Concrete Contractors in Olsburg, KS

Olsburg is a small Pottawatomie County town in the Manhattan metro area, and homeowners here need concrete contractors willing to make the drive for jobs of every size. The town was laid out in the late 1870s, built up chiefly by Swedish settlers and named for pioneer Ole Thrulson. Its first post office opened in 1873 under the spelling Olesburgh. Olsburg was incorporated in 1926.

High ground, steady town

At about 1,427 feet, Olsburg sits higher than most towns around Manhattan. The population has barely changed, with 219 residents in 2010 and 218 in 2020, and 98 housing units counted both years. In a town that small and stable, the work is personal. A family wants the steps they have used for 30 years rebuilt, or a shed slab poured for a new storage building, or a driveway that finally gets replaced.

Higher ground generally drains better than river bottoms, which is good for slabs. But upland sites around the Flint Hills often have clay soils and chert gravel over limestone, sometimes close to the surface. Clay can swell when wet. We check what is under the topsoil and build a compacted crushed rock base so the slab rests on uniform support.

A town with no net new houses

Olsburg counted 98 housing units in 2010 and the same 98 in 2020. So nearly every project here involves concrete that is already in place: a driveway poured when the house was built, steps added later, a walk patched more than once. The first question on those jobs is what can stay. A slab that is cracked but level, with tight cracks, can often be sealed and kept. Panels that rock, have dropped or are flaking across the surface should come out. On the estimate we mark each section as keep, repair or replace, so you can see exactly what you are paying to fix and what can wait another few years.

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Common projects around Olsburg

• Shop and shed slabs for equipment, mowers and storage on rural lots
• Driveway replacement where frost and traffic have broken up old concrete
• Steps and stoops rebuilt on proper footings with handrail anchors
• Patios in broom, colored or stamped finishes
• Sidewalk sections replaced to remove trip hazards
• Repairs to sunken or scaled areas that do not need full replacement

Getting the base right on upland clay

The base under a slab does more to decide how long it lasts than almost anything else. On Olsburg lots we strip topsoil and roots, which compress and rot over time. We then check the subgrade, dig out soft clay pockets and replace them. A layer of crushed rock goes down next, compacted with a plate compactor in thin lifts so it is firm from top to bottom. The base extends a little past the edges of the slab, so the edges do not hang over soft soil. Finally we check the grade so water drains off the base rather than collecting under the concrete. It is careful, unglamorous work, and it is what keeps a slab flat for decades.

Boat and camper pads

Households that boat on Tuttle Creek Lake, formed by a Big Blue River dam closed on July 4, 1959, may want a pad for a boat or camper. A good pad is thicker than a patio, reinforced with rebar and sized so you can walk around the trailer. We set the approach so you can back in without scraping.

Before starting, we check whether the city or county requires a permit for your project. Call (785) 509-7585 to set up a visit to your Olsburg property.