Concrete Contractor in Cedar Lake, IN - Driveways and Patios That Drain Right
Saint John Concrete is a concrete contractor based in nearby Saint John, pouring driveways, patios, steps, garage floors and retaining walls for Cedar Lake homes, from older lake cottages to newer subdivision houses.
- Service area
- Cedar Lake, IN
- Call
- (219) 351-9579
Lake homes and yards across Cedar Lake
Cedar Lake grew up around the lake, and you can see it in the houses. Near the water you find older cottages that became year-round homes, often on narrow lots with short driveways and a patio squeezed between the house and the shore. Farther out are newer subdivisions with wide drives and bigger garages. We're based in Saint John, a short drive north, and we pour in Crown Point and Lowell too, so Cedar Lake sits right in the middle of where we work.
Those two kinds of property call for different work. On the older lots, slabs have often settled or tipped toward the house over the years, and space can be tight for a truck. On lots that slope toward the water, the grade decides everything, because rain has to run off your concrete and not under it.
Our services in Cedar Lake, IN
Sinking driveways usually trace back to a base that was raked level instead of dug out and packed. We dig down, compact the subgrade the slab rests on and pitch the surface away from your garage.
Lake homes get used out back, and a patio that tips toward the door sends rain at your foundation. We set the fall toward the yard before anything else, then broom the top for grip.
Older garages here often have floors that are cracked, chipped or holding water by the door. Our garage floor concrete starts with tear-out and a packed base, sloped so water runs out the door.
Yards that step down toward the lake often need a wall to hold the slope in place. We pour on solid footings and give the water behind it a way out, because trapped water pushes walls over.
Front steps on older homes tend to pull away from the house or crumble at the edges. We tear them out, pour on footings and form every riser the same height so nobody trips.
A new detached garage or shed needs a slab that's square, level and sized for what goes on it. I lay it out with string lines and check the grade twice before we order the truck.
Every service we offer
Concrete driveway building
Concrete patio construction
Stamped concrete services
Concrete sidewalk building
Garage floor concrete
Decorative concrete
Concrete retaining walls
Concrete floor installation
Concrete pool decks
Concrete steps construction
Slab foundation building
Foundation installation
Concrete parking lot building
Concrete footings
Foundation raising
Concrete cutting
What happens when you call us about a Cedar Lake job
Call or send the form
Call (219) 351-9579 or send the form with a few lines about what you want poured and what's there now. We call you back to set a time that works for you.
I measure and check grade
I come out myself, measure, see where the water runs now and ask how you use the space. You get a written estimate that spells out what's included, like tear-out and hauling, so there are no surprises later.
We sort out permits and timing
We check with Cedar Lake's Building Department, take care of the permit if your job needs one and pick a pour date around the weather and any inspection the department schedules. You don't need to be home for the pour, though plenty of people like to watch.
We pour, finish and explain
I check the forms and string lines before the truck shows up, then work with our crew through the pour, the finish and the control joints, shallow cuts that give the slab a planned place to crack. Before we leave, I walk you through curing, the wait while the concrete hardens before you put weight on it.
Cedar Lake concrete questions
Do I need a permit for a concrete patio or driveway in Cedar Lake?
For a patio, plan on one, because the Building Department for the Town of Cedar Lake lists patios among its examples of work that needs a building permit. Driveways aren't named on that list, but the list isn't complete, and the department asks you to contact it before starting any project when you're unsure. We check with the department on every Cedar Lake job and handle the permit when one is needed.
How do I check that a concrete contractor can legally work in Cedar Lake?
Ask for their Cedar Lake contractor registration and their Lake County license, because every contractor working there has to be registered, and the code published online ties that registration to a current license from the Lake County Board of Licensing and Registration. For sidewalks and any new construction, the same code text calls for at least $1,000,000 in liability coverage plus proof of workers' compensation. Terms can change, so check the current ones with Cedar Lake at 219-374-7000. We're fully licensed and insured, and I'm glad to show you the paperwork.
What happens if my concrete work isn't ready for a Cedar Lake inspection?
The Building Department charges a $35.00 re-inspection fee when a scheduled inspection can't be finished because the work isn't ready. Work that's ready on time doesn't pay it, and missing the slot can push your pour back. We plan the pour around the inspection date, and I check the forms, the base and the rebar, the steel that holds the slab together, before the inspector arrives.
How much does a concrete driveway cost in Cedar Lake?
A Cedar Lake driveway is priced on its size and thickness, the tear-out and hauling of the old slab, the base work the ground needs and the finish you choose. Tight lake lots where a truck can't reach the forms add labor, and a stamped or colored top costs more than a plain broom finish, the light texture that keeps it from getting slick. If something has to give in the budget, keep the money in the base, because it's buried on day one and it decides whether the slab sinks later. Timing mostly turns on the permit, any inspection and the weather, and I'll put your number in writing after I measure.
What causes concrete driveways in Cedar Lake to crack and sink?
Most cracking and sinking starts with a base that was raked level instead of dug out and packed, so the slab settles right along with the dirt under it. Joints cut late or skipped let the slab crack wherever it wants, and a pour in the midday heat can leave a weak, dusty top. We pack the base, pour early in the day when we can and cut the joints on time so any cracks land in lines we picked.
Does concrete work on the Cedar Lake shoreline need a state license?
It can, because the State of Indiana's licensing portal lists state licensing for seawalls and group piers in public freshwater lakes, apart from Cedar Lake's own permit process. That applies only to lakes that qualify as public freshwater lakes, so check with the state before you plan anything at the water's edge. For walls and patios up in the yard, we check with the Building Department as usual.
Get a free written estimate for your Cedar Lake concrete
Send the form or call, and we'll get back to you within one business day to set a time. I come out to your Cedar Lake property myself, measure and check the grade, then give you a free on-site estimate in writing, with no pressure and no obligation.
- Call
- (219) 351-9579
- Location
- St John, IN 46373
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 6 AM–9 PM, Sat–Sun: 8 AM–10 PM
Tell us about your Cedar Lake project
A few lines on the size and what's there now lets me show up ready with the right questions about your grade and access.