Commercial concrete
Commercial Concrete Sidewalks, Curbs and Parking Areas in London, ON
Concrete Surface Solutions builds and replaces commercial concrete sidewalks, barrier curbs, accessible ramps and parking-area slabs for property managers, general contractors and facility owners across London, Ontario. We are a licensed and insured, WSIB-covered contractor with 20+ years in concrete and 950+ completed jobs.
Commercial flatwork is a different job from a driveway. It means working around open storefronts, pulling City permits for anything in the road allowance and meeting accessibility rules at every crossing.
Plazas, condominium corporations, offices, schools and industrial sites call us for single trip-hazard repairs and full site packages alike. Every bid includes unit pricing, a written schedule and a 2-year workmanship warranty.
- 20+ years experience
- 950+ jobs completed
- Licensed & insured
- WSIB covered
What we build
Commercial Flatwork Services for London Properties
We install, repair and replace the concrete that pedestrians and vehicles cross every day on commercial property: sidewalks, curb ramps, curbs, aprons, pads and parking areas. Work is priced per square foot or per linear foot, so property managers can compare bids line by line.
Our clients include retail plaza landlords, multi-residential owners, institutional facilities and general contractors who need a dependable concrete trade for site works. As part of our wider commercial concrete services, we handle anything from a single cracked panel to a full re-curb of a parking lot.
Sidewalks and Accessible Curb Ramps
We pour new and replacement commercial walks at 125 mm (5 in.) or thicker, with a broom finish that grips in wet weather and joints tooled or saw-cut to control cracking.
Where a walk drops to a drive aisle or crosswalk, we build curb ramps with tactile walking surface indicators: raised, colour-contrasting plates that let people with low vision detect the edge of the roadway.
Barrier Curbs and Curb-and-Gutter
Barrier curb stands about 150 mm (6 in.) above the pavement to keep vehicles off walks and landscaping. Curb-and-gutter adds a formed channel that carries runoff to the catch basins.
We also build mountable (rolled) curb and depressed curb at entrances. Replacement sections are saw-cut out, dowelled into the sound curb on each side and matched to the existing profile and flow line.
Concrete Parking Areas, Aprons and Bin Pads
Concrete belongs where asphalt fails first: under the front wheels of garbage trucks, at loading aprons, in drive-throughs and where trailers turn.
We pour bin and dumpster pads, generator and HVAC equipment pads, entrance aprons and full concrete parking bays at 150 to 200 mm (6 to 8 in.), with reinforcement sized to the wheel loads.
Common failures
Problems We Fix on Commercial Flatwork
Most commercial calls come down to three issues: trip hazards that expose the owner to liability, surfaces broken down by salt and plows, and water that ponds instead of draining. Each one has a different cause, so we diagnose before we price.
London sees dozens of freeze-thaw cycles a winter, heavy road salt and clay-rich soils that hold water. That combination heaves panels, scales the surface off weak concrete and undermines curbs from behind.
We document every defect with photos and measurements, so you get a repair list you can take to a board, an owner or an insurer.
Trip hazards and liability
A heaved or sunken panel is a claim waiting to happen. Under Ontario's Occupiers' Liability Act, whoever controls the property owes visitors reasonable care, and the province's minimum maintenance standards for municipal sidewalks treat a lip of about 2 cm (3/4 in.) as a hazard to fix.
We replace broken panels, or lift sound ones with our concrete leveling and slab lifting service.
Salt scaling and plow damage
De-icing salt and repeated freezing peel the top off concrete that was poured without enough entrained air. Plow blades then chip curb noses and open up joint edges.
We rebuild failed sections with an air-entrained mix, and send shallow surface damage to our concrete repair and resurfacing team.
Ponding and black ice
Water left standing on a walk refreezes overnight into the slip hazard every property manager dreads. Ponding usually traces back to settled panels or a gutter set at the wrong grade.
We regrade walks with a positive cross-slope and reset curb-and-gutter so meltwater reaches the catch basins.
Undermined and tipped curbs
Curbs crack and lean when runoff washes the granular base out from behind them or tree roots lift them. Patching the face does not solve that.
We excavate, rebuild the base with 150 to 200 mm (6 to 8 in.) of compacted Granular A and pour a new section dowelled to its neighbours.
Specifications
Design and Spec Options
Commercial flatwork specs come down to four choices: the surface finish, the curb profile, the reinforcement and the joint layout. We build to the engineer's or landscape architect's drawings when they exist, and propose a written spec when they do not.
Every exterior pour uses a CSA A23.1 Class C-2: 32 MPa, 5 to 8% air entrainment, maximum 0.45 water-to-cementing-materials ratio, ordered from Concrete Ontario certified ready-mix plants. Placement and testing follow CSA A23.1 and A23.2.
Accessible routes get extra detailing. Tactile walking surface indicators run the full width of each curb ramp and at least 610 mm deep, in a colour that contrasts with the concrete around them, following the Design of Public Spaces standards under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).
We confirm slopes, landings and plate locations against your drawings or the municipal standard before the forms go in, because a ramp that misses the standard has to be broken out and repoured.
| Decision | Options | Where each fits |
|---|---|---|
| Surface finish | Transverse broom, exposed aggregate, coloured or stamped bands | Broom for most walks and ramps; decorative bands at plaza frontages and main entrances |
| Curb profile | Barrier, mountable (rolled), curb-and-gutter, depressed | Barrier along walks and islands; curb-and-gutter where runoff needs a channel; depressed at entrances and ramps |
| Reinforcement | Steel dowels, welded wire, CSA G30.18 rebar, synthetic fibre | Rebar for aprons and bin pads; fibre products such as Sika Fibermesh-300 for plastic-shrinkage control in walks |
| Joint layout | Tooled or saw-cut contraction joints, isolation joints | Contraction joints cut to one quarter of the slab depth; isolation joints at buildings, light standards, bollards and catch basins |
| Curing | Wet cure, curing blankets, cure-and-seal compounds | Products such as Euclid Super Diamond Clear TB on exposed walks; blankets for late-season pours |
Final specs follow the project engineer or the municipal standard where one applies. Concrete Ontario recommends at least 7 days of curing and no de-icers on new concrete during its first winter.
Permits and traffic
Working in the City Road Allowance
Any sidewalk, curb cut or boulevard work inside the City of London road allowance needs a Work Approval Permit before a saw touches the concrete. We apply at least 7 days ahead, post the securities the City requires and keep the permit on site.
The road allowance often extends well past the curb, so a plaza entrance or a building's front walk can fall partly on City land. We check the property line before bidding so permit time is built into the schedule from day one.
Permits and securities
Applications, drawings, securities and the final City sign-off are handled by our office, not left to the property manager.
Traffic control
Lane and sidewalk closures are signed to Ontario Traffic Manual Book 7 (temporary conditions), with pedestrian detours that stay accessible.
Locates first
We book free Ontario One Call locates before excavation, plus private locates for site lighting and irrigation.
Site safety follows O. Reg. 213/91 for construction projects, and every crew member on site is covered by WSIB.
How we work
Our Commercial Flatwork Process
A typical commercial flatwork job moves through five stages, from site walk to City sign-off. Small trip-hazard repairs can wrap up in a day or two, while a full re-curb of a plaza usually runs one to three weeks of on-site work.
- Site walk and bid
We measure every panel and run of curb, photograph defects and return a unit-price bid that separates removal, base work, concrete and restoration.
- Schedule and permits
Pour dates are planned around tenant hours, garbage pickup and deliveries. Permits, locates and the traffic plan are lined up before mobilization.
- Removal and base
Damaged concrete is saw-cut cleanly at the limits, removed and recycled. Soft clay is dug out and replaced with compacted Granular A.
- Phased forming and pours
We work in sections so entrances stay open, pouring early or after hours where the site demands it, with dowels tying new work to old.
- Cure, inspect and close out
Each pour is cured and barricaded, then inspected with you and the City where required. You receive photos, mix tickets and a written warranty letter.
Unit pricing
Commercial Flatwork Pricing
Commercial sidewalks in the London area typically cost $14 to $22 per sq ft, and new or replacement barrier curb typically costs $45 to $85 per linear ft. These are 2026 ranges for planning a budget; your bid is built from measured quantities.
| Item | Typical range (CAD) | What moves the price |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial sidewalk, new or replacement | $14 to $22 per sq ft | Thickness, reinforcement, ramps and tactile plates, hand work around obstacles |
| Barrier curb or curb-and-gutter | $45 to $85 per linear ft | Profile, run length, radii, dowelling into existing curb, asphalt restoration |
| Removal and disposal of existing concrete | $2 to $4 per sq ft | Thickness, reinforcement in the old slab, truck access |
| Concrete pump, where reach requires it | $450 to $900 per pour when a pump is needed | Distance from the truck, pour size, overhead obstructions |
| Bin pads, aprons and parking bays | Quoted per project | Slab depth (150 to 200 mm), rebar, base thickness, phasing around traffic |
Ranges are planning figures and exclude HST. Permit fees, securities and paid-duty traffic control, where required, are listed as separate line items.
After-hours or weekend work, many small mobilizations and winter heating or blankets add cost. Grouping repairs into one or two phases is usually the easiest way to lower a unit price.
Why us
Why Property Managers Choose Us
Property managers choose us because the paperwork is ready before they ask, the site stays open and the work is backed in writing. We have spent 20+ years in concrete, so we know what a board, an insurer and a City inspector will each want to see.
Insured and WSIB-covered
A certificate of insurance is available on request before mobilization. Ask for our WSIB clearance certificate or check it through the WSIB clearance service.
2-year written warranty
New commercial flatwork carries a 2-year workmanship warranty, longer than the one-year term many commercial contractors offer. Coverage and exclusions are spelled out on our concrete warranty page.
Clear records
Unit-price bids, dated photos, mix tickets and a close-out package make it easy to report to owners and keep records for liability files.
Larger sites often pair flatwork with interior slab work. Our warehouse and industrial floor service covers the building side, and our concrete foundations and footings crew builds bases for site walls, light standards and bin enclosures.
Service area
Commercial Flatwork Across London and Nearby Towns
We build commercial sidewalks, curbs and pads throughout London and the surrounding counties from our yard in the city's south end. Along the Highway 401 corridor, Ingersoll is about 25 minutes away and its industrial parks rely on heavy truck aprons and curb that stands up to tractor-trailer turns.
Further east, Woodstock sits where the 401 and 403 meet, so its distribution and manufacturing sites see constant truck traffic across loading aprons, bin pads and entrance curbs. Our crews reach it in about 35 minutes.
FAQ
Commercial Flatwork FAQs
These are the questions property managers and general contractors ask most before booking sidewalk, curb or parking-area work. For anything not covered here, call our office at (226) 243-3585.
Can you work after hours to keep our entrance open?
Yes. We phase commercial flatwork so at least one entrance stays usable at all times, and we can schedule removal and pours for early mornings, evenings or weekends when tenant traffic is lowest.
Fresh concrete is barricaded and bridged with temporary ramps where needed, so customers and residents always have a marked route around the work.
Who pulls the permit for work on a City sidewalk?
We do. For any curb cut, sidewalk or boulevard work inside the City of London road allowance, we apply for the Work Approval Permit at least 7 days before the start date and post the securities the City requires.
The permit, the traffic control plan and the Ontario One Call locates are all part of our bid, so the owner does not have to chase them.
Do you provide an insurance certificate before starting?
Yes. A certificate of insurance naming the owner or property manager is available on request before we mobilize, and you can ask for our WSIB clearance certificate or verify it yourself through the WSIB clearance lookup.
How much does a commercial concrete sidewalk cost in London?
Most commercial sidewalk replacement in the London area runs $14 to $22 per sq ft, and new barrier curb runs $45 to $85 per linear ft.
Thickness, reinforcement, access, phasing and permit requirements move a project within those ranges, so we price every bid line by line after a site walk.
Do new curb ramps need tactile plates?
On most commercial and institutional sites, yes. The accessibility standards under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act call for tactile walking surface indicators at curb ramps and depressed curbs on new or rebuilt exterior paths of travel.
We set the plates in the fresh concrete during the pour so they sit flush and stay put through winter plowing.
Commercial bids
Request a Flatwork Bid
Tell us the site address, what needs work and any timing constraints. Drawings, photos or a previous engineer's report help us return an accurate unit-price bid within one business day.
Prefer to meet on site? We will walk the property with you and flag any trip hazards that should be dealt with before winter.
- Call or text (226) 243-3585
- Email info@concretesurfacesolutions.ca (attach photos or drawings here)
- Monday to Saturday: 7:00am - 9:00pm
Sunday: 9:00am - 6:00pm
Directions, office hours and what happens after you reach out are on our free concrete estimate page.
Call (226) 243-3585