Concrete Contractors in Black Forest, CO

Black Forest is not a typical suburb, and concrete contractors working here have to plan around long driveways, trees and acreage. Wikipedia describes it as an unincorporated community governed by El Paso County, named for a dense stand of ponderosa pine. It covers about 100 square miles with 15,097 residents and 5,533 housing units at the 2020 census, and sits around 7,369 feet. Most of the planning area was zoned for five-acre minimum lots in 1965, and the Black Forest Preservation Plan followed in 1974. We pour patios, driveway aprons, walks and steps, shop and garage floors, and RV pads, and we repair concrete on these properties.

Long driveways, short concrete

On a five-acre lot, the driveway is often hundreds of feet of gravel or asphalt, and concrete shows up where it does the most good: an apron at the garage, a parking court near the house, a walk to the front door and a patio out back. These are the spots that take the most traffic and the most snowmelt. We set the apron so meltwater from the garage door drains away rather than freezing into a sheet, and we tie the concrete edge cleanly into the gravel or asphalt.

Trees, roots and needles

Ponderosa roots spread wide and shallow, and they can lift a slab poured too close. When we lay out a patio or walk, we look for large trees nearby and talk about distance, root pruning and whether a slight shift in the layout would avoid trouble later. Pine needles and sap stain concrete, so we recommend a sealer on patios under trees and a regular sweep in the fall.

After the 2013 fire

The Black Forest Fire started on June 11, 2013, near Highway 83 and Shoup Road. According to Wikipedia, about 35,500 people were evacuated, the fire burned 15,500 acres and destroyed 511 buildings, and two people died. Many lots that lost homes have since been rebuilt. On rebuilt properties we often see new homes with new flatwork needs, and fire-resistant landscaping that keeps flammable material away from the house. A concrete or stone patio and walk next to the house can be part of that plan.

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Higher, colder, snowier

At more than 7,000 feet, Black Forest is higher and colder than Colorado Springs, and snow stays on shaded ground longer under the trees. That means more freeze-thaw cycles on any concrete that sits in shade. We use air-entrained concrete for all exterior work, finish the surface with a broom texture for traction, and advise against salt-based de-icers for the first winter. Pours here need a closer look at the forecast in spring and fall than they would in town.

County access rules

Because Black Forest is unincorporated, El Paso County requires an Access Permit to build, rebuild, pave or enlarge a driveway that meets a county road, or to install or move a culvert. On gravel roads, the county says a paved driveway should end before the culvert, and owners are responsible for keeping the ditch clear 10 feet on each side.

Our services in Black Forest

• Concrete driveways: garage aprons, parking courts and paved sections
• Concrete patios: backyard patios and fire-wise hardscape near the house
• Stamped concrete: stone-look patios and walks that suit a wooded setting
• Sidewalks and steps: walks and steps to the front door and deck
• Garage floors and RV pads: shop, barn and detached garage floors, RV pads
• Concrete repair and leveling: heaved and settled slabs, cracks and surface wear

Call (719) 748-6441 to set up a visit.