Concrete in the North Valley goes in under cottonwoods, beside irrigation ditches and on lots that are bigger and older than most of the metro.
The North Valley is an unincorporated community of about 11,000 people in Bernalillo County, next to the Village of Los Ranchos, within the Albuquerque metro. Because it's unincorporated, the rules that apply come from Bernalillo County, not the City of Albuquerque.
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Common work includes replacing old, root-heaved driveways and walks, new driveways where a gravel or dirt drive meets a paved county road, patios under mature trees, slabs for garages, shops and barns, and RV and trailer pads on large lots.
According to Bernalillo County Planning and Development Services' homeowner permit guide, flatwork such as walkways and driveways doesn't require a building permit, and neither does a shed under 120 square feet. A detached structure over 120 square feet does, and permits and applications are valid for 180 days. The County's building inspectors can be reached at (505) 314-0351.
Where the driveway meets the road is a different matter. Bernalillo County's draft Technical Standards call for a driveway permit from County Public Works for new or modified connections to a County road, and for paving of 1,000 square feet or more. The same draft sets residential driveway widths at a 12-foot minimum, 14 feet preferred and 22 feet maximum, and requires contractors working in County right-of-way to be licensed, bonded, insured and approved. Because that document is a draft, we confirm the current rule with the County before work in the right-of-way.
The North Valley's big cottonwoods are part of what people love about it, and their roots are what lift and crack old driveways and walks. When a slab has heaved, the fix is usually removal and replacement, with the root issue handled at the same time if the tree can tolerate it. When a slab has sunk rather than heaved, it may be a candidate for concrete leveling instead.
Many North Valley lots back up to Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District ditches. Concrete work near a ditch has to keep runoff, washout and debris out of the water and leave access along the bank. We grade driveways and patios so water heads for landscaping or a retention area on the lot, not the ditch or the road.
North Valley's climate is arid, but the monsoon usually arrives in late June or early July and can last into mid or late September, bringing short, heavy storms. Daytime temperatures run about five degrees warmer than at the Albuquerque Sunport, with overnight lows slightly cooler, as the area's climate is commonly described. For concrete, that means early starts in summer to beat the heat and afternoon storms, and covering fresh concrete if a storm builds. In winter, freezing nights mean exterior concrete is air-entrained, which the American Concrete Pavement Association says helps it resist freeze-thaw damage and scaling.
Valley soils range from river sand to silt and clay, often with old fill on lots that have been reworked over the decades. The New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources lists collapsible soils, which compact when wet, as common in New Mexico. We dig out soft and organic material, compact the base, and moisten the subgrade before placing concrete.
Large lots mean a lot of detached garages and workshops. See garage floors and shop slabs. Remember that a detached structure over 120 square feet needs a County permit.
Tell us your road and what you want poured. Call (505) 371-4111 anytime or use the form.
We're based in Rio Rancho and serve the North Valley as part of our service area. Back to Rio Rancho Concrete Works.
