Concrete Contractors in North Valley, NM

The North Valley is the unincorporated stretch of Bernalillo County north of central Albuquerque, along the Rio Grande, and it is one of the closest valley areas to Rio Rancho. For concrete contractors, its weather is what sets it apart. Wikipedia notes that summer days often reach 100 degrees and that daytime temperatures run about five degrees warmer than the Albuquerque Sunport. The 2020 census counted 11,149 residents and 4,850 housing units on about 7 square miles.

Pouring in the heat

High heat is one of the hardest conditions for fresh concrete. Water leaves the surface fast, which can cause plastic shrinkage cracks before the slab has even set, and a hot slab can set before finishers are ready. In the North Valley summer we:

• Schedule pours for early morning
• Dampen the base and forms so they do not pull water out of the mix
• Have the crew and tools ready before the truck arrives
• Start curing as soon as finishing is done, with a curing compound or wet cure

None of that is visible after the job, but it is often the difference between a slab with random cracks and one that only cracks at the joints.

Monsoon season

The North Valley averages only about 6.75 inches of precipitation a year, but the monsoon, which usually starts in late June or early July and can run to mid or late September, delivers much of it in short storms. A storm is the worst thing that can happen to a slab poured the same afternoon, so we watch forecasts closely and keep plastic on hand. Over the longer term, monsoon runoff is what undermines patios and walks, so we pay attention to slope, downspouts and where water leaves the lot.

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Cold extremes too

For all its heat, the area has seen a record low of minus 19 degrees. Snow is light, averaging about 3.7 inches a year, but nights below freezing are common in winter. Air-entrained concrete, which holds tiny air bubbles that give freezing water room to expand, is standard for our exterior work for this reason.

A view from the yard

Wikipedia notes that Balloon Fiesta can be watched from yards anywhere in the North Valley. Plenty of homeowners here want a patio built for exactly that: a wider slab facing the sky, a stamped finish, room for chairs and maybe a fire pit. For patios like this we discuss size, which way the slab faces, shade, and how the edge transitions to the yard.

Work we do in the North Valley

Driveway replacement. Many valley homes have older drives that have settled or cracked into pieces.

Patios and extensions. Adding space to small slabs, with a light-colored finish that stays cooler underfoot.

Stamped concrete. Patterns that suit adobe and ranch-style homes.

Walkways. Front walks, side paths and garden routes.

Slabs. Sheds, carports and trailer pads on larger lots.

Repair. Crack sealing, leveling and section replacement.

Because the North Valley is unincorporated county land next to the City of Albuquerque and the Village of Los Ranchos, which rules apply depends on your exact address. We check before we schedule.

Bigger lots than the mesa subdivisions

The numbers show how spread out the North Valley is. Its 11,149 residents live on about 7 square miles, roughly 1,600 people per square mile, against more than 4,200 per square mile in Paradise Hills up on the mesa. More ground per house usually means longer driveways, room for a detached shop or carport slab, and more irrigated yard next to the concrete. On those lots we plan the base and edges for ground that stays damp longer, and we keep sprinkler and garden water from running onto the slab.