Concrete company in Troy Hill, Pittsburgh
Troy Hill sits on a plateau above the Allegheny River, in ZIP code 15212, with cliffs dropping about 150 feet to the streets below. German and Czech families built most of its houses in the 1800s, and the basement floors under them have usually been patched many times since.
Job ticket: Troy Hill
- County
- Allegheny County
- Site visit
- Free
- Price
- In writing
- Cover
- Bonded and insured
Local conditions in Troy Hill
- 1800s worker houses on narrow lots
- Old basement floors, thin or heavily patched
- Cliffs on three sides of the plateau
- Little room for a truck at the house
Areas we cover in Troy Hill
We work across Troy Hill, including these areas.
- Lowrie Street
- Troy Hill Road
- Vinial Street
- Claim Street and Hatteras Street
- The old Bohemian Hill section
- Streets near Most Holy Name of Jesus Church
Replacing basement floors in 19th-century houses
In a house this old, the basement floor may be a thin skim of concrete, brick laid on soil, or a patchwork left by a century of plumbing and furnace work. Once it starts to heave or break up, patching rarely holds for long. We break it out, carry the pieces up and out, dig down to a firm base and pour a new floor over stone and a vapor barrier.
Stone and brick foundation walls from that era can sit on shallow footings, so we dig along them by hand and never undercut a wall to gain depth. Where the new floor has to sit lower, its edge steps back from the wall. See basement floors and concrete removal.
Getting there is half the job. Lots on the hill are narrow and the streets are tight, so concrete for a basement often travels by pump hose or wheelbarrow from Lowrie Street or a side street, then through a basement door or window. With 11 flights of city steps on Troy Hill, some houses are easier to reach on foot than by truck. Broken concrete leaves the same way, one load at a time. During the break-out we close off the stairway, run a fan to a window and keep the furnace and water heater covered against dust.
Concrete services in Troy Hill
As your concrete company in Troy Hill, we pour slabs and floors and repair what is already there. These are the jobs people here ask about most.
Planning a concrete job in Troy Hill
Measure the basement window or door we would use, and tell us where a truck could stand on your street. The city's Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections handles permits on private property here, and we confirm what your job needs first.
Before you get quotes, read our guide to hiring a concrete company.
Concrete questions from Troy Hill
Can a concrete company replace a basement floor in a Troy Hill house?
Yes. A new basement floor usually runs $8 to $14 per square foot, and breaking out the old one adds about $3 to $7. On Troy Hill, hand carting through a window or door is common, which puts it toward the higher end.
Why is there a gap between my basement wall and floor?
Often it is just shrinkage where the floor was poured against the wall, or an old drain channel along the edge. A gap that keeps growing, or that lets water in, points to settling or water pressure and needs a closer look.
Is a patched basement floor in an old Troy Hill house worth saving?
Sometimes. If the patches are tight and the floor stays dry, crack repair and a sealer can be enough. If it rocks underfoot, sounds hollow or lets water up, replacing it is the better buy.
Will replacing a basement floor on Troy Hill disturb the foundation walls?
It should not, when it is done with care. We dig beside old stone and brick walls by hand and never undercut them. If a wall looks unsound once the floor is out, we stop and tell you before going further.