Every day, your sidewalk awaits your arrival. It greets you with its calm demeanor, inviting you to take that first step and be on your way. One foot in front of the other - that's how your journey begins. The next thing you know, you're where you needed to go!
Is a sidewalk magic?
No, it's usually concrete. Or granite. Or cobblestone. Or pavers. All durable surfaces that take a lot of wear and tear from people feet, pet feet, bicycles, wheelchairs, strollers, shopping carts … but that's okay. That is what your sidewalk is designed to do.
New York's sidewalks are legendary - oh, the stories they could tell! How many travelers began their American journey on a New York sidewalk? How many of the world's great thinkers have strolled along the hard surfaces, contemplating their next great discovery? How many young disco dancers have let it be known that you can tell a lot about them by the way they use their walk as they strut along the walkway with finesse and style?
The flow of a New York sidewalk is the quintessential image of "life in the big city." Commuters hustling to work, street performers touting their talent, couriers delivering important documents, old lovers hand-in-hand on a slow sashay, children skipping to school - so much life happens on our sidewalks. Perhaps sidewalks aren't magic, but they are definitely where the magic happens.
Have a Nice Trip!
The sidewalks of New York are a magnificent place to trip the light fantastic, but they can also turn dangerous when they are just a place to trip. Regular sidewalk maintenance is vital to keeping sidewalks safe for those who use them, and sidewalk repairs can keep pedestrians from taking a one-way trip.
Most sidewalks are made of concrete. Concrete is a durable, resilient, and versatile material that has been used since ancient Roman times to build structures, roads, and walkways - many of which are still in existence today. While concrete is strong and long-lasting, a variety of factors can lead to the development of sidewalk trip hazards:
- Unlevel or uneven concrete or pavers
- Surface deterioration, cracks, holes
- Slope and grading issues
- Intrusion of tree roots
- Construction work or vehicle accidents
- Protrusion of pipes or utility access portals
In New York, it is the responsibility of the homeowner to keep the sidewalk adjacent to their property well-maintained. If someone is injured on a sidewalk, the liability for their injuries can fall on the owner of the adjoining property as well. The Department of Transportation (DOT) regularly monitors sidewalk conditions, and can issue a DOT violation notice requiring that the property owner make repairs. If the property owner does not make repairs within 45 days of receiving the notice, then DOT can make the repairs on their behalf - and send them a bill that can be significantly higher than the cost that a private concrete contractor would charge.
For sidewalk repair in Queens and the neighboring boroughs, give the professionals a call today at Sidewalk Repair Queens at 718-544-6411.
Hiring a sidewalk repair professional to inspect your sidewalk, review blueprint guidelines, and perform the necessary repairs can alleviate DOT violation notice woes and keep your sidewalk safe and hazard-free for your neighbors who utilize your sidewalk. It's important to make sure that your sidewalk contractor is licensed and insured to ensure that you'll always receive quality results, with the proper permits, specifications, and inspections in place.
Regular sidewalk maintenance is the best way to help you avoid dangerous trip hazards, so contact a local sidewalk repair contractor today and have them evaluate your sidewalk for safety. They will not only remedy your trip hazard, but they can also help you avoid the worst trip of all - a guilt trip.