Concrete Contractors in Simonton Lake, IN

Simonton Lake is a census-designated place in Elkhart County, and concrete contractors here spend a lot of time thinking about water. The community takes its name from the lake, which in turn is named for Samuel Simonton, a 19th-century farmer. The 2020 census counted 4,710 residents and 2,041 housing units. Of its roughly 4 square miles, about 0.47 square miles is water, close to 12 percent of the total.

Building near the water

Lake lots have a few things in common: a high water table, soil that stays damp, and yards that slope down to the shore. Each of those affects concrete.

High water table. Wet soil freezes and expands more than dry soil. Under a slab, that means heaving in winter and settling in spring. A thicker, well-compacted gravel base helps water drain away from the slab.

Slopes. A patio on a sloping yard either needs fill on the low side, a step down, or a retaining edge. We plan the levels before we form anything.

Runoff. Water that runs off a patio or driveway heads for the lake. We direct it to grass or a planted area rather than letting it wash straight down the bank.

Patios with a view

The most common request on a lake lot is a patio facing the water. Stamped concrete is a popular choice because it gives the look of flagstone or slate without the gaps that let weeds grow. A slip-resistant finish matters near water, where wet feet and bare feet are common. We use a texture and sealer combination that keeps grip when wet.

If your plan includes a fire pit, hot tub or outdoor kitchen, tell us before we pour. A hot tub needs a thicker slab under it, and conduit for power or gas is much easier to set before the concrete goes in.

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Drives, walks and steps

On the street side of a lake home, the needs are more ordinary: a driveway that handles winter, a walk to the front door and steps that do not tip. Many lake homes have a walk or steps down the side of the house toward the water. Those need a slip-resistant finish and even risers. For long runs of steps on a steep yard, we break them into short flights with landings, which is easier on the knees and safer in rain.

Garage and storage slabs

Lake homes often need extra storage for boats, kayaks and lake gear. A detached garage or shed slab gets a thickened edge for the walls, anchor bolts and a slight pitch toward the door. If you will pull a boat trailer onto it, we size the slab and base for that weight.

A community that keeps filling in

Simonton Lake had 1,636 housing units in 2000 and 2,041 in 2020, and its homeowner vacancy rate in 2020 was just 1.7 percent. The community sits at about 771 feet and is served by Elkhart Community Schools. With new homes filling gaps between older lake cottages, a single street can have a 1950s walk next to a builder slab from the 2000s. We match the new work to the conditions of each lot rather than to a standard plan.

Sealing near water

On lake lots we suggest a penetrating sealer for plain concrete and a compatible topical sealer for stamped work, since keeping water out of the surface slows freeze-thaw damage. Every exterior slab gets an air-entrained mix, planned joints and a proper cure.

Simonton Lake is unincorporated, so we check with Elkhart County about permits for your project. If your lot touches the lake, there may also be rules about building near the shoreline, and we ask about those before we plan. Call (574) 475-3419 for a free estimate on driveways, patios, stamped concrete, sidewalks and steps, garage and shed slabs, or repair and replacement.