Concrete Contractor in Fullerton, CA - Driveways and Patios Built on a Solid Base
D&M Placentia Concrete Construction is a concrete contractor in Placentia that pours driveways, patios, walks and steps for Fullerton homeowners, with our own crew doing the work and me on site.
Everyday concrete for Fullerton homes
Fullerton is one of the cities around Placentia where we pour driveways, patios, walks and steps, the flatwork you walk and drive on around a lived-in house. I learned the trade on new housing tracts, where nobody had moved in yet and the mess bothered no one. In your yard, your kids, your dog and your sprinklers are right there, so we plan the pour around them and leave the place the way you'd want it.
What we look at before we pour
Before we pour anything, I look at what the old slab is telling us and where your water goes. If a driveway has sunk at one corner, the dirt under it, which we call the subgrade, usually wasn't dug out and packed. If water pools by the garage or runs toward the house, the slope needs fixing before new concrete goes in. That's what the estimate visit is for, and I'll walk it with you.
- A base that settles. Where the base was only raked level instead of dug out and packed, the slab settles along with the dirt and cracks follow.
- Water toward the house. If a patio or driveway falls toward the house, rain and sprinkler water sit against the wall, so we check where water runs before we set forms.
- Cracks nobody chose. Concrete shrinks as it dries, so control joints, the cuts that tell a crack where to go, need cutting on time or the slab picks its own spots.
Driveway and patio work for Fullerton homeowners
Most driveways that need us have sunk at a corner, cracked clean across or started chipping on top. Chipping often goes back to a pour in midday heat, which leaves a weak, dusty surface later on. When the trouble is the dirt underneath, patching the top won't hold, so we break it out, dig to firm ground, pack a new base and pour again.
Patios and walks bring us out too. On a concrete patio, you see the finish, like a broom finish, the light texture that keeps wet feet from slipping, but what decides how it holds up is the base we bury on day one. When the budget's tight, I'd rather trim the size or skip the decorative touches than skimp underneath, because you can't fix a base without tearing the slab out.
Getting us out to Fullerton
We're based in Placentia and work across the cities around it, including Fullerton, Anaheim and Brea. Price turns on the size, how much old concrete comes out and the base work, and the schedule on whether the city needs a permit and the cure. Call (714) 798-2825 or use the form, and I'll come measure and put it in writing.
Tell us about your concrete job
Tell us what you want poured or replaced and roughly how big it is, and we'll get back to you within one business day to set up a visit.
(714) 798-2825- Free estimate at your property
- Measured and put in writing
- No pressure to book
Fullerton concrete questions
Does my concrete patio or driveway need a permit in Fullerton?
A patio or retaining wall in Fullerton generally needs a permit, because both are on the Building Division's list. Driveways and walks aren't named on it, so we check with the city's Building & Safety division before we start instead of guessing. The city allows no construction until the permit is issued, and when one's needed we handle the application and inspections.
Which building codes apply to a concrete project in Fullerton?
Projects submitted to the city now fall under the current California building codes with Fullerton's own amendments, which the city made for local terrain, climate and ground. An application filed before those took effect can follow the older codes in place when it was submitted, as long as the permit is issued before the application expires.
Can a small concrete project get a quick plan review in Fullerton?
Usually, if it needs no more than 30 minutes of plan review, because the city can typically review smaller projects over the counter. Residential patio covers and free-standing block walls that don't hold back soil are normally handled that way. Building & Safety can still ask for a fuller review if the scope or existing conditions call for it.
Does a concrete contractor working in Fullerton need city registration?
Yes, the city requires anyone doing business or a trade in Fullerton to get a business registration certificate before the work begins. The city also says construction contractors need a state license and may ask for proof of it first. We're licensed and insured, and it's fair to ask any contractor about both.
How long before I can drive on a new concrete driveway?
Not right away, because the slab has to cure, slowly hardening and gaining strength, before it can take a car's weight. You'll be walking on it well before you're parking on it. I'll go over the wait for your slab at the estimate, since the weather and the mix both play into it.
Will my new concrete driveway crack like the old one did?
The cracks you're looking at now usually come from the base or the joints, and those are what we plan around, as we covered above. Where the slab needs it, rebar, steel bars set inside the concrete, holds the pieces together if a hairline crack does show up.