Sidewalks

Concrete sidewalks are an essential feature of Long Island properties, providing safe, durable pedestrian access along streets, between buildings, and throughout residential and commercial landscapes. Whether you need to replace a cracked and heaving sidewalk, install a new walkway to meet municipal requirements, or add functional pedestrian paths around your property, Brothers Paving & Masonry delivers professional sidewalk installation and replacement services across Nassau and Suffolk County. We build sidewalks that are level, properly graded, code-compliant, and built to last through decades of Long Island weather.

Sidewalk condition matters more than most homeowners realize. Cracked, uneven, or heaving sidewalks are not just unsightly; they are a safety hazard and a potential liability. Trip-and-fall incidents on damaged sidewalks are among the most common property liability claims on Long Island. Many Nassau and Suffolk County municipalities require property owners to maintain the sidewalks adjacent to their property, and failure to do so can result in code violations and fines. When the town issues a notice to repair, you need a contractor who can respond quickly and deliver work that satisfies the inspection.

Brothers Paving has extensive experience working with Long Island municipalities on sidewalk projects. We understand the specific requirements for sidewalk thickness, width, grade, and ADA compliance that vary from town to town. Our team handles permit applications, coordinates inspections, and ensures every sidewalk we install meets or exceeds the applicable standards. We have completed sidewalk replacement projects for homeowners, property managers, HOAs, and commercial property owners throughout the island.

Our sidewalk installation process begins with a thorough assessment of the existing conditions. We evaluate the current sidewalk's condition, identify the cause of any damage, and determine what needs to be done to prevent the same issues from recurring. Tree roots are one of the most common causes of sidewalk damage on Long Island. Large shade trees that line residential streets send roots under sidewalks, lifting and cracking the concrete over time. When tree roots are the culprit, we carefully remove the damaged sections, address the root issue with root pruning or root barriers where appropriate, and install new concrete with measures to minimize future root intrusion.

Demolition of the existing sidewalk is handled efficiently with our professional equipment. We saw-cut along planned removal lines to create clean edges where new concrete will meet existing sections. Broken concrete is removed and disposed of according to local regulations. We are careful to protect adjacent landscaping, utility lines, and property features during demolition.

Base preparation follows the same standards we apply to all of our concrete work. We excavate to the appropriate depth, typically six to eight inches below the finished grade, and install compacted crushed stone aggregate as a base layer. Proper compaction prevents settling, which is the leading cause of sidewalk cracking and unevenness over time. On Long Island, where sandy and loamy soils are common, the aggregate base also provides critical drainage beneath the slab.

Forms are set to the required width, typically four to five feet for residential sidewalks, though municipal specifications vary. We establish precise elevations and cross-slopes to ensure the sidewalk drains properly and meets ADA requirements for accessibility. The standard cross-slope is two percent, which is enough to shed water without creating a noticeable tilt for pedestrians. Longitudinal grades are set to match the existing sidewalk sections and the overall street grade.

We pour air-entrained concrete rated at a minimum of 4,000 PSI, the standard for Long Island's freeze-thaw environment. The concrete is placed, consolidated with vibrators to eliminate air pockets, and screeded to a uniform surface. We apply a broom finish perpendicular to the direction of travel, providing excellent slip resistance in all weather conditions. Control joints are tooled or saw-cut at intervals equal to the sidewalk width, per industry standards, to manage shrinkage cracking and create a clean, professional appearance.

Expansion joints are installed where the sidewalk meets driveways, curbs, building foundations, and other fixed structures. These joints allow the concrete to expand and contract independently, preventing the buckling and cracking that occur when rigid surfaces push against each other during temperature changes. We use preformed expansion joint material that provides a flexible, watertight seal.

Curing is managed with a liquid membrane curing compound applied immediately after finishing. This compound retains moisture in the concrete during the critical early hydration period, ensuring the slab reaches its full design strength. We advise keeping foot traffic off the new sidewalk for at least 24 hours and avoiding heavy loads for seven days.

Brothers Paving takes pride in delivering sidewalk work that is safe, attractive, and built to code. We work efficiently to minimize disruption to your property and your neighbors, and we leave the site clean and fully restored when we are finished. If you have received a municipal notice to repair, need to replace aging sidewalks, or want to add new pedestrian paths to your property, contact us for a free estimate. We are ready to help.