Concrete Contractor in Rye, NH - Driveways and Patios Built on a Solid Base
Portsmouth Concrete Works is a concrete contractor serving Rye, NH. We build driveways, patios, walkways, steps, garage floors and foundations, and we pay the most attention to what's under the slab and where the water runs off it.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- We respond within 1 business day.
Concrete work on Rye homes, as we see it
The short answer: Portsmouth Concrete Works pours concrete for homeowners in Rye, NH, and we're based right next door in Portsmouth. We've been in business since 2017, and Rye calls are usually about a driveway, patio or walk that has cracked, sunk or started holding water, or a new slab for an addition or garage.
Rye is mostly homes. The jobs run from older houses with a patio or front walk poured long ago to newer builds that need a driveway, steps and a garage floor all at once. Some sit near the beaches and some well inland, and the lots run from flat to steep. We see the same mix up the road in Portsmouth and down the coast in Hampton, and we handle a Rye job the same way.
On older Rye houses the yard has often been dug up, filled and regraded more than once, so what's under an old slab can be anything from good gravel to loose fill. That's why the base and the drainage shape these jobs more than the finish does.
Why Rye driveways and patios crack, sink and hold water
A lot of the cracked and sunken slabs I look at were poured on dirt that was raked level instead of dug out and packed, so the concrete settled right along with the ground under it. We dig down to the subgrade, the firm soil a slab actually rests on, and pack stone over it in layers. It's the part of the job you never see once the concrete's down, and it's the part I won't skimp on.
Water is the other trouble. It might be a patio that tips toward the house or a driveway with a low spot where puddles sit, so we work out where the runoff goes before we set a single form and slope the new slab away from your foundation. Rye's code book also has a floodplain ordinance alongside its zoning and building rules, and if your lot falls under it, we plan around that review from the start.
Concrete work we do for Rye homes
Concrete driveway building
When an old driveway has dropped at the garage or cracked, we tear it out, dig to firm ground and pour a new one on packed stone.
Concrete patio construction
For a back patio that holds puddles or tips toward the house, we rebuild it on a packed base, sloped so water runs into the yard.
Stamped concrete services
Stamped concrete gives a patio or walk the look of stone or brick, and we set it on the same packed base as a plain slab.
Concrete sidewalk building
A front walk that's heaved or dropped is a trip hazard, so we replace it with a level walk, broom finished so it isn't slick when wet.
Garage floor concrete
When a garage floor has cracked, sunk at the drain or chips under your tires, we break it out and pour a new floor on a packed base.
Decorative concrete
Decorative concrete covers colored, stained and textured finishes for patios, walks and pool areas, when you want the slab to match the house instead of fighting it.
Concrete retaining walls
On a sloped Rye yard, a concrete retaining wall holds back soil so you get flat ground for a patio or driveway, with drainage behind it.
Concrete floor installation
For a basement, workshop or addition that needs a flat, solid floor, we prep the base, set any steel and pour a slab you can build on.
Concrete pool decks
Around a pool, the deck has to drain away from the water and stay grippy underfoot, so we slope it and give it a textured finish.
Concrete steps construction
When front or back steps have pulled away from the house or crumbled at the edges, we form and pour new ones on footings dug to firm ground.
Slab foundation building
For a garage, shed, sunroom or addition on a Rye lot, we build the slab foundation from the ground up, starting with the base and the drainage.
Foundation installation
When you're adding on or building new, we lay out, form and pour the foundation walls and footings your builder needs to frame on.
Concrete parking lot building
For a shop, office or small building with a lot that's broken up, we pour concrete parking areas graded so water runs off instead of sitting.
Concrete footings
Decks, porches, sheds and additions all sit on footings, the concrete pads that carry the weight, and we dig them to firm ground and pour them square.
Foundation raising
Once we've found out why a corner of the house or an old slab has dropped, foundation raising lifts it and fills the gap underneath.
Concrete cutting
Concrete cutting opens an old slab for a new drain, a doorway or a repair, or cuts out one bad section so the rest can stay.
Get a free estimate for your concrete job in Rye
Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day to set up a time for me to come see your Rye job. The estimate is free, done at your property and written up for you, and there's no obligation and no pressure to book.
Working in Rye: permits, access and what moves the price
Permits in Rye come from the Building Department at Rye Town Hall, 603-964-9800, and any landscape or grading project also needs the department's review and approval. That review has to clear before we set a pour date, so a patio that reshapes your yard has a step to get through first. We check what the department needs and help pull together the sketches or site plans it asks for. We're fully licensed and insured, and every job is backed by our satisfaction guarantee. The price moves with how much old concrete comes out, how deep we dig to reach firm ground, how much regrading the water needs, the size and thickness of the slab, and the finish you pick. The schedule mostly turns on that review and a good day for the pour, and the written estimate after my visit gives you the figure for your own job.
Getting the truck close matters, because concrete is heavy and has to be placed before it starts to set. On a long driveway, a tight side lot or a patio tucked behind the house, I work out where the truck can sit without cracking your existing walk, and whether we pump the concrete or wheel it in, which also moves the price. It's the same puzzle we work through on older lots in Durham, and honestly it's the kind of job I enjoy.
How a Rye concrete job goes once you call
Here's how a job goes from your first call to a finished slab in Rye. I'm part of it from the first visit through the pour, and you'll see the cost before anything gets booked.
- Step 01
Call or send a message
Call or send the form with a few lines about the driveway, patio or slab, and a photo if you have one. We get back to you to set a time for me to come out.
- Step 02
I walk the site with you
I come out myself, look at the old concrete, the slope and where the water runs, and ask how you'll use the space, so it helps if you're home. Afterward I send a free written estimate, so you know the cost before you decide anything.
- Step 03
Sort permits, then prep and pour
We sort out any permit questions with the Building Department, pick a pour date with the season in mind, and then our own crew digs out and packs the base and pours, with me on site. If your job calls for an inspection, Rye takes requests during business hours, not by email or answering machine, and inspections run Monday to Friday from 8:30 AM to 3 PM.
- Step 04
Finish, cure and clean up
We finish the surface, cut the control joints, shallow grooves that give the slab a straight place to crack, and clean up before we leave. Then the slab cures, which is the wait while it gains strength, and I tell you when it's ready to walk on and when it's ready for the car.
Questions Rye homeowners ask about concrete work
How do I apply for a building permit in Rye, NH?
You apply through the Building Department's online permit portal, because the department said it would stop accepting paper copies after October 1, 2026. The portal only takes complete applications, with no blank spaces and every supporting document and letter attached. We help you gather the sketches or site plans before you send it in.
Does a concrete patio need a permit in Rye, NH?
Yes, Rye's list of jobs that need a permit includes decks and patios. The list prices that permit as a share of the job cost plus a $50 application fee, but the Building Department says its fees changed in July 2026 and asks you to call for current amounts.
Who do I call for a driveway permit in Rye, NH?
A driveway permit comes from Rye Public Works, not the Building Department, and you can reach them at 964-5300. If the new driveway also changes the grade of your yard, the grading review mentioned above applies too, so we plan for both before we pick a pour date.
How much does a new concrete driveway cost in Rye, NH?
A Rye driveway is priced on its size and thickness, what has to come out and what goes under it, and you get your own figure in the written estimate after I've seen it. If the budget gets tight, I'd cut the fancy finish before the base, because a plain broom finish on a well-packed base holds up far better than a decorative surface poured over loose dirt.
What is the best way to keep a new concrete slab from cracking like the old one?
The best way is a dug-out, packed base and control joints cut on time, because most cracks start with the ground moving under the slab or the concrete shrinking with no joint to crack along. Concrete can still get a hairline crack, and I won't pretend otherwise. In a driveway, rebar, the steel bars set inside the slab, holds the pieces together and level, and we plan pours away from midday heat so the top doesn't end up weak and dusty.
How do I look up my lot before planning a driveway or patio in Rye?
Start with Rye's online GIS parcel data, which lets anyone view parcel records and map layers for their property. It's a good first look when a new driveway or patio runs toward the edge of your yard, and it can also print abutter labels, which list your neighboring owners.
Call us about your Rye concrete job
Call (603) 956-1034 or send the estimate form with a photo of where the water sits after it rains, because that tells me a lot about the base before I even walk the site.