Concrete Contractor in Norwalk, CA - Driveways, Patios and Walks on a Solid Base
D&M Placentia Concrete Construction is a concrete contractor based in Placentia that pours driveways, patios, walks, steps and slabs for homeowners in Norwalk, CA. Our own crew does the work, and I'm on site.
Concrete work for Norwalk homeowners
Norwalk is one of the cities around Placentia where we pour driveways, patios, walks and steps for people who already live in their homes. I learned the trade on new housing tracts, where nobody minded the noise. So on a lived-in lot I keep an eye on your kids, your dog and your sprinklers, and I walk you through what we're doing before we start.
The price of a driveway or patio mostly comes down to its size, how much old concrete has to come out, and what the ground under it needs before we pour. The schedule turns on that same prep and on curing, the wait while new concrete hardens. You'll be able to walk on new concrete before you can drive on it. At the estimate I measure everything and put it in writing for you.
What we check before we pour
Before I write up a number, I look at what the old slab is telling us. When a driveway has sunk or cracked, it's usually the subgrade that moved first. That's the dirt and base the slab sits on. I check how it was packed, where your water runs and whether the slab tips toward the house, because each of those changes how we build the new one.
- Loose base. If the last crew raked the dirt level instead of digging it out and packing it, the slab settles with that dirt and cracks follow.
- Water running wrong. If a slab slopes toward the house, rain and sprinkler water pool against your walls instead of running off toward the yard or the street.
- Cracks nobody chose. Control joints are the grooves that tell a slab where to crack. When they're cut late or skipped, the cracks land wherever the concrete decides.
The jobs that bring Norwalk homeowners to us
In the cities we work in, most jobs start with something you can see from the curb. It might be a driveway cracked across the middle, a patio that's sunk away from the door, or a walk with a lip that catches the stroller. If the budget's tight, I'd rather you skip a fancy finish than cut corners on the base. You can't see the base on day one, but it's the part that decides how long the slab lasts.
Not every job is outside. We also pour garage floors and do concrete floor installation for rooms and additions, along with steps, footings and retaining walls. Inside or out, every job starts the same way, with me looking at what the slab will sit on.
Getting us out to Norwalk
We're based in Placentia and work across Placentia and the cities around it, including Norwalk, Buena Park and Irvine. To set up a visit, call (714) 798-2825 or send the form. I'll come out myself to measure and look the spot over with you.
Tell us about your job
Tell us what you'd like poured or replaced and where it is. We'll get back to you within one business day to set a time for me to come out.
(714) 798-2825- Free estimate at your property
- Measured and written up
- No pressure to book
Questions from Norwalk homeowners
Does a concrete contractor in Norwalk need a California state license?
Yes, in most cases. California requires a current license from the Contractors State License Board for anyone whose job needs a building permit, uses employees or costs $1,000 or more in labor and materials. We're licensed and insured, and you're welcome to ask for our license details at the estimate.
Can someone pour a small concrete pad in Norwalk without a license?
Only on a very small job. The state board says no license is needed if the job needs no building permit and no employees work on it. The person also can't advertise as a licensed contractor, and labor, materials and all other costs together must come to less than $1,000. That limit was raised from $500 to $1,000.
Can I pour my own patio in Norwalk without a contractor's license?
You may be able to as an owner-builder. The state board says owners who build or improve structures on their own property may be exempt from the contractor license if they do the work themselves or pay their own employees wages to do it. If the job turns out bigger than you want to take on, I'm glad to come look.
How can I check my Norwalk address for earthquake hazard zones?
Type your address into the state's EQ Zapp map. It shows whether your property lies in a mapped earthquake hazard zone, such as one for liquefaction, where water-soaked soil can give way. It also tells you if the state hasn't evaluated your area yet. Let me know what it shows when we meet.
Will my new concrete driveway crack like the old one did?
Concrete can crack, but a good base and well-placed joints decide how much it cracks and where. We dig out and pack the base instead of raking the dirt level, and we check where the water runs. We also cut the joints on time, so any crack runs along a groove we chose.