Concrete Contractor in Redwood City, CA - Slabs That Sit Level and Shed Water
Hallmark Menlo Park Concrete is a concrete contractor based in Menlo Park that builds driveways, patios, steps, walls and foundations for homeowners in Redwood City, with the base, forms and drainage set before the pour.
Redwood City concrete, from the ground up
We work in Redwood City from our base in Menlo Park, and it's part of the stretch we cover from San Mateo down to Cupertino. We're best known for flatwork, which covers the flat jobs like driveways, patios and walks, and for foundations that sit level.
A job here starts with the city's rules, not the mixer. The City of Redwood City handles building permits for property under its jurisdiction and requires contractors to hold a city business license, so I first check that your address falls under the city, then what it asks for, before we set a date.
What we look at under the slab
On any driveway or patio job, I start with what's underneath and where the water goes. Where an old slab has sunk or cracked, the cause is usually the subgrade, the soil and gravel the slab sits on, so I look at that before I price anything. I also check which way the ground falls, because water follows the slab and the slab follows the forms we set.
- A base that settles. When the base is only raked level instead of dug out and packed, the slab settles with the loose dirt and cracks where it drops.
- Water running to the house. A slab that falls toward the house sends rain at the foundation and leaves water pooling by the door, and it's hard to fix without starting over.
- Cracks in random places. Control joints are grooves that give concrete a place to crack neatly. Cut late or skipped, the slab picks its own crack lines instead.
Driveway and patio jobs in Redwood City
Where a driveway has cracked, sunk or started holding water, we usually take it out and start from the ground, because a new top over a failed base cracks along the old lines. Hauling the old concrete usually means a bin, and the city doesn't allow dumpsters or bins on the street, so we plan where it sits on your property before the first day.
Patios are the other common job, usually with a broom finish, a light brushed texture that gives your feet grip when it's wet. If you want color or pattern, stamped concrete is the same slab with a pressed top. When the budget is tight, I'd spend it on the base and go plainer on the finish, because nobody sees the base and it's what decides how the slab holds up.
Getting us out to Redwood City
We're a concrete contractor in Menlo Park, and Redwood City is part of our regular work, along with North Fair Oaks and Atherton. Price turns on size, how much old concrete comes out and the base work underneath. The schedule turns on any permit and the cure. Call or use the form, and I'll come look and write the estimate myself.
Tell us about your concrete job
Tell us the rough size, what's there now and what you'd like done. We reply within one business day to set a time for me to come out.
(650) 582-0556- Free estimate at your property
- No obligation to go ahead
- Base and drainage checked
Questions about concrete in Redwood City
Do I need a permit for a concrete driveway or patio in Redwood City?
The city requires a building permit for any work that isn't on the state building code's exempt list, and its building FAQ gives fences 7 feet and under, painting and flooring as examples. Before we set a date, I check your job with the Building Division, and when a permit is needed we handle the paperwork or help you with it.
Does a contractor need a Redwood City business license to work there?
Yes, the city says contractors must get a business license before doing work in Redwood City, and its Revenue Services office handles those licenses. It's a fair thing to ask anyone you're thinking of hiring, and it's on my list of what the city asks for, along with any permit, before we start.
How long before I can drive on a new concrete driveway?
You can walk on a new driveway well before you can drive on it, because concrete keeps hardening for days after the pour. That wait is curing, and cutting it short weakens the slab, so I give you the walk-on and drive-on days for your slab before we pour and you can plan where the cars go.
Will a new concrete patio crack like my old one did?
It can crack a little, since most concrete does, but it shouldn't break up the way a slab on a soft base does. We pack the subgrade, add rebar, steel bars that hold the pieces together, where the slab calls for it, and cut control joints on time so a crack lands in a groove rather than across the slab.