Concrete Contractors in Nappanee, IN

Nappanee is a city that straddles Elkhart and Kosciusko counties, and the concrete contractors who work here see a blend of town homes, workshops and farm-edge properties. The B&O Railroad began service on December 6, 1874, at a stop first called Locke's Station, and the town was platted later that month. Nappanee incorporated as a town in 1889 and as a city in 1925. The 2020 census counted 2,949 housing units.

A working town

Nappanee is a regional center for both RV manufacturing and Amish craft and tourism. Wikipedia notes the local Amish community was founded in 1842 and had 5,910 people in 43 congregations in 2017, the sixth largest Amish settlement. Many Amish and Mennonite families work in the woodworking trade, and a workshop or outbuilding floor needs a slab built for the load.

For a shop slab, we ask:

• What will sit on it, from table saws to vehicles
• Where heavy machines or lifts will go, so we can thicken those areas
• Whether you need floor drains or conduit set before the pour
• How the doors face, so water drains out and not in

Storm history

In 2007, an EF3 tornado hit Nappanee and damaged three RV factories: Fairmont Homes, Franklin Coach and Gulf Stream Coach. Homes and outbuildings rebuilt after storms often get new slabs, and owners of older properties sometimes find damage that was patched rather than fixed. When we break out an old slab, we look at what is under it and correct the base before pouring new.

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Driveways and walks

Nappanee sits at about 863 feet, on higher ground than the St. Joseph River towns. Even so, spring thaw and heavy rain can soak the soil. A driveway on a good compacted base, with air-entrained concrete and planned joints, handles northern Indiana winters far better than one poured on bare soil. Front walks and steps get the same care: a base that drains, even risers and a broom finish for grip.

Farm-edge driveways

Many properties around Nappanee have long gravel lanes. Pouring all of it in concrete is rarely needed. A common plan is to pour the section nearest the house and garage, where cars turn and park, and leave the lane in gravel. A concrete apron at the garage or shop door keeps gravel and mud out of the building. If you want to extend it later, we leave a clean edge the next section can tie into.

For homes with buggies or horse traffic nearby, a broom finish gives better grip than a smooth one. We talk through the finish with you before the pour.

Caring for a new slab

Keep heavy equipment off a new slab until it reaches strength, which takes longer than foot traffic. Seal it once it is ready, reseal every few years and rinse off winter salt in spring. A shop floor can also take a coating later if you want it easier to sweep and resistant to oil. Ask about that when we plan the slab, since a coating needs a surface finish that will bond with it.

Patios and stamped concrete

A back patio is a common project once the practical work is done. Broom-finish slabs are simple and durable. Stamped concrete adds a pattern and color and is sealed after curing.

What we offer in Nappanee

We pour concrete driveways, patios, stamped concrete, sidewalks and steps, and garage and shed slabs, and we handle concrete repair and replacement. Since Nappanee sits in two counties, we check which city and county rules apply to your address before we begin. Call (574) 475-3419 for a free estimate.