Concrete Contractor in Pleasant Hill, CA - Driveways and Patios Built From the Base Up
Precision Vallejo Concrete is a concrete contractor based in Vallejo that builds driveways, patios, steps, walls and foundations for homes in Pleasant Hill, starting every job by digging out and packing the ground the concrete sits on.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- We respond within 1 business day.
Homes and yards across Pleasant Hill
Pleasant Hill sits in the middle of Contra Costa County along Interstate 680, between Concord and Walnut Creek. Most of it is residential streets of single-family homes, with shops and offices closer to the main roads. We're based in Vallejo, and Pleasant Hill is one of the cities around it where our crew pours driveways, patios and foundations for homeowners and property owners.
Most calls here come from homeowners whose concrete has been down a long time, such as a driveway that's cracked and dropped at the garage, a patio that holds water or steps pulling away from the porch. When we break it out, the trouble is usually underneath, in a thin base or ground that has moved, so that's where our work here starts.
Our services in Pleasant Hill, CA
- Concrete driveway building
Older driveways here often crack and sink where the base was never packed. We dig out, compact a new base and cut control joints so cracks land where we choose.
- Concrete patio construction
Older patios here often tip toward the house and hold water after a rain. We reset the slope so water runs off into the yard before we pour.
- Concrete retaining walls
On sloped yards here, old timber walls lean as the hill pushes on them. We build concrete walls on footings with drainage behind so water doesn't pile up.
- Foundation installation
Additions, garages and backyard rooms here need a foundation sized for the ground under them. For foundation installation, we dig to firm soil and set the steel before the pour.
- Foundation raising
When the ground under a house shifts, floors slope and doors start sticking. We find out what moved and why, then lift and support the low side.
- Concrete steps construction
Front steps on older homes here often crack, chip and pull away from the porch. We replace them with new steps, every one the same height.
What Pleasant Hill ground asks of a slab
Clay is common in the ground across Pleasant Hill, and the city has said so itself, though that's a picture of the whole city and not a test of your lot. Clay swells when it gets wet and shrinks as it dries, so a slab poured on it without a good base rises and drops a little each year until it cracks. That's why we put most of our effort where you'll never see it, digging out the soft soil, bringing in base rock and packing it in layers before any concrete shows up. If the budget is tight, I'd rather pour a plain broom finish, the light texture that gives tires and shoes some grip, on a solid base than a fancy finish on a weak one. On the farm we learned a barn floor is only as good as the dirt under it, and a driveway is no different.
Price on these lots comes down to the size of the slab, how much old concrete and soil has to come out, how deep the base goes, the finish you pick and how easy it is to get the truck to the spot. The schedule turns on whether the city needs a permit and on curing, the time new concrete needs to harden, which is a few days before you walk on it and longer before you drive on it. When I come out, I'll put your own figure in writing.
Get a written estimate for your Pleasant Hill concrete job
Tell us a little about your Pleasant Hill project, and we'll get back to you within one business day. The estimate is free and done on site with no obligation, and I come out myself to walk the job with you, explain what I see and put it all in writing.
Driveways, patios and steps
Pleasant Hill concrete questions answered
Do I need a permit for concrete work in Pleasant Hill?
You need a city building permit when the work physically changes or adds a structure on your property, such as a foundation for an addition. Work that reaches onto the city's street, curb or gutter may also need an encroachment permit through the Engineering Division. We check with the city before every job, and if yours needs a permit, we handle the paperwork and plan our work around the inspections. If you'd like to ask yourself, the Building Division takes questions at (925) 671-5200.
How do I check that a concrete contractor can work in Pleasant Hill?
Ask for two things: a California contractor license and a Pleasant Hill business license. The state requires a contractor license when a job needs a building permit, uses any extra workers or totals $1,000 or more in labor and materials, a limit that used to be $500. The city requires a business license from contractors working in Pleasant Hill, including ones based in other cities. We're licensed and insured.
What hours can construction crews work in Pleasant Hill?
The city allows construction from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. We book the concrete truck so the pour, the finishing and the cleanup all fit inside those hours, because once the truck arrives the concrete has to be placed and finished before it sets.
Does a flood zone change concrete work on my Pleasant Hill property?
It can, because the city says improvements in the floodplain area may need a Floodplain Development Permit. FEMA has mapped flood hazard areas in Pleasant Hill, and a city handout that isn't dated puts about 700 homes inside them. When we check permits for your job, we ask about your address too, and a low-lying slab gets extra thought about where the water drains.
What causes concrete driveways in Pleasant Hill to crack?
Most cracks start under the slab, from a base that was raked flat instead of dug out and packed, from water running underneath or from the clay ground moving, as described above. The rest come from control joints that were skipped or cut late, since those shallow cuts give concrete a planned place to crack as it shrinks. All concrete cracks some, and I'd rather tell you that now, but a packed base, good drainage and joints cut on time usually keep the cracks small and inside the joints.
How much does concrete work cost in Pleasant Hill?
There's no flat price, because every slab here is sized, dug out and finished for its own spot. The biggest swings come from how much broken concrete we haul away, how deep the base has to go on clay and how far the truck can reach. I come out, measure and give you the number in writing, and you can reach us at (707) 310-8309 to set that up.