Concrete Contractor on the Boise Bench

Concrete Contractors on the Boise Bench

Boise Solid Concrete passes Bench concrete requests to independent contractors who work across this part of south-central Boise. It does no concrete work itself. The Bench sits on an old river terrace about 60 feet above downtown, and most of it filled in with houses after 1930, so its driveways, patios and walks are now old enough to need attention, on ground that local gardeners know as heavy clay.

How the Bench got built

The Bench stayed dry farmland until water arrived. In 1871 William Morris dug a canal to carry Boise River water up to his land, and Morris Hill Cemetery dates to 1882. A streetcar line reached the Vista area in 1913, but most of the Bench didn't become suburban until after 1930. So much of the housing along Vista Avenue, Morris Hill Road and the streets around them dates from the middle of the century onward.

Clay under the slab

Ask a Boise gardener about the Bench and you'll hear it: heavy clay. Clay holds water, swells when wet and shrinks when it dries, so slabs on it rise and settle with the seasons and with irrigation. That's why sunken driveway panels, tilted walks and patios that slope back toward the house are the most common Bench problems. Raising a dropped panel is a leveling job; a slab that has cracked into many pieces is a replacement. Either way, fix the water source first.

For new work, ask how the contractor prepares a clay subgrade: how much is dug out, what base goes in, how it is compacted, and how water will be kept off it.

What Bench homeowners ask for

Wider driveways to replace single-car strips (within Boise's 20-foot front-setback limit in many districts, with Planning and Zoning approval), new garage aprons, backyard patios to replace old cracked slabs, RV pads where the lot allows, and walkways. The public sidewalk and approach belong to ACHD; work there needs ACHD approval and a permit holder licensed and bonded for it.

Back to the main guide: Boise concrete contractors.

Get quotes from local concrete contractors

Tell us the city, the job and a rough size. Boise Solid Concrete passes the request to independent concrete contractors who work in that part of the Treasure Valley. They reach out to look at the site and quote in writing. Any agreement is between you and the contractor you pick.

1Send one requestCity, job and size. Photos help.

2A contractor follows upThey call or email to see the site and write a quote.

3You chooseHire, compare or walk away. You deal with the contractor directly.

(208) 591-6344

Boise Bench: what people ask

Why does my Bench driveway keep sinking?

Bench soils are often heavy clay that moves with moisture. Water from sprinklers or downspouts makes it worse. Fix drainage, then level or replace.

Can I widen my driveway on the Bench?

Often, within Boise's zoning limits (20 feet in the front setback in many districts) and with Planning and Zoning approval. Curb cut changes go through ACHD.

Is leveling or replacement better on clay?

Leveling works for intact panels; badly broken or repeatedly moving slabs usually need replacement with better base prep.