Concrete Contractor in Santa Ana - Driveways, Patios and Steps on a Solid Base
D&M Placentia Concrete Construction is a concrete contractor working in Santa Ana from our base in Placentia. We pour and replace driveways, patios, walks, steps and retaining walls for people living in their homes, with the owner on site.
Concrete work for Santa Ana homes
Santa Ana is one of the cities around Placentia where we pour driveways, patios, walks and steps for people who already live in their homes. I come out myself to look at the job, and our own crew does the work with me on site, so the person who measured your yard is the one standing in it on pour day.
Work on a Santa Ana house that needs a permit goes through the city's planning and building offices, and I'd rather you hear that from me before we start than halfway through. We do the same kind of work next door in Orange and Garden Grove, and most of it starts with a slab that's sunk, cracked or sending water the wrong way.
What we check before we pour
Before I write anything down, I walk the spot with you and look at what the old slab sits on, where your water goes when the sprinklers run, and how the concrete meets the house, the garage and the street. The subgrade, which is just the dirt and gravel under the slab, decides more about how long a driveway lasts than anything you see on top.
- A base that settles. Where an old slab sat on dirt that was only raked level, it sinks as the dirt settles, so we dig out and pack a firm base.
- Water toward the house. If a slab tips toward the house, water pools against the wall every time the sprinklers run, so we check where water goes before forms go in.
- Pouring in the heat. A slab poured in midday heat can dry on top too fast and turn weak and dusty later, so we plan pours for cooler hours.
The jobs that bring Santa Ana homeowners to us
Most calls start with a driveway or patio that's sinking, cracked or holding water. If the base under it has given out, a new top won't last, so we break it out and rebuild from the dirt up. When money's tight, I'd keep the base and pick a plain broom finish, the light texture that keeps it from getting slick, because the base is the part you can't fix later.
The other calls are about holding the yard together, like a slope that needs concrete retaining walls or steps pulling away from the porch. A wall carries the ground behind it, so its footing matters more than its face, and I'll go over Santa Ana's rules for walls with you, which the questions below cover.
Getting to your Santa Ana job
We cover Santa Ana from Placentia, the same way we head out to Norwalk and the other cities around us. Slab size, how much old concrete comes out and what the base needs set the price, while city review and curing set the schedule. Call (714) 798-2825 or use the form, and I'll come out and put your figure in writing.
Tell us about your slab
Tell us what you want poured or replaced and roughly how big it is. We reply within one business day to set a time for me to come measure.
(714) 798-2825- Free estimate at your property
- Measurements and scope in writing
- No pressure to book
Santa Ana concrete questions
Do I need a permit for a concrete driveway or patio in Santa Ana?
Check with the city before work starts, because Santa Ana requires permits to build, alter, repair or demolish a building, and the Building Safety Division is the office that issues them. I'll help you ask where your driveway or patio falls. If it needs a permit, we handle the application and set up the inspections.
Does a retaining wall need a permit in Santa Ana?
A retaining wall up to 4 feet tall, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top, is exempt from a building permit under the city's permit FAQ, unless it holds up extra weight above it or holds back certain liquids. A 2022 city handout still lists retaining walls for Planning Division review, so we check that first.
How fast can I get a building permit in Santa Ana?
Some Santa Ana permits go out the same day at the counter, but the city's examples are jobs like water heaters, patio covers and pools, and other projects need plans reviewed. Most building permits also need Planning Division approval first, and once a permit is issued, work has to start within 180 days or it lapses.
Does a concrete contractor need a Santa Ana business license?
Yes. The city requires every business operating inside city limits to hold a license and pay an annual business license tax, and its permit FAQ says a contractor needs a current City of Santa Ana business license. It's a fair thing to ask any contractor about before they start, us included.
Will my new concrete driveway crack like the old one?
It can still get fine cracks as it shrinks, but control joints, lines we cut across the fresh slab, give those cracks a straight place to go. Then it needs curing, a slow wait while it hardens. You can usually walk on it in a day or two and drive on it after about a week.