Concrete Contractor in Costa Mesa, CA - Driveways and Patios Built on a Solid Base
D&M Placentia Concrete Construction is a concrete contractor based in Placentia that pours driveways, patios, walks and steps for homeowners in Costa Mesa, with the owner on site and our own crew doing the work.
Concrete work for Costa Mesa homeowners
Costa Mesa is one of the cities around Placentia where we pour the everyday concrete a lived-in house depends on: the driveway, the patio, the front walk and the steps up to the door. I come out myself to look the job over, and our own crew does the work with me there, so the person who wrote your estimate is the one in your yard on pour day.
The price mostly comes down to how big the area is, how much old concrete has to be broken out and hauled away, and how much digging the base needs before we pour. The schedule turns on the weather and on curing, the wait while fresh concrete hardens enough to take weight. I measure, look it over with you and put the whole thing in writing.
What we check before we pour
Before I price a slab, I want to know what it'll sit on and where the water goes. I look at the subgrade, which is just the dirt under the slab, check which way the yard falls toward the house, and ask where your sprinkler lines run and where the dog likes to dig. That tells us how much digging, packing and forming your job really needs.
- Base never packed. Where an old slab sat on dirt that was only raked level, it settles as the ground does, so we dig out and pack the base before we pour.
- Water toward the house. If a patio falls toward the house, rain and sprinkler water pool against the wall, so we check where the water runs before we set a form.
- Joints cut late. When control joints, the grooves that give a slab a place to crack, get cut late or skipped, the concrete cracks wherever it wants instead.
The jobs that bring Costa Mesa homeowners to us
A driveway that has sunk at a corner, cracked across or started chipping on top is usually a replacement, not a patch. When a budget gets tight, the base is the first thing people want to trim because nobody sees it once the slab is down. I'd rather keep the base and go with a plain broom finish, the light texture that gives tires and shoes some grip, because a fancy surface on a soft base still settles and cracks.
Front walks and steps are the other big one, since a step that has shifted or a walk that has lifted at a joint is something you trip over every day. We form, pour and finish concrete steps so the rises come out even and the landing drains away from your door.
Getting us out to Costa Mesa
We're based in Placentia and work across the cities around it, from Costa Mesa up to Brea, and I drive out to every estimate myself. Call (714) 798-2825 or use the form, tell me what's going on with your slab, and we'll set a time for me to come take a look.
Tell us about your slab
Tell us what you want poured or fixed and roughly how big. We'll get back to you within one business day and set a time to come out.
(714) 798-2825- Free visit at your home
- Everything put in writing
- No pressure to book
Costa Mesa concrete questions
Does my concrete project in Costa Mesa need a licensed contractor?
Most do, because California's contractor licensing 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 line. We're licensed and insured, and our own crew does the work.
How do I get a building permit for concrete work in Costa Mesa?
Building permits come from the city's Building Safety Division, and applications go in online through the city's TESSA system, where paper forms are ignored and incomplete ones get sent back. When a job needs a permit, we file it and set up the inspections, and if you're not sure about yours, we'll help you check with the city before we start.
Is there an Insta-Permit for a concrete driveway or patio in Costa Mesa?
Not on the city's list, which offers these quick permits for simple jobs like re-roofs, water heaters, re-pipes, heating and air, EV chargers and panel upgrades. That doesn't settle whether flatwork, meaning driveways, patios and walks, needs a regular permit, so we check with the city on your job.
What happens if a contractor works without a license in California?
A first offense is usually a misdemeanor that can bring up to six months in jail, a $500 fine or both, and an administrative fine of $200 to $15,000 can come with it. Contractors are supposed to hold their license before they bid, so it's fair to ask anyone for it before you sign.
Will my new concrete driveway crack like the old one did?
Concrete can still crack, but most of the cracks people hate come from a soft base and missing joints, and those are the parts we put the time into. We dig out and pack the base, add rebar, the steel inside that holds the slab together, and cut the control joints on time.
How long until I can drive on a new concrete driveway?
You'll stay off it while it cures, and you can walk on it a good while before you can park on it. Heat changes that wait, so we pour early on hot days to keep the top from drying weak and dusty, and I'll go over your timing at the estimate.