business signage or offers to trade work for your belongings. We're licensed and fully insured, and I'm happy to answer any of those questions on the estimate.