Concrete Contractor in Costa Mesa - Driveways and Patios Built on a Packed Base
Select Laguna Niguel Concrete is a concrete contractor based in Laguna Niguel that replaces, repairs and adds driveways, patios, walkways, steps and slabs for Costa Mesa homeowners, starting with the ground underneath.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free on-site estimates.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
Concrete work in Costa Mesa neighborhoods
Most of our Costa Mesa calls are about concrete that's already there. It might be a driveway cracked across the middle and dropped at one corner, a back patio that puddles by the slider, or a front walk a tree root has lifted. We're a concrete contractor based in Laguna Niguel, CA, and we do the same work next door in Irvine and just south in Newport Beach.
Price on these jobs follows how much old concrete has to come out, how much soft dirt we dig out from under it, how far we carry everything from the street, and the finish you choose. A plain broom finish, the light texture that keeps a slab from getting slick, costs less than stamped or colored work. The schedule turns on the weather on pour day and, if your job needs a permit, on the city's review, and my written quote spells out what's included and what isn't so the number makes sense before we start. On older lots like these, what the old slab was sitting on usually decides how much digging the new one needs.
Concrete services for Costa Mesa homes
Concrete driveway building
Most Costa Mesa driveway calls are cracked or sunken slabs, so we break out the old one, rebuild the base and pour fresh.
Learn more about Concrete driveway buildingConcrete patio construction
A back patio that puddles by the door gets torn out and re-poured with a slope that carries water toward the yard.
Learn more about Concrete patio constructionStamped concrete services
For a front walk that faces the street, stamped concrete gives the look of stone or brick, pressed in while the slab is soft.
Learn more about Stamped concrete servicesConcrete sidewalk building
Walkways pushed up by tree roots turn into trip hazards, so we cut out the raised sections and re-pour them flush with the rest.
Learn more about Concrete sidewalk buildingGarage floor concrete
Chipped, oil-stained garage floors in older Costa Mesa homes can be replaced with a smooth finish that's easier to sweep and keep clean.
Learn more about Garage floor concreteDecorative concrete
Color or a scored pattern can dress up a plain backyard slab, and I'll tell you where it's worth the money.
Learn more about Decorative concreteConcrete retaining walls
Where a yard steps down or a planter holds back soil, a concrete wall with drainage behind it keeps the dirt where it belongs.
Learn more about Concrete retaining wallsConcrete floor installation
Room additions, workshops and converted garages need an interior slab poured level on a packed base so the floor stays flat.
Learn more about Concrete floor installationConcrete pool decks
Around a backyard pool, we pour decks with a texture that grips wet feet and a slope that sheds splash water.
Learn more about Concrete pool decksConcrete steps construction
Front steps that have pulled away from the porch or crumbled at the edges get rebuilt with even step heights so nobody trips.
Learn more about Concrete steps constructionSlab foundation building
For an addition or a backyard unit, the slab foundation is where the building starts, so we get the base and steel right first.
Learn more about Slab foundation buildingFoundation installation
When an addition goes on an older house, the new foundation has to meet the old one, so we plan that connection before digging.
Learn more about Foundation installationConcrete parking lot building
Small commercial lots and shared driveways in Costa Mesa take heavy, constant traffic, so the base and slab thickness matter even more.
Learn more about Concrete parking lot buildingConcrete footings
Backyard footings carry a block wall, patio cover or pergola, so we dig and pour them before anything goes on top.
Learn more about Concrete footingsFoundation raising
When part of a slab has dropped, raising it can level it again, and I'll tell you if that beats replacing it.
Learn more about Foundation raisingConcrete cutting
We saw-cut old concrete for new plumbing runs, wider driveways or door openings, leaving clean edges the new concrete can butt against.
Learn more about Concrete cutting
What Costa Mesa slabs need underneath
When an old driveway here has sunk or broken into pieces, the cause is usually the subgrade, the dirt and gravel the slab sits on, which got raked level instead of dug out and packed hard, so it settled and the concrete went down with it. That base is buried on day one and nobody sees it again, which is why it's the first thing a tight budget cuts. I won't cut it. I'd rather pour a plain finish on a solid base than a fancy one on loose dirt, because you can redo a surface but you can't fix a base without tearing out the slab. So we dig out, pack the base in layers, and add rebar, the steel inside that keeps cracked sections from drifting apart, where the slab needs it.
Next we check where your water goes, because a slab that falls toward the house sends rain and sprinkler runoff at your foundation, and we set the forms so it runs to the yard or the street. We pour early in the day when we can, since concrete that dries too fast in afternoon heat ends up with a weak, dusty top. Control joints, the grooves we cut across the slab, give it a straight place to crack, and we cut them early instead of letting the slab pick its own spots. After that comes curing, the wait while it hardens, and you'll be walking on it well before you're driving on it.
Get a written quote for your Costa Mesa concrete
Tell us what's going on with your concrete and how to reach you. We reply within one business day, then I come out for a free on-site estimate with no obligation.
Costa Mesa concrete questions
How much does it cost to replace a concrete driveway in Costa Mesa?
The cost comes down to the size of the driveway, how much old concrete and soft dirt has to come out, and the finish you pick, so I'd need to see yours to give you a fair number. Stamped or colored concrete costs more than a plain broom finish, and a backyard we reach only by wheelbarrow takes more labor than an open driveway at the street. Your written quote is where you'll see your own figure.
Do I need a permit to replace my driveway or patio in Costa Mesa?
Ask the city's Building Safety Division, because it issues building permits in Costa Mesa and it's the office that can tell you for your job. Its quick Insta-Permits, for simple jobs with a limited scope, cover work like HVAC, re-pipes, water heaters, EV chargers, panel upgrades and re-roofs, and concrete isn't on that list. When your job needs a permit and we're the contractor, we pull it, handle the paperwork and plan the schedule around the review, and I'll tell you early if anything has to come from you, like an HOA approval.
How do I apply for a building permit in Costa Mesa?
You apply online through the city's TESSA permit system, where you submit plans and enter every part of the application directly. The city ignores paper forms and sends back incomplete applications, so have your plans and details ready before you start. If something isn't clear, Building Safety's line is (714) 754-5273.
Does my concrete project need a licensed contractor in California?
For most concrete jobs, yes, because California's Contractors State License Board requires a license whenever a job needs a building permit, uses employee labor, or adds up to $1,000 or more in labor and materials. A bigger job can't be split into smaller contracts to stay under that $1,000 line, and the contractor has to hold the license before bidding. We're fully licensed and insured, so ask about it at the estimate.
What are the penalties for unlicensed contracting in California?
A first offense is usually a misdemeanor, with up to six months in jail, a $500 fine or both, and the board can add an administrative fine of $200 to $15,000. That's the contractor's risk, not yours, but it tells you something about who's standing in your driveway. Ask about the license before you sign anything.
What causes concrete driveways in Costa Mesa to crack and sink?
Most of it traces back to a base that was never packed and joints that were cut late or skipped, which is why we spend so much time on both. A new slab will still crack some, because concrete shrinks as it dries and moves with the ground no matter who pours it. What you want are hairline cracks that follow the joints, and I'll show you what's normal at the final walkthrough so you can judge the work fairly.
Want me to look at your concrete?
I'll come out, look at your slab and the ground under it, and write a quote listing what's included and what isn't.
Other cities we work in
If another city we have a page for is closer, it's listed here, and if yours isn't, call (949) 312-6257 since we work in many cities across Orange County.