Concrete driveway building in Glendora CA - a slab set on firm, packed ground
Cracked, sinking or holding puddles? We dig out soft ground, pack the base and pour a new slab that drains and carries your cars.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
What does it take to build a new concrete driveway in Glendora?
Concrete driveway building in Glendora means getting the ground firm and drained, pouring a new slab on it and letting it cure, which is the slow hardening that has to happen before it's strong enough for a car. Done in that order, you end up with a solid driveway that sheds rain and carries the family car, and a delivery truck too if it's built for one.
Most people who call me are looking at an old driveway that has cracked, sunk at one end or started holding water, and they want to know what a new one will cost and how long the car will sit on the street. The price mostly turns on the size of the driveway, how thick it needs to be, how much old concrete we break out and haul away, and how much soft ground has to come out before the base goes in. The schedule turns on the dig, the pour and the curing time afterward, so I walk the job with you and put all of it in a written estimate that lists what's included.
How do you know your driveway needs replacing?
Cracks that keep growing
A few hairline cracks are normal in concrete, but cracks that widen, run across the whole slab or leave one side higher than the other usually mean the ground underneath has moved. Patching the top won't fix that, and the longer it goes, the more pieces break loose and the more there is to tear out.
Sections sinking or tilting
When a corner drops or a section tips toward the street or the garage, the base under it has usually settled, often because it was raked level instead of dug out and packed. A sunken edge turns into a trip hazard and a low spot where water collects, which makes the settling worse.
Water pooling or running toward the house
Puddles that sit for a day, or rain that runs back toward the garage door, tell me the slab doesn't fall the right way. Water that stays on or under the concrete wears at the base, and water aimed at the house is a problem you don't want to keep living with.
How we handle concrete driveway building
On a driveway the ground work comes first, so we break out and haul away any old concrete, dig out the soft spots and compact a firm base before any concrete goes in. A Michigan concrete industry guideline calls for a slab at least 4 inches thick, and at least 5 where delivery vehicles will use it, which is why I'll ask whether trucks come up your driveway so the estimate fits. We set the forms so the slab falls slightly away from the house and rain runs off. We pour early in the day when it's hot, because a slab that dries too fast can end up with a weak, dusty top, and we give it a broom finish, the light texture that keeps tires and shoes from slipping. Then it cures, and we'll tell you when it's ready to park on. If the budget gets tight, I'd rather you choose a plainer finish than a thinner base, because a finish can be dressed up later and the ground under the slab can't be fixed without tearing it all out.
Many homeowners pair a new driveway with other flatwork, which is our word for slabs that lie flat on the ground. If you'd like somewhere to sit out back, our concrete patio construction starts from the same kind of packed ground, and if you want the driveway or a border along it to look like stone or brick, we can add stamped concrete to the same job.
Standard broom-finish driveway
This suits most homes where the driveway carries the family cars. It puts your money into the base and the thickness, where it does the most good.
Thicker slab for delivery trucks
This suits homes where delivery trucks or a work truck pull in regularly. The extra concrete costs more up front, but it gives heavier wheels more slab to bear on.
Driveway with a stamped finish
This suits homeowners who want the driveway to match a stone or brick look on the house. We prepare the ground the same way underneath, so the pattern sits on as firm a base as a plain slab.
Get a written estimate for your new driveway
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set a time for me to come out. The estimate is free, done on site and carries no obligation. I'll look at the ground and leave you a written copy that lists what's included.
(626) 513-4658What to know before you sign for a concrete driveway in Glendora
California counts building or replacing a driveway as home improvement work, so the contract you sign for one in Glendora has to carry certain information, notices and disclosures that the state requires to protect you. Any change after that also has to be in writing, easy to read and understand, and has to state your right to cancel. That suits the way I work, because my estimate already lists what's included, and anything we change once the job is open goes on paper before we do it.
Most of the driveways we replace around Glendora are on established homes where the original slab has cracked or settled, and we see the same kind of work on jobs in Azusa and San Dimas. We're based in Glendora and work across the San Gabriel Valley and the Pomona area, including many cities not listed on this site.
What happens after you call about a new driveway?
Call or send the form
We reply and set a time that suits you for me to come out and look at the driveway. Please tell us if there's old concrete to come out, since that changes what I check.
I walk the job with you
I look at the ground, the drainage and the access, and I answer your questions. You get a written estimate that lists what's included, so you can compare it line by line with any other quote.
We handle permits, prep and pour
If the job needs a permit, we handle the application and inspections with the city or county office that covers your address, and I'll tell you at the estimate if I expect one. Our crew does the dig, the base and the pour with me on site.
We walk the finished driveway
When the work is done, we walk it with you and point out anything you should know about the new slab. We also go over how to care for it in the first weeks and the years after.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a concrete driveway cost in Glendora, CA?
A new concrete driveway in the Los Angeles area usually costs about $7 to $12 per square foot installed. Where yours falls in that range comes down to what I find on site, and my written estimate shows each part of it.
How long does a new concrete driveway need before I can park on it?
Plan to park somewhere else for about 7 days, because that's when a Michigan concrete industry guideline says a new driveway can open to traffic, or sooner if a strength test shows it's ready. The slab keeps gaining strength while it cures, so driving on it early risks marking or cracking it.
Can someone without a contractor license build my driveway in California?
Only on very small work, because the state's exemption for unlicensed minor work covers jobs up to $1,000 and only when they need no permit and no hired help. A driveway job above that amount, one that needs a permit or one done with a hired crew calls for a licensed contractor.
How long do I have to cancel a home improvement contract in California?
If you're 65 or older, California gives you five business days to cancel a home improvement contract instead of three, and that applies to a driveway contract. Please ask whoever you hire to go over the cancellation notice with you before you sign.
What causes a concrete driveway to crack, and will a new one crack too?
Most bad cracks come from a base that settled or from control joints, the grooves cut into the slab to give it a planned place to crack, that went in late or not at all. Concrete can still crack, but with a firm base and joints cut on time, a crack usually follows the joint line where you'd hardly notice it.
When should I seal a new concrete driveway?
A Michigan concrete industry guideline says a penetrating sealer, a coating that soaks into the concrete, can go on 30 days after the pour. It typically needs putting on again every three to five years, so it's worth planning for that upkeep.
Glendora, CA
Tell us about your driveway
If you have the driveway's rough size and know whether delivery trucks use it when you call (626) 513-4658, I can come out ready to check the right things.