Concrete Contractor in Fullerton, CA - Solid Bases for Older Homes and Hillside Lots
Standard Pico Rivera Concrete pours driveways, patios, steps, retaining walls and footings for homes in Fullerton, CA. We come out from Pico Rivera, and the owner looks at every job and runs the crew that builds it.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
Concrete work in Fullerton
Fullerton isn't one kind of house. Near downtown we see older homes with narrow driveways, tired walkways and front steps that have settled away from the porch. In the postwar tracts it's wider drives and backyard patios that have cracked into pieces. Toward the north side the streets climb, so lots slope and yards often need a wall before you can have flat ground. As a concrete contractor from Pico Rivera, we do the same kind of work next door in Anaheim and over in Whittier.
Those differences shape the job before anything gets poured. An old driveway usually means more tear-out and a base that was never packed right, and a sloped lot means more digging, forms and drainage, so those, along with size, access and the finish you pick, are what move the price. The schedule mostly turns on whether your job needs a city permit and on curing, the wait while new concrete gains strength before you walk or drive on it. Your written estimate spells out what's included.
What we pour in Fullerton
Concrete driveway building
Older Fullerton driveways often crack and sink because the base under them was thin or never packed. We dig out to firm ground, pack a new base and pour.
Concrete patio construction
Backyard patios on tract lots here often tilt toward the house and hold water after rain. We set the grade first so water runs out to the yard.
Stamped concrete services
Homes near downtown suit a patterned or colored finish that matches older brick and tile. We stamp it over a packed base, since a pattern can't hide settling.
Concrete steps construction
Front steps on older homes here tend to settle and pull away from the porch. We rebuild concrete steps on solid footings with steel tied inside.
Concrete retaining walls
Sloped lots here often need a wall to hold soil back for a flat patio. We build drainage behind every wall so trapped water doesn't push it over.
Concrete footings
Additions and patio covers need footings sized for the load and the ground. We dig, set rebar, the steel bars that hold concrete together, and pour to the approved plans.
What Fullerton yards ask of a slab
Most of the trouble we see on older Fullerton lots starts underneath. Mature trees push roots under driveways, old slabs were often poured on dirt that was raked flat instead of dug out and packed, and plenty of patios fall back toward the house, so every rain sends water against the wall. Before we form anything, I check where your water runs and set the slope to carry it away from the house. On hot days we pour early, because concrete that dries too fast in the midday sun ends up with a weak, dusty top that wears off.
Sloped lots raise the stakes when the concrete carries weight. The city's structural standards put Fullerton in the higher earthquake design categories, with each site's category set from the USGS maps, so footings and walls get built to engineered plans rather than a rule of thumb. We build to exactly what those plans call for.
Get a free written estimate for your Fullerton concrete job
Send the form or call (562) 271-1038 and we'll get back to you within one business day. I come out to your Fullerton property, look at the job, measure and write the estimate, which lists everything that's included. It's free, and there's no obligation.
Fullerton concrete questions
Here's what Fullerton homeowners ask us most about permits, codes, cost and cracking. If your job doesn't fit any of these, call or send the form and ask.
Do I need a permit for a concrete patio or driveway in Fullerton?
A patio or a retaining wall usually does, because both are on the City of Fullerton's list of work that generally needs a permit, and no construction is allowed until that permit is issued. Driveways and walkways aren't named on the list, so ask the city's Building & Safety office what your address needs. If your job needs a permit, we pull it and deal with the city for you, and if we're not sure, we check with them before we start.
Which building codes apply to concrete work in Fullerton?
Projects follow the current California building codes plus Fullerton's own amendments, which the city wrote for local terrain, weather and ground. An application filed before the current codes took effect can follow the older ones, as long as the permit is issued before that application expires. On footings, walls and slabs that carry a structure, we build to whatever the approved plans call for.
How long does plan review take for a small project in Fullerton?
Smaller projects that need no more than about 30 minutes of plan review can usually be checked over the counter at Building & Safety. Patio covers and freestanding block walls that don't hold back soil normally go that way, though the city can ask for a fuller review depending on the scope or what's already on the site. A retaining wall isn't on that quick list, so we don't count on the fast route when we schedule one.
Does a concrete contractor need a business registration to work in Fullerton?
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 many trades, construction contractors among them, need a state license, and it may ask for proof of it before issuing the certificate, so ask any contractor you're considering about both. We're licensed and fully insured, and every job is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
How much does a concrete driveway cost in Fullerton?
Your price mostly comes down to the size of the slab, how much old concrete we tear out and haul away, and how much base work your ground needs. A sloped lot, a side yard the truck can't reach, or a stamped or colored finish all add to it, while a plain broom finish, a light texture brushed in for grip, keeps it lower. I measure and write it up at your house, so you see every line before you decide.
What causes new concrete to crack, and how do I keep it from happening in Fullerton?
Most cracks come from a base that settles, water working under the slab, or concrete with no planned place to crack. We dig out and pack the base instead of raking dirt level, slope the slab away from the house, and cut control joints, shallow grooves that give the slab a straight line to crack along. The base is the first thing people want to cut because nobody sees it after the pour, and it's the one part I won't skimp on, since everything on top depends on it.
Examples of concrete work
Other cities we work in
Pick a city from the list to see what we do there. If yours isn't listed, call or send the form, because we work in more places than these.