Concrete sidewalk building in Forest Lake MN - a walk that drains water away
Tired of a cracked, uneven walk that holds puddles? We build a new concrete sidewalk on packed, sloped ground so water runs off.
What does it take to build a new concrete sidewalk?
Concrete sidewalk building in Forest Lake, MN means pouring a new concrete walk, either to replace a cracked or sinking one or to add a path where there isn't one, on ground that's been dug out, packed and sloped so water runs off it. The pour is the quick part, because most of the work goes into the base before it and the wait for it to cure comes after.
Most people call when the old walk has heaved, broken into pieces or holds a puddle by the front step, and sometimes the concrete steps at the end of it need work too. The price moves with the walk's length and width, whether there's an old walk to break out and haul away, how much soft ground has to come out and be packed, and whether it runs along the street, where the city's standards come in. The schedule turns mostly on the weather, any check with the city, and the curing wait before you can use it. For your own number, I come out, walk the route with you and write down what the price covers.
How we handle concrete sidewalk building
We break out the old walk and dig down past the soft dirt, because a base that's only raked level settles with the dirt and takes the concrete with it. Then we pack the subgrade, the ground the slab sits on, and slope it so water runs off the walk and not toward your house. If your walk runs along the street, I check with the city about its standards before we plan anything. We set the forms, add rebar, steel bars that help hold the slab together, where the walk needs it, and pour in the cooler part of the day when we can, since midday heat can leave a weak, dusty top. A broom finish gives the surface a light texture so your shoes grip when it's wet, and we cut control joints, shallow grooves that tell the concrete where to crack, early enough that any cracks land in those lines. Then it cures, which is the wait while the concrete gains strength before you walk on it. If the budget gets tight, I'd rather you trim the finish than the base, because nobody sees the base on day one but it decides whether the walk stays flat. Ask any contractor how deep they dig before they pack. The answer tells you a lot.
A new walk often meets other concrete, so it makes sense to look at the whole run. If the slab where the walk reaches the garage is chipped or sinking, we can talk about garage floor concrete on the same visit. If you'd like color or a pattern instead of a plain broom finish, decorative concrete can go on the walk itself.
Why Forest Lake homeowners call Forest Lake Concrete for sidewalks
The owner walks your job
I come out to look at the walk myself, write the estimate, and then work on the crew that builds it. The person who heard what you wanted is the same one standing there on pour day.
Fully licensed and insured
We're fully licensed and insured, and you're welcome to ask to see both before we start. That way you're not carrying the risk if something goes wrong on your property.
Questions answered before we pour
I came to concrete later than most and started this business in 2023, so I still remember not knowing the words. I'd rather spend an extra half hour answering your questions than leave you guessing after we're gone.
Based here, working nearby
We're based in Forest Lake and work across the cities around it, including Hugo, Lino Lakes and others nearby. Walks here sit through hard freezes and spring thaws, so we plan each one with that in mind.
On a sidewalk, the part that matters most is the ground under it. When you're ready, send us a few details or call (612) 448-0764 and I'll come take a look.
Get a written estimate for your new walk
We reply within one business day, and the estimate is free, done at your home and comes with no obligation. I'll walk the route with you and write down what the price covers. It helps if you tell us the walk's rough length and width and whether it runs along the street.
Concrete sidewalks and walkways
Questions before building a concrete sidewalk
How much does a concrete sidewalk cost near Forest Lake MN?
Standard flat concrete for a walk in the Minneapolis area usually costs about $4 to $13 per square foot. That's a wide spread, because tear-out, base work, steps, curves and finish all move it. For a Forest Lake price on your walk, the estimate is where I write down exactly what the price covers.
What kind of concrete is best for a sidewalk in Minnesota?
Air-entrained concrete is the one to ask for, since a concrete trade group calls it a must to prevent scaling, the flaking that eats the top of a walk. The mix carries tiny air pockets, and you can ask for it by name when you compare quotes.
How cold is too cold to pour a concrete sidewalk?
Concrete guides count it as cold weather once the air drops, or is expected to drop, below 40°F while the fresh concrete is still being protected. Cold slows the set and can freeze the concrete before it gains strength, so the pour should be planned around nights and ground that aren't cold. As fall comes on, we talk through the date with you before we book it.
How do I care for a new concrete sidewalk in winter?
Use no deicers on new concrete the first winter and spread sand for traction instead, as one concrete association's cold-weather guide advises. After that first winter, the same guide says to keep magnesium or calcium chloride, fertilizer and water-softener salt off the concrete for good. If your walk goes in late in the season, keep a bag of sand by the door.
Do I need a permit to build a sidewalk in Forest Lake?
Ask the City of Forest Lake before any digging starts, because the city requires permits for many excavation projects and wants to hear from owners before work in the public right-of-way, the strip along the street. A walk there has to follow the city's approved plans and engineering standards, and when the city builds a sidewalk itself, the owner next to it pays for it. Leaving materials in the street or on a public sidewalk takes a city permit too, and the city says to call Gopher State One at 1-800-252-1166 before digging. Before we set a date, we check with the city and any other office the job touches, help you with a permit if you need one and tell you who we've talked to.
Who is allowed to build a concrete sidewalk at my house in Minnesota?
Under state licensing rules, a company you hire directly for work that takes more than one special skill needs a residential building contractor or residential remodeler license, and the rule covers homes with one to four units. Ask for the license along with the estimate, from us or anyone else. If the walk sits on city property along the street, the city or county can also require a local license, even from a contractor the state has licensed.
Other concrete work that pairs with a new walk
- Garage floor concrete
If the slab where your new walk meets the garage is cracked, sinking or pitched toward the door, replacing it now lets both pieces meet at one clean, even edge.
- Decorative concrete
When you want the path to your door to look like more than plain gray, color, stains or a pattern can give it a look that suits your house and yard.