Concrete Contractor in Downey, CA - Driveways and Patios Built on Solid Ground
Classic Whittier Concrete pours driveways, patios, walkways, steps and garage floors for homes and business properties in Downey, CA. We tear out tired slabs, dig out and pack the base, and form, pour and finish with our own crew.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free on-site estimates.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
Downey homes, driveways and the yards around them
Downey is mostly single-family homes, and the city's older housing records say the same, with a solid share of apartments and condos mixed in. On our jobs here that means front driveways running past the house to a garage, backyard patios and walkways that have settled over the years. It also means walks and parking at apartment and condo buildings. The calls look a lot like the ones we get in West Whittier-Los Nietos and Norwalk.
Most lots here are already built out, so a new slab has to meet the garage floor, the sidewalk and the house wall at the right heights. That's why I start by looking at where the water runs now, because a slab that tips toward the house sends every rain to the foundation.
Concrete work we do on Downey properties
Concrete driveway building
When a Downey driveway has sunk at the street or split along the side of the house, we break it out, rebuild the base and pour it fresh.
Concrete patio construction
A backyard patio here usually sits close to the house, so we set its slope to carry rainwater out toward the yard instead of the foundation.
Stamped concrete services
Stamped concrete, pressed with a stone or tile pattern, suits a front walk or patio when you want the look of pavers on one solid slab.
Concrete sidewalk building
Walkways from the driveway to the front door, or down the side yard to the trash cans, get replaced when roots or settling leave a lip to trip on.
Garage floor concrete
Older garage floors that are cracked, stained or chipping get broken out and repoured smooth and flat, so they sweep clean and a floor jack rolls easily.
Decorative concrete
Color, exposed stone or a scored pattern can dress up a plain front walk or porch, and we'll tell you which finishes hold up to daily foot traffic.
Concrete retaining walls
Where a yard drops toward a neighbor, a poured wall holds the soil back, with drainage behind it so water doesn't build up and push.
Concrete floor installation
We pour new floors for room additions, workshops and business spaces in Downey, level over a packed base so flooring goes down flat later.
Concrete pool decks
Around a backyard pool we pour a deck with a textured finish that grips wet feet and slopes splash water away from the pool and the house.
Concrete steps construction
Porch and back door steps that have pulled away from the house or crumbled at the edges get rebuilt with even step heights, so nobody misjudges one.
Slab foundation building
For a room addition, a garage or a backyard unit, we pour the slab the walls stand on, with steel and footings set to the approved plans.
Foundation installation
When a new building goes up on a Downey lot, from a home addition to a business building, we form and pour the foundation the framing sits on.
Concrete parking lot building
Apartment buildings and business properties here need parking that drains to the right spot and holds up to cars turning on it all day.
Concrete footings
Footings carry the weight of a wall, a patio cover or a post, so we dig them to the depth the plans call for before anything goes on top.
Foundation raising
If one corner of a house or slab has dropped, we look at why it moved first, then lift and support it rather than just patching the cracks.
Concrete cutting
We saw-cut slabs when part of a driveway comes out or a walk gets widened, so the concrete that stays ends on a clean, straight edge.
Get a free on-site concrete estimate in Downey
Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day to set a time for me to come out. The estimate is free and done at your place, with no pressure and no obligation.
- Based in
- Whittier, CA 90602
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 6 AM–11 PM, Sat–Sun: 8 AM–9 PM
How Downey's permit office shapes a concrete job
In Downey, the city's Building and Safety Division issues permits, checks plans and sends out the inspector, so a lot of driveway, patio and wall work here runs through that office, and its inspections set part of the schedule along with our crew and the weather. The city also requires a current Downey business license from any contractor working there, including ones based outside the city like us. That's a fair thing to ask any contractor you're considering, along with whether they're licensed and insured. We are.
When I come out, I check which office covers your address, and if your job needs a permit we apply for it and we're there for the inspections. What moves the price here is mostly how much old concrete has to come out, how much digging and packing the base needs, how close we can get the truck and the finish you pick, and the estimate I write up after the visit gives you the figure for your own job. We're a concrete contractor in Whittier, CA, a short drive away, and do the same work in Pico Rivera and Santa Fe Springs.
Why Downey driveways and patios sink and crack
A lot of the settling we see on Downey driveways and patios comes from what's underneath, not the concrete itself. An older slab was often poured on dirt that was raked flat instead of dug out and packed, so it sinks as the dirt settles and starts holding water, sometimes right against the house. We dig down to firm ground, pack the subgrade, which is the layer the slab sits on, and set the slope so water heads for the yard or the street.
Apartment and condo buildings and the business properties here see heavier traffic on their walks and parking, so one lifted panel or broken edge turns into a trip hazard fast. We can usually saw-cut and replace just the bad sections, which keeps the rest of the property open while we work.
How a concrete job runs when you call us from Downey
Here's how a Downey job goes from your side, from the first call to the walk-through, and what each step needs from you.
Call or send us the details
Call (562) 358-3032 or send the form, and tell us what's going on, like a sinking driveway or water sitting on the patio. We get back to you and set a time for me to come out, and it helps if you're home to show me where the water goes.
I come out and look
I ask what the slab is for, look at where the water goes now and check whether your address falls under the city or the county. Then I write up the estimate, so you have a real number in hand before you decide anything.
We permit, pour and finish
When you're ready, we apply for any permit the job needs and plan the pour around the weather, since a hot midday pour can leave a weak, dusty top. Our own crew forms, pours and finishes the slab, and I'm on site while we work.
We walk the job together
We walk the finished job with you and go over when it's ready for feet and for cars, because the slab keeps curing after we leave. Satisfaction guaranteed.
Questions about concrete work in Downey
Do I need a permit for a new concrete driveway or patio in Downey?
Usually, yes. The city's wording is that, generally, new construction, alterations and repairs need a permit, and its permit rules name hardscapes, the paved parts of a yard like driveways and patios. That "generally" is the city's word, so a small or unusual job is worth asking the city about before anyone starts.
Can I pull my own concrete permit in Downey as the homeowner?
Yes, if you live in the single-family house the work is for, the city can issue the permit to you as an owner-builder. For condos, townhomes, duplexes, apartments and business property, the city only issues permits to California licensed contractors. You'd apply at the Building counter in Downey City Hall or online through the city's permit portal.
Does a low block wall need a permit in Downey?
The city says a block wall or fence up to 42 inches tall needs no building permit, but it still has to be approved by Planning and possibly Engineering. A taller one needs a Building Division permit on top of that approval. A wall that holds back soil is its own question, so ask the city about that one.
How much does a new concrete driveway cost in Downey?
It depends on your driveway, so I give you a figure after I've seen it rather than guessing over the phone. Where people tend to cut first is the base, because nobody sees it once the concrete's down. I'd rather go simpler on the finish and keep the money in a dug-out, packed base, because a nice surface on loose dirt settles and cracks anyway.
How do I keep a new concrete patio from cracking like the old one?
You can't stop concrete from cracking entirely, but you can choose where it cracks and keep the cracks tight. We cut control joints, grooves that give the slab a planned place to crack, early enough to do their job, and we pack the base so the slab isn't sitting on loose dirt. After the pour, stay off it as long as we tell you, because curing, the slow hardening after the pour, is where its strength comes from.
How long does a Downey building permit stay good after it's issued?
A Downey permit runs out if work doesn't start within 12 months of issue, or if work that's started stops for 180 days. That rarely matters when we pull it, since we pour once the permit's in hand. It's worth knowing if you pull an owner-builder permit and plan to get to the job later.
Tell us about your Downey concrete job
Water that runs toward your house does it again with every rain, so it's worth having me look before the next storm.