Curbs & Gutters in Kansas City

A typical 50,000 square foot commercial lot contains 800-1,200 linear feet of curbing. Our 30-person crew completes 400-500 linear feet daily using slip-form curbing equipment. Plan for 2-3 days of active construction plus 7 days curing time before heavy vehicles can mount the new curbs. We often phase the work in sections to maintain customer access. Demolition and base preparation add another 1-2 days upfront. Weather permitting, the entire project from start to striping touch-ups takes 10-14 calendar days.

Barrier curb stands 6-8 inches tall with a vertical face designed to prevent vehicles from leaving the pavement. Install these along sidewalks, landscape islands, and property perimeters for maximum protection. Rollover curb features a sloped face allowing vehicles to mount it when necessary. These work best at loading dock approaches, emergency access routes, and temporary overflow parking areas. Most commercial properties need both types strategically placed. We recommend barrier curb for 80% of your perimeter with rollover sections only where operational needs require vehicle crossing. The concrete mix and reinforcement remain identical – only the formed profile changes.

Absolutely. We measure curb reveal height every 25 feet along existing sections to ensure seamless transitions. Standard commercial curbs run 6 inches above pavement with 6-inch depth below grade, but older properties vary widely. Our crews use laser levels to document existing elevations before demolition. During installation, we adjust our slip-form machines or hand-forming templates to match within 1/8 inch tolerance. This precision prevents drainage problems where new sections meet old. For properties with multiple curb profiles, we create transition pieces that gradually adjust height over 10-foot runs to eliminate abrupt changes.

Catch basins require precise coordination between curb elevation and throat opening dimensions. We position basin throats 1/2 inch below the gutter flow line to capture runoff without creating turbulence. Standard commercial installations space basins every 250-300 feet along continuous runs, with additional units at low points. The curb face gets notched to create a 2-foot wide opening reinforced with steel angles. Valley gutter sections slope 1/4 inch per foot minimum toward each basin. For heavy flow areas, we install 3-foot throat openings with steel grates rated for H-20 loading. Poor basin integration causes premature pavement failure from trapped water.

Annual inspection catches problems early. Look for cracks exceeding 1/8 inch, spalling concrete, and vegetation growing in joints. Seal cracks immediately using polyurethane sealant rated for concrete movement. Clean valley gutters every spring and fall to prevent debris dams that pool water against curb faces. Apply penetrating concrete sealer every 5 years to reduce moisture infiltration during freeze-thaw cycles. Keep snow removal equipment operators aware of curb locations to prevent plow damage. Remove ice melt residue each spring since chlorides accelerate concrete deterioration. When landscape irrigation overshoots onto curbs, adjust sprinkler heads immediately. These simple steps add 10-15 years to curb life.