Concrete Contractors in Cascade Township, MI

Cascade Charter Township sits about 10 miles southeast of downtown Grand Rapids, between Kentwood and Lowell, and concrete contractors working in Cascade Township cover a lot of different ground. The Thornapple River runs through the township and divides it into east and west halves. The township had 15,107 residents in 2000 and 19,667 in 2020, across roughly 35 square miles. Its northern half is part of the Forest Hills census-designated place, the largest CDP in Michigan by area and population.

From an 1845 plat to modern subdivisions

Cascade was part of Ada Township until it was organized separately in 1848. The original Cascade community was platted in 1845 by D. S. T. Weller and had a post office from 1854 to 1910. The Whitney Tavern Stand, built in 1853, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Most homes today, though, are far newer, built on wooded lots, cul-de-sacs and river-view parcels.

With newer, larger homes come larger concrete projects. Three-car garage aprons, wide driveways with side parking, generous rear patios and walks that wrap around the house are all common here.

Airport on the southwest side

Gerald R. Ford International Airport takes up about 4.89 square miles in the southwest part of the township. Neighborhoods nearby have a more suburban feel, with standard lots and straight driveways. East of the river, lots get bigger and the land rolls more. A single visit to Cascade might take us from a flat lot near the airport to a sloped drive above the Thornapple, and each needs its own plan for base depth, grade and drainage.

Get a Free Estimate

River lots and drainage

Homes near the Thornapple often have yards that fall toward the water. That is good for drainage overall, but it means patios and walks have to be set carefully so water runs away from the house and not under the slab. Soil near the river may be softer or sandier. We dig to firm ground, compact a crushed-gravel base and pitch every slab, then place control joints where cracks would naturally form.

Popular projects in Cascade

• Stamped patios with borders and steps, often replacing aging wood decks
• Driveway replacement on homes whose first drive has scaled or cracked
• Driveway widening and side pads for a boat, trailer or extra car
• Front walks and steps that match the scale of larger homes
• Garage floors replaced after decades of salt and wear
• Slab repair for single sunken or lifted panels

Historic Cascade

The Whitney Tavern Stand, built in 1853, is listed on the National Register and is a reminder of the township's early days. Where older houses remain, some sit on stone or brick foundations. When we replace steps or a walk at one of these homes, we protect the old foundation and keep the new concrete from bearing on it.

Winter wear

The Grand Rapids area averages about 75 inches of snow a year and around 138 nights below freezing. On Cascade driveways we often find surface scaling from salt carried in on cars, especially in the garage and on the first few feet of the drive. Air-entrained concrete, proper curing and a penetrating sealer help a new slab hold up.

Call (616) 727-8573 to set up a visit. We check with Cascade Charter Township on any permit your project needs before we schedule.