Concrete Contractor in Brea, CA - Driveways and Patios on a Packed Base
D&M Placentia Concrete Construction is a concrete contractor based in Placentia that pours driveways, patios, walks, steps and slabs for homeowners in Brea, with the owner on site and our own crew doing the work.
Concrete work for Brea homes
We've been a concrete contractor based in Placentia, CA since 2021, and Brea is one of the cities around it where we pour driveways, patios, walks and steps, the everyday concrete around a house people live in. I come out to look at each job myself, and our own crew does the work with me on site.
I learned the trade on new housing tracts, where nobody lives there yet and nobody minds the mess. In your yard the kids, the dog and the sprinklers are right there, so we keep the work area tidy and walk you through what we're doing and why before we start. Got questions? Good, I like those.
What we check before we dig
Before any forms go up, I look at the subgrade, the dirt the old slab sat on, then check which way your water runs and where lines are buried. The city's building division page points homeowners to gas pipeline safety information that says to contact 811 before you dig, and that goes for every job that breaks ground, ours included.
- Raked, not packed. Where a slab was poured on dirt that was only raked level, it settles as the dirt does, which is how you end up with sinking, uneven sections.
- Slopes toward the house. If a driveway or patio slopes toward the house, rain and sprinkler water pool against the wall instead of running off to the yard or street.
- Joints cut late. When control joints, the grooves that tell a slab where to crack, are cut late or skipped, the cracks pick their own spots across the middle.
What we pour for homeowners in Brea
A lot of our work is tearing out a driveway or patio that has sunk, cracked or started pooling water, and pouring a new one. When the budget gets tight, the base is usually the first thing people want to trim, because nobody sees it once the concrete is down. I'd rather keep the money in the base and go simpler on the finish, since a fancy surface on soft ground cracks the same way the old one did.
Other jobs are about something new going in, like a slab for a garage or a room addition, which is where our slab foundation building work comes in. Those jobs start with the permit question, so we sort that out with you before the forms go up.
Getting us out to Brea
From Placentia, where we're based, we work in Brea and the cities around it, like Fullerton, Yorba Linda and Buena Park. Call (714) 798-2825 or use the form and I'll come measure and write it up. Size, tear-out and base work set the price, and permits and the wait before you can use the slab set the schedule.
Tell us about your Brea job
Tell us what you want poured and how big, through the form or on the phone, and we'll reply within one business day to set a time to come out.
(714) 798-2825- Free estimate at your property
- Measured and put in writing
- No obligation to book
Questions from Brea homeowners
Do I need a permit to pour a concrete driveway in Brea?
The city says a building permit application is required for any building or construction in Brea, and the Building & Safety Division takes those applications, including online. When your job needs one, we handle the application and set up the inspections. If you're not sure, we'll help you check with the city before work starts.
Does a concrete contractor in Brea need a California state license?
Yes, in almost every case. The Contractors State License Board requires a license when a project needs a building permit, uses any extra workers or costs $1,000 or more in labor and materials, and contractors have to be licensed before they bid. We're licensed and insured.
Does a contractor from Placentia need a Brea business license?
Yes. The City of Brea requires business license tax of every business operating within city limits, including contractors whose offices are outside the city. Paying that tax isn't a building approval, though, so your job's permit is still its own step.
How long until I can drive on a new concrete driveway?
Not right away, because concrete has to cure, which is the wait while it hardens and gains strength before it can take weight. You can usually walk on it well before you can drive on it, and we'll go over the timing for your slab before we pour.
What affects the cost of a new concrete patio or driveway in Brea?
Size sets most of it, then whether the old concrete has to be broken out and hauled off and how much digging and packing the base needs. Rebar inside the slab to hold any cracks tight adds some, and a broom finish for grip costs less than stamped or decorative work. I put your figure in writing at the estimate.