Driveways in Buena Park

A new driveway, built from the ground up

Most driveway trouble starts under the concrete, not on top of it. Water gets under the slab, the soil softens or washes out, and the concrete cracks where it lost support. A new pour on the same weak base will fail the same way.

So we start at the dirt. We dig out the old driveway, check what the soil is doing, add and compact base rock, then set forms and steel before any concrete shows up. The result is a driveway that sits flat, sheds water toward the street and keeps it away from your garage and foundation.

After a big storm or a sudden failure, you want a clear answer fast. We come out, look at it with you, show you photos of what we find and tell you plainly whether it needs to come out now or can wait.

What's part of every driveway job

Demo and hauling

We break up your old concrete or asphalt and truck it off the property. No leftover rubble sitting on your lawn.

Grading and base rock

We shape the soil, spread base rock and pack it down one layer at a time. More than anything else, this decides how long the driveway holds up.

Rebar set at the right height

We prop the rebar up off the ground on small supports so it ends up mid-depth in the concrete. That's where steel actually carries the load, instead of resting on dirt doing nothing.

Proper fall for drainage

Our forms are set so rain runs out toward the street. If water used to collect near your garage, we correct that slope.

Joints and surface

We saw joints into the slab so any cracking follows clean, planned lines. Most driveways get a broom finish for traction, and stamped concrete is available if you'd like a pattern or color.

Permit for street work

When the job includes the approach or the sidewalk at the curb, the city usually requires a permit. We take care of pulling it and setting up the inspection.

Signs your driveway needs to be replaced

• Sections that sank or lifted

  If one slab sits an inch above the next, the base has moved. That trip edge will keep getting worse.

• Water pooling after rain

  Puddles that sit for a day mean the slope is wrong or the slab has settled. That water is working its way under the concrete and toward your home.

• Cracks that keep spreading

  Hairline cracks are normal. Wide cracks that branch out, or broken corners that come loose, point to a failed base.

• Soil washed out at the edges

  After a heavy storm you may see gaps or hollow spots along the sides. Once the edge loses support, the concrete breaks off under tire weight.

• Tree roots pushing it up

  Roots lift and split the slab. We remove the old concrete, deal with the roots in that area and pour new.

How a driveway job runs

1. 1

   Look and measure

   We come out, measure the driveway, check the slope and look at the damage. You get photos and a written estimate with each part of the job listed.

2. 2

   Demo day

   We cut a clean line at the garage and street, break out the old slab and haul it off. This usually takes a day for a typical driveway.

3. 3

   Base, forms and steel

   We grade and compact the base, set forms for the right slope and tie the rebar. If a permit is needed, the inspection happens before the pour.

4. 4

   Pour and finish

   The concrete goes in, we level it, finish the surface and cut the joints. We clean up the street and walks before we leave.

5. 5

   Cure time

   Stay off it on foot for a day or two. Wait about a week before driving on it, and longer for heavy trucks.

What sets the price of a new driveway

We price each driveway after we've walked it with you. Square footage is part of it, but the soil under the old slab and how we get equipment in count just as much. Before any work starts, you get a written estimate with every part of the job on its own line.

Square footage and slab depth

A bigger driveway takes more concrete, more rebar and more hours to place and finish. If you park a heavy truck or work van, we may pour it thicker, and that adds material.

The old surface

Breaking out a thick slab or an old asphalt driveway takes longer than lifting out thin, cracked pieces. It also means more truckloads to haul away.

Soil and base under the slab

When a storm has washed soil out or left the ground soft, we have to bring in extra base rock. Compacting it right takes more passes and more time.

Getting in and the street approach

A narrow side gate or tight spot slows the crew down. Work at the approach by the street usually needs a city permit, which brings a fee and an inspection.

Surface finish

A broom finish is the most budget-friendly choice. Color or a stamped pattern costs more because of the extra material and labor.