Most business owners bring us in when a parking lot approach is crumbling, a loading dock pad has started to sink, or the walkway out front is a trip hazard waiting for a claim to happen. Commercial flatwork is different from a residential driveway. Traffic is heavier, schedules are tighter, and the cost of getting it wrong shows up fast — in liability exposure, code violations, or concrete that fails in three years instead of thirty.
We have poured commercial flatwork across the Metro East for 20 years. We do the prep, the pour, and the cleanup with one crew, and we run our own trucks, so debris and old concrete leave the site without you coordinating a second company.
What Commercial Concrete Flatwork Includes
Commercial flatwork covers any flat, poured concrete surface on a commercial property. That includes:
- Sidewalks and pedestrian walkways connecting parking to entrances
- ADA-accessible surfaces including ramps, curb cuts, and detectable warning pads
- Parking lot approaches and aprons where vehicles enter from the street
- Loading dock pads and service aprons built for heavy vehicle weight
- Equipment and HVAC pads poured level and at the right thickness for the load
- Dumpster enclosure pads and utility slabs
The concrete mix, thickness, and reinforcement depend on what will be using the surface. A pedestrian walkway and a loading dock apron are not the same pour. We size the slab and specify the mix for the actual use, not a one-size spec that covers the contractor's liability without doing the job right.
What sets us apart on commercial work is in-house excavation and demolition. When an old surface needs to come out, we tear it out with our own equipment and haul it off with our own trucks. You do not wait on a separate demolition crew to clear the site before we can start. That single-crew approach keeps the schedule tight and gives you one point of contact from start to finish.
When Commercial Flatwork Needs Attention
The approach is cracking and sinking. Vehicle traffic, freeze-thaw cycles, and poor drainage eat away at concrete approaches faster than most owners expect. When they start cracking or settling, water gets under the slab, the base weakens, and the damage accelerates. Patching surface cracks rarely solves the underlying drainage or base problem.
Your walkway is a liability. A raised joint or a sunken section on a public-facing walkway creates real exposure. ADA compliance issues add another layer. If your existing surfaces have heaved, settled, or cracked unevenly, the right move is replacement with a properly prepared base, not repeated patching.
You just had new construction or a building addition. New building additions, expanded parking, or utility work often leaves concrete work unfinished or inconsistent with the rest of the site. We pour new flatwork to match existing grades and tie into what is already there.
Your loading area takes heavy truck traffic. Standard residential-thickness slabs fail under repeated heavy vehicle loads. Commercial dock pads and service aprons need the right thickness and reinforcement from the start. If your current pad is cracking under truck weight, that is a base or spec problem, not just an age problem.
Our Commercial Flatwork Process
1. On-site estimate. We come out, look at the site, measure the scope, and talk through what the surface needs to handle. You get a clear price before any work starts. No pressure, no commitment.
2. Base prep and grading. This step is where most failures start. We grade for proper drainage, compact the base, and set the correct depth for the pour. Good concrete on a bad base does not last. We control the base because we run our own equipment.
3. Forming and reinforcement. We set forms to the right grade and place reinforcement appropriate for the surface and its traffic load. ADA surfaces get the slope and finish required by code.
4. The pour. We pour, finish, and cure the concrete to spec. Commercial surfaces often require a broom finish for traction or a specific texture for ADA compliance. We match the finish to the use.
5. Cleanup and haul-away. We clean the site when the job is done. Old concrete, debris, and form materials leave with our trucks.
6. Curing and use timeline. We give you a clear schedule for when the surface can take foot traffic and when it is ready for vehicle load. Returning to use too early is one of the most common reasons new commercial flatwork fails.
What Commercial Flatwork Costs
Pricing varies by square footage, thickness, reinforcement, site conditions, and whether old concrete needs to come out first. A simple equipment pad and a full parking lot approach are priced differently.
The concrete removal and replacement side of the job adds to the total, but it is handled in-house, so you are not paying a markup on a subcontractor we call in. What we quote is what you pay.
The best way to get an accurate number is a free on-site estimate. We measure, look at the base conditions, and give you a written price before any work begins. Call us at 618-514-2663 or reach out by email to set that up.
Where We Work
We pour commercial flatwork across a three-county service area in the Metro East.
St. Clair County -- O'Fallon, Belleville, Fairview Heights, Shiloh, Swansea, Mascoutah, Millstadt, and surrounding communities. St. Clair County service area
Madison County -- Edwardsville, Collinsville, Glen Carbon, Troy, Maryville, Granite City, Alton, and surrounding towns. Madison County service area
Monroe County -- Waterloo, Columbia, and surrounding communities. Monroe County service area
If your property is in the Metro East and you are not sure whether we cover your area, call us. We will tell you straight.
Related Services
If your project involves more than flatwork, or you need a related surface handled at the same time, here are the other services we provide:
Concrete Slabs & Pads Equipment pads, HVAC slabs, utility pads, and outbuilding floors poured level and reinforced for the load.
Garage & Shop Floor Concrete Shop and facility floors poured at the right thickness for vehicles and equipment. A flat, sealed surface that holds up to daily commercial use.
Concrete Removal & Replacement Full tear-out and replacement in one stop. We demolish the old surface, haul it off with our own trucks, prep the base, and pour the new one.
Stamped & Decorative Concrete For businesses where appearance matters -- stamped and colored flatwork for building entries, outdoor seating areas, and commercial patios.