PORTFOLIO · CONCRETE
Concrete Work, Built for Decades
Driveways, walks and stamped patio slabs, poured with the sub-base depth, rebar and control-joint spacing most crews skip — so it doesn’t crack by year three.
- 5-Yr Workmanship Warranty
- 4-6" Class 5 Sub-Base
- In-House Crew
- Licensed & insured in Minnesota
Pour season runs May through October — book now, summer slots fill fast.
WHY CONCRETE CRACKS
Driveway Cracks Aren't About the Concrete
They’re about what’s under it — thin sub-base, missing rebar or wrong control-joint spacing is behind almost every spider-cracked driveway we get called to fix.
We spec a 8 inches compacted Class 5 sub-base, install reinforcement to match the slab’s use, and place control joints.
200+
Concrete pours completed
8"
Class 5 sub-base standard
20+ Yr
Design lifespan
HOW WE POUR CONCRETE
Our Five-Step Concrete Process
Every pour follows this same path. No shortcuts on sub-base or cure time.
01
Measure
On-site review, grade check and slope-to-drain planning.
1 day
02
Sub-Base
Excavate 12 inches and lay compacted Class 5 aggregate to a 8 inch depth.
1-2 days
03
Reinforce
Rebar or wire mesh installed to match the slab’s thickness and use.
Same day
04
Pour
MN-spec, 6-bag-minimum concrete — floated, finished and joints tooled.
Pour day
05
Cure
Proper moisture cure, weather protection, and sealer if chosen.
7 days
COMPLETED CONCRETE PROJECTS
Recent Pours, Real Twin Cities Homes
Every project below was designed and installed by our in-house crew.
IN PROGRESS
Crew floats and finishes a fresh pour before the final broom finish.
DRIVEWAY
New concrete driveway.
COLORED & STAMPED CONCRETE PATIO
Stamped concrete patio.
BEFORE YOUR CONSULTATION
Three Decisions Before Your Concrete Consultation
The three choices that shape every pour we do — we’ll walk through all three on-site.
Finish
4
FINISH OPTIONS
Best for: matching your home’s style and how the surface will be used.
- Broom finish — driveways, walks
- Stamped — decorative patios and walks
- Exposed aggregate — modern, high-traffic
- Polished — indoor-outdoor flow
Best For
4
COMMON USE CASES
Best for: matching the pour to what the space actually needs to do.
- Driveways and aprons
- Sidewalks and pathways
- Patios and slabs
- Steps and retaining curbs
Add-Ons
4
WAYS TO UPGRADE THE POUR
Best for: getting more life and look out of the same pour.
- Control-joint pattern design
- Color / release-powder integration
- Sealer application (recommended)
- Radiant heat embed — no more shoveling
Every consultation walks through these three decisions on-site, before anything goes to a proposal.
WHAT'S IN EVERY PROPOSAL
What's Included in Every Concrete Pour
No a-la-carte surprises once the crew is on site — here’s what’s in every signed proposal.
Included in every concrete pour
- On-site consultation and measurement
- Proper sub-base preparation and compaction
- Rebar or wire-mesh reinforcement
- Correct slab thickness for the use case
- Control-joint placement per code
- Proper cure time and weather protection
- Sealer application (optional add-on)
- 5-year workmanship warranty, in writing
TYPICAL PROJECT RANGE
$4,000 – $25,000
Square footage, finish type and site access move the number most. Typical driveway: $6K-$12K. Stamped patio: $10K-$18K. Every quote starts with a free on-site consultation.
THE DIFFERENCE
Most Driveways Crack Because of What's Under Them
Inadequate sub-base, missing rebar and wrong control-joint spacing cause spider cracks by year three. We build every pour the other way.
8"
CLASS 5 COMPACTED SUB-BASE · INDUSTRY MIN: 3-4"
The base under your concrete decides whether it cracks.
We dig 8 to 12 inches down, lay 4 to 6 inches of compacted Class 5 aggregate in 2-inch lifts, and only then pour concrete. That’s the step most driveway crews skip — and why ours don’t heave and crack through MN freeze-thaw cycles.
“North Ridge did some cement work for us at our home. Nick, Brandon, Tyler and the crew were a pleasure to work with. They worked hard and now it all looks great again.” — Mary B., Inver Grove Heights concrete repair + new pour
Steel reinforcement standard
Rebar or wire mesh sized to your slab’s thickness and intended use. Steel doesn’t make concrete crack-free — no concrete is — but it keeps slabs flat and aligned when hairline cracks happen.
Rebar/mesh, always included
Control-joint science
Joints placed at 24 to 36 times the slab thickness direct where concrete cracks — along invisible joints — instead of randomly across the surface. Most contractors guess. We measure.
Engineered cracking, not random
10-day proper cure
Most cracking comes from drying too fast. We apply a moisture-cure compound, blanket if needed, and won’t release the slab to traffic until proper hydration is done.
Cure-protected, 10 days minimum
OUR CONCRETE PROMISE
Written, Poured Right, Accountable
Every North Ridge concrete proposal is a signed document — sub-base spec, reinforcement plan and a written warranty your property file can hold onto.
SITE CHECK
A grade check, not a guess
We check grade, slope-to-drain and site access before we quote anything, so the pour we propose is the pour your site can actually support.
SPEC
Sub-base and reinforcement, in writing
Sub-base depth, rebar or mesh, and control-joint layout are named in your proposal before a shovel moves — not a verbal promise to do it right.
WARRANTY
5 years on workmanship, in writing
Your warranty terms are named in the contract. If something moves or cracks outside the joints inside the term, we’re back at no charge.
Every concrete proposal includes a named project contact, from the site visit to the final cure check.
VERIFIED VOICES
5★ reviews from Twin Cities clients
Real reviews from real concrete and hardscape projects.
★★★★★
DRIVEWAY REPAIR + NEW POUR
“North Ridge did some cement work for us at our home. Nick, Brandon, Tyler and the crew were a pleasure to work with in coming up with a plan to fix the problem areas. They worked hard and now it all looks great again.”
Mary B.
Inver Grove Heights · Driveway repair + new pour
via Google
★★★★★
REPEAT CLIENT
“We just had North Ridge complete landscape work for the third time. Nick & Brandon are always helpful providing ideas and giving input during the design phase. Their crews are always friendly, do wonderful work, and clean up their work area. I highly recommend the North Ridge crew!”
Matt B.
Third project with North Ridge
via Google
★★★★★
REPEAT CLIENT · WARRANTY HONORED
“North Ridge has completed multiple projects for us over the years — retaining walls, a fire pit, drainage systems, patios. Every project on time and on budget, and they honored their warranty without question when we needed a repair after winter.”
Michael H.
Twin Cities · Multi-year client
via Google
COMMON QUESTIONS
Concrete FAQ — Honest Answers
All concrete cracks — it’s a fact of the material: expansion, contraction, freeze-thaw and curing. The real question is where. Properly-installed concrete cracks along control joints, invisibly, by design. Badly-installed concrete cracks wherever it wants — across the slab, diagonally, spider-webbed. Our control-joint placement and proper sub-base keep cracking invisible for 20+ years.
Seven days minimum before you drive on it. Concrete technically keeps curing for 28 days and reaches full strength around then. Light foot traffic is fine after 24-48 hours, but full vehicle weight and plowing loads should wait the full week. We put up barriers and brief you on timing at the pour.
May through mid-October, once temperatures hold above 50°F for a proper cure. We can pour in the warm shoulder seasons with accelerators and blanket protection, but summer is ideal. Winter pours need heated enclosures and add 30-40% to the cost — rarely worth it.
Yes, for decorative work — stamped, colored or exposed aggregate. Sealer protects color and pattern from UV, salt and oil. It’s optional on broom-finish driveways. A quality sealer every 3-5 years keeps the surface easier to clean, and we offer it with every pour.
Concrete costs less upfront, gives a uniform single-pour look, and handles heavy snow-plow traffic best. Pavers cost more upfront but are easier to spot-repair and offer more design flexibility. For a straightforward MN residential driveway, concrete usually wins on cost-per-year. We’ll walk through both on the site visit.
BUNDLE & SAVE
Pair Your Concrete With Complementary Work
Services clients most often bundle with a concrete project.
Add a Paver Patio
Concrete driveway plus a paver patio means one crew, one mobilization cost, and a clean transition where the two surfaces meet.
OUR WORK · PATIO & FIRE PITS
Add Front Plantings
Fresh concrete frames perfectly with planting beds on either side. Bundle at install for coordinated edging and lawn restoration.
OUR WORK · PLANTINGS
Add Driveway Lighting
Low-voltage LED along the driveway edge makes evening arrivals safer and adds curb appeal, backed by our longest written warranty.
15-YR LIGHTING WARRANTY
READY WHEN YOU ARE
Ready to Pour Something That Lasts?
Free on-site consultation. We measure, check grade and slope, talk finish options, and leave you with a design direction plus a real budget range.
Replies within 2 business hours · Mon–Fri 7am–6pm
- Free On-Site Consult
- 5-Yr Workmanship Warranty
- In-House Crew
- Licensed & insured in Minnesota