Toronto's Residential Concrete Formwork & Finishing Specialists

Most residential foundation work in Toronto requires a building permit from the City of Toronto Building Department. This includes new foundations, underpinning, and substantial structural modifications. Smaller concrete work like walkways might not require permits, but driveways often need grading permits. We handle the entire permit process, coordinating with engineers for required drawings and calculations, submitting applications, and addressing any technical questions from building officials. We also ensure all work is inspected at the appropriate stages to avoid compliance issues later.

Project timelines vary based on scope and complexity, but typical residential projects follow these timeframes: Small foundations (1-2 weeks), standard home foundations (2-3 weeks), underpinning projects (3-6 weeks depending on size), walkout basement installations (2-3 weeks), and concrete flatwork like driveways (3-7 days). Factors affecting timelines include weather conditions, permit approval times, concrete curing requirements, and site access. Our project planning provides a detailed schedule with clear milestones, and we communicate any timeline adjustments promptly. We never rush concrete work as proper forming, curing, and finishing are essential for long-term quality.

RawPower Construction specializes exclusively in residential concrete formwork and finishing, unlike general contractors who handle multiple trades. Our specialized focus means we've developed systems and expertise specifically for Toronto homes and soil conditions. We maintain a dedicated, well-trained crew rather than relying on constantly changing subcontractors, ensuring consistent quality. Our formwork systems are engineered for precision, and we maintain strict quality control through every stage from layout to finishing. Additionally, we coordinate seamlessly with other trades like waterproofing contractors, plumbers, and electricians to ensure utility penetrations and embedments are perfectly placed.

Concrete curing is a critical chemical process that develops strength over time. While concrete sets initially within hours, it continues gaining strength for weeks. Our standard timing guidelines include: Formwork removal (1-2 days for walls, 5-7 days for supported structures), backfilling against foundation walls (minimum 7 days, typically 10+ days in cooler weather), light foot traffic on slabs (24-48 hours), vehicle traffic on driveways (7-10 days minimum), and full strength development (28 days). We implement proper curing techniques including moisture retention methods and temperature control in extreme weather. Rushing these timeframes can compromise long-term performance, so we build appropriate curing times into project schedules.

Concrete placement in cold weather requires special procedures that we've mastered for Toronto's climate. Our winter concrete protocols include: Using heated water and accelerating admixtures in the concrete mix, ensuring the subgrade is thawed and free of ice/snow before placement, installing insulated blankets or heated enclosures to maintain minimum curing temperatures (typically above 10°C/50°F for the first 48-72 hours), continuous temperature monitoring using digital sensors, and extending curing times appropriate to conditions. We may recommend postponing certain exterior flatwork during extreme cold, but foundation work can typically proceed year-round with proper precautions. Our cold-weather concrete practices ensure proper strength development even in Toronto's harshest winter conditions.