Select Laguna Niguel Concrete
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Concrete Contractor in Fountain Valley - Driveways and Patios Built on a Solid Base

Select Laguna Niguel Concrete is a concrete contractor pouring and replacing driveways, patios, walkways, steps and garage floors in Fountain Valley, CA, and we explain each part of the job in plain words before we start.

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New concrete driveway with straight control joints extends from a brick house’s garage toward the street.
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Concrete work for Fountain Valley homes

Fountain Valley is a short drive up from our base in Laguna Niguel, and most calls we get there come from people in established neighborhoods of single-family homes who want to replace, repair or add to concrete that's been down a long time. We do the same kind of work next door in Costa Mesa, so the houses and the questions feel familiar.

On a lot of these houses the driveway, the walk to the front door and the back patio are as old as the house, so the old slab has to come out before anything new goes in. That shapes the whole job, because I'm planning the tear-out and the pour around lawns, planters, fences, the neighbor's driveway and a family that still needs to get the cars out in the morning.

What we pour in Fountain Valley

What older Fountain Valley concrete asks for

When an old driveway or patio here is cracked, sinking or holding puddles, the cause is usually underneath, in a subgrade, the ground the slab sits on, that was raked flat instead of dug out and packed. So our crew digs out the soft material, brings in base and compacts it, and I check where the water runs so the new slab falls away from the house and not toward it. That base is buried by the end of the first day, which makes it the first thing people want to cut from a budget, and I won't cut it, because a nice finish on a bad base settles and cracks just the same.

The price on a job here moves with the size of the slab, how much old concrete has to come out and be hauled away, how much base work the ground needs and the finish you pick. The schedule turns on the tear-out, any city review and curing, the wait while new concrete hardens before you walk or drive on it. I come out and write the estimate myself, so the figure you get is for your job.

Get a free on-site estimate for your Fountain Valley concrete

Tell us what you'd like poured or replaced and the best way to reach you, and we'll reply within one business day. I come out, look at the job and give you a written quote, with no obligation.

(949) 312-6257

Fountain Valley concrete questions

How do I find out if my concrete job needs a permit in Fountain Valley?

Ask the city's Building Division at 714-593-4429, because the city's list of exempt work doesn't name driveways, patios or walks either way. The city issues permits to build, alter, repair or demolish a building or structure, and it works from the state building code, which it may have amended. When a job needs a permit and we're your 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.

Does a concrete retaining wall need a permit in Fountain Valley?

A retaining wall 4 feet tall or less, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, is on the city's exempt list. That exemption ends if the wall carries extra weight on the ground behind it or holds back flammable or combustible liquids, and a block wall only stays exempt up to 3 feet. I measure from the footing when I write the estimate, so you'll know which side of the line your wall falls on.

Do concrete subcontractors need a business license in Fountain Valley?

Yes, every subcontractor needs a Fountain Valley business license before starting work in the city. On a permitted job the city also wants a subcontractor form approved, turned in two weeks before the final inspection is requested, or the final gets delayed, and we take care of that form with the rest of the paperwork. Questions about a license go to the city's Business License Dept. at 714-593-4421.

How much of a down payment can a contractor ask for in California?

The Contractors State License Board says a contractor can't ask for or accept a down payment of more than $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less, and it says that applies to all home improvement projects. The board licenses and regulates contractors across California to protect homeowners. If a quote asks for more up front than that, ask why before you sign.

How much does a new concrete driveway cost in Fountain Valley?

The price comes from your driveway, so I give it to you in a written quote after I've seen it, listing what's included and what isn't. On older driveways here the biggest swings usually come from how much old concrete has to be broken out and hauled off and how much soft ground has to be dug out under it. A stamped or colored finish also costs more than a plain broom finish.

What causes a concrete driveway to crack, and will a new one crack too?

Most bad cracks come from a weak base, water running the wrong way, a pour done in the midday heat or joints cut late or skipped. A new slab will still crack some, because concrete shrinks and moves no matter who pours it, so we cut control joints, shallow grooves that give it a straight place to crack, and keep you off it while it cures. I'll tell you when it's ready to walk on and when it's ready to drive on, so you can plan around it.

Want a written quote for your concrete?

I come out, look at the job myself and write the quote, listing what's included and what isn't.

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Other cities we serve

Pick a city below to see the concrete work we do there, or call (949) 312-6257 if yours isn't listed, since we work in many cities across Orange County.