Concrete contractor in West Covina, CA - driveways and patios built from the ground up
360 Los Angeles Concrete Construction pours and finishes driveways, patios, walks, pool decks and slabs for homes in West Covina, CA, starting with the ground underneath so the concrete stays flat and drains away from your house.
West Covina's tract homes and hillside lots
West Covina sits in the San Gabriel Valley, and most of the homes we work on are single-story houses on tract streets from the city's postwar growth. The land runs flat across the valley floor and climbs toward the San Jose Hills on the south side. The driveways, walks and back patios on those streets are often the originals or old patch jobs, a lot like what we find west of here in El Monte.
Years of tree roots, settling and water running the wrong way show up as lifted sections, long cracks and puddles by the garage, so most jobs here start with digging out the old ground under the slab and not just the pour on top.
Working in West Covina: permits, licenses and what sets the price
Building permits for private work in West Covina come from the city's Building Division, and whether your job needs one depends on what you're building, how high it sits and what's around it. I sort that out before we set a pour date, because a permit step adds time up front. The city also requires every business working in West Covina to hold a city business license, so it's fair to ask any contractor about theirs, and we're fully licensed and insured.
The price moves with the size of the slab, how much old concrete has to be broken out and hauled off, how much base work the ground needs and how hard the site is to reach, like a steep street near the hills or a backyard you can only get to through a narrow side yard. The schedule turns on any permit step, the weather and curing, the days the new slab needs to harden before it takes weight. We figure it the same way here as in South Pasadena, from what's on the ground, and you'll get your own figure on the estimate.
Concrete services in West Covina
- Concrete driveway building
- Concrete patio construction
- Stamped concrete services
- Concrete sidewalk building
- Garage floor concrete
- Decorative concrete
- Concrete retaining walls
- Concrete floor installation
- Concrete pool decks
- Concrete steps construction
- Slab foundation building
- Foundation installation
- Concrete parking lot building
- Concrete footings
- Foundation raising
- Concrete cutting
Inland heat and sloped backyards change the pour
Summers run hot here, and concrete poured in the middle of a hot day stiffens on top before the rest catches up, which leaves a weak, dusty surface that chips later. In warm months we pour early, keep the slab damp while it cures and give it a broom finish, the light brushed texture that gives shoes and tires some grip.
On the streets climbing toward the hills, and in backyards built around a pool, the real question is where the water goes. A slab that falls toward the house sends every rain at your foundation, so we check the grade first, dig down to firm subgrade, the packed soil the concrete sits on, and set the slope to carry water away. Plenty of yards here have a pool from the same years as the house, and when we build concrete pool decks we set the fall so water heads for the drains and away from the house.
A free on-site estimate for your West Covina concrete
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set a time for me to come out to your West Covina property. The estimate is free, done on site and comes with no obligation.
How a concrete job goes when you call us in West Covina
Call us or send the form
Call (213) 329-1820 or use the form and tell us what you're seeing, whether that's cracks, a sinking section or water pooling by the garage. We set a time for me to come out.
I check the ground and drainage
I come to your property myself, look at the soil and where the water runs, and ask how you'll use the concrete. Think about what you'll park or set on it, since that decides how we build it.
Get the plan in writing
You get the plan and the estimate in writing, covering the base work, the slope and the finish. Nothing starts until you've read it and your questions are answered.
We sort out permit steps
If your job needs a permit, I find out which office covers your address and we handle the application and inspections. In West Covina that's the Building Division, and its review comes before we can set a pour date.
We pour, finish and walk it
The crew I lead forms, pours and finishes the job. Then we walk it with you and go over how to care for it while it cures and after.
Driveway, patio and walk finishes
West Covina concrete questions, answered
How do I find out if my West Covina driveway replacement needs a building permit?
Check it against the city's list of work that doesn't need a building permit, which includes driveways and walks no more than 30 inches above grade, not over a basement or room below and not part of a route that has to meet disabled-access rules. Drains or wiring tied to the job can still need their own permits. I check your property against that list before we set forms, and when a permit is needed, we handle it.
How do I apply for a building permit in West Covina?
You apply through the city's One Stop Building Permit Center, or in person at the Building Counter at City Hall Monday through Thursday, 7:30 am to 5:30 pm. The Building Division no longer takes applications by email, and you can call it at (626) 939-8425 with questions. When one of our jobs needs a permit, we file it and handle the inspections for you.
Does work that needs no building permit still need Planning approval in West Covina?
Sometimes, yes. The city says a project that needs no Building Division permit can still need Planning Division approval, and in some cases Planning can limit where it goes and how tall it is, and set design requirements. I check with Planning before we start, not after the forms are up.
Do I need a permit for a retaining wall on a sloped West Covina lot?
A short wall may not, but a taller one or one holding up extra weight does. The city's no-permit list covers retaining walls holding back 4 feet or less, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless the wall supports added load above it, like a driveway or more slope. On lots climbing toward the hills that added load is common, so I measure it on the estimate.
How much does a new concrete driveway cost in West Covina?
Your cost comes down to the driveway's size, how much old concrete comes out, how much base the ground needs and the finish you pick. A plain broom finish costs less than stamped or colored work. If the budget is tight, I'd cut the finish before the base, because the base keeps the slab flat and you can't fix it later without tearing the slab out. You'll get your own figure on the estimate.
What causes concrete driveways to crack, and how do you keep a new one from cracking?
Most cracks come from what's underneath, a base that was raked level instead of dug out and packed, or joints that were cut late or skipped. We pack the base, add rebar, the steel that holds the slab together, and cut control joints on time, shallow grooves that give the concrete a planned place to crack. Concrete can still crack, but this way it cracks where we chose and stays level.
Get your West Covina concrete looked at first
We answer into the evening seven days a week, so call (213) 329-1820 after work or send the form.