Concrete Contractors in West Mesa, NM

The West Mesa is the high ground west of the Rio Grande that runs north from the South Valley toward Bernalillo and Rio Rancho. It borders Rio Rancho, and for concrete contractors it is mostly a story of fast growth. Wikipedia lists Ventana Ranch, Taylor Ranch and Paradise Hills among its major housing developments, and puts the region's population at 39,602 in 1980, 114,552 in 2000 and 184,996 in 2010.

Volcanoes and an escarpment

The mesa's eastern edge is an escarpment above the Rio Grande floodplain, and its western reaches hold a line of volcanic cones and lava flows. Petroglyph National Monument, established in 1990, stretches about 17 miles along that escarpment. According to the monument's Wikipedia page, around 200,000 years ago six eruptions laid down basalt layers 5 to 50 feet deep, which flowed down old arroyos.

For a homeowner, the geology shows up in two ways. Close to the escarpment, rock and uneven ground can turn up when we dig. Away from it, ground on the lower mesa tends to be sandy, which drains well but needs careful compaction under a slab. Either way, we look at the ground before giving a firm quote.

Newer homes, different requests

With the population nearly quintupling between 1980 and 2010, many West Mesa homes are relatively new, so requests here lean toward adding to what the builder left rather than rescuing failed concrete. Projects that fit newer lots:

• Back patio expansions off a small builder slab
• Stamped concrete to make a plain patio look finished
• Side-yard pads for trash bins, a shed or a small trailer
• Driveway extensions for an extra car or an RV
• Walkways that tie the front yard, side gate and back patio together

When we add to existing concrete, we tie new to old with dowels so they stay level, and we line up control joints with the existing ones so the whole surface reads as one.

Get a Free Estimate

Wind, sun and the open mesa

The West Mesa is open, exposed ground. Afternoon sun hits patios hard, and wind can dry a fresh slab's surface quickly. On windy or hot days we start early, use evaporation control where needed and begin curing right after finishing. A light-colored or integrally colored finish keeps a patio cooler underfoot.

Driveways that are starting to age

The first wave of West Mesa growth is now decades old. Homes from the 1980s and 1990s are reaching the point where driveways show corner breaks, cracks across panels and settled sections near the garage. If yours looks like that, we will assess whether it needs targeted repair or replacement, and what is causing the damage in the first place.

Rules and HOAs

Much of the West Mesa is inside Albuquerque, some is unincorporated county land and many subdivisions have HOAs with rules on finishes and colors. We check what applies to your address and give you drawings or specs to submit if your HOA needs them.

Planning a slab for an RV or trailer

A trailer or camper usually needs its own pad beside or behind the house. The pad should be thicker than a standard walkway, with steel, a compacted base and thickened edges where the tires roll on. It also needs a reachable approach, a gate wide enough to back through and enough slope to drain. We measure the vehicle, check setbacks and HOA rules, and lay the pad out so you can actually maneuver onto it, not just park on it once.