Concrete Contractor in Fullerton, CA - Driveways and Patios That Sit Flat and Drain
Solid Form Garden Grove Concrete is a concrete contractor working in Fullerton, CA. We tear out and pour driveways, patios, walks, pool decks, retaining walls and footings, with the ground dug out and packed before any concrete goes down.
- Service area
- Fullerton, CA
- Call
- (714) 750-8944
Older blocks and hillside yards across Fullerton
Fullerton gives us two kinds of jobs. On the older blocks it's mostly flatwork, the driveways, front walks and patios that have been down a long time, some lifted by street trees and some sunk where the base gave out. Up on the hillier streets in the north end of the city, yards step down the slope, so the calls lean toward retaining walls, steps and patios that have to control where the water goes. We're based in Garden Grove, and the same crew pours in Stanton and Anaheim the way we do here.
Those two kinds of ground need different care. On the flat lots, the fix is usually under the slab, digging out the soft fill down to firm subgrade, the soil the slab actually rests on, and packing a real base. On a slope it's water first, because a patio or wall that sends runoff toward the house causes trouble no matter how good the surface looks.
Our services in Fullerton, CA
On older Fullerton driveways, the cracks and sinking usually trace back to a thin base that was never packed. We break out the old slab, dig down to firm soil and compact a new base before we pour.
Patios that slope toward the house leave rain pooling at the back door. We form the new slab to fall away from the house and cut control joints, grooves that decide where cracks go.
In Fullerton pool yards, a deck has to shed splash water away from the pool and the house without getting slick. We build each concrete pool deck with that slope and a broom finish for grip.
Mature street trees on older Fullerton blocks lift and break front walks over the years. We cut out the heaved sections, fix the base underneath and pour a walk that meets your steps and driveway flush.
Additions and backyard units in Fullerton need footings framers can build on without fighting them. We dig to the depth on the plans and set rebar, the steel that holds the concrete together, before we pour.
On Fullerton's hillier streets, sloped yards often need the soil held back. We build retaining walls on proper footings, with rebar and drainage behind the wall so trapped water doesn't push it over.
Every service we offer
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
What happens after you call about a Fullerton job
Call or send the form
I'm usually the one who calls you back, and we pick a time for me to come out to your place in Fullerton. It helps if you can be home for the visit so we can walk it together.
I walk and measure the job
I look at the ground, take measurements and ask how you'll use the space. You get a written estimate that spells out the prep, the concrete and anything that isn't included, so you know what you're paying for and can compare it with other bids.
We handle the city permit
If the job needs a Fullerton permit, we pull it and handle the inspections. The city typically reviews small projects over the counter when the plan review takes 30 minutes or less, though a bigger or trickier job can need a more detailed review.
We pour and walk it together
I'm on site on pour day while the crew I've worked with for years forms, pours and finishes the slab. When we're done, I walk the finished work with you and go over how to look after it while it cures, the stretch when the concrete is still gaining strength.
Fullerton concrete questions answered
How do I find out if my concrete project needs a permit in Fullerton?
Check with the city's Building Division, which issues permits and lists patios, decks, pools and retaining walls among the work that generally needs one. Driveways and walks aren't named on that list, so instead of guessing I check with the city's office. The city doesn't allow any construction until the permit is issued, so I settle the permit question before we put a pour date on the calendar.
How much does a new concrete driveway cost in Fullerton?
What a Fullerton driveway costs comes down to its size, how much old concrete has to be broken out and hauled off, how much base work the ground needs, and the finish you choose. A plain broom finish costs less than stamped or decorative work, and a sloped lot or a tight side yard where the truck can't reach adds labor. If the budget's tight, I'd cut the fancy finish before I'd cut the base, because the base is what keeps the slab flat and it's the one part you can't fix later without tearing the concrete out.
Which building codes apply to concrete work in Fullerton?
Projects submitted to the city now fall under the current California Building Codes plus Fullerton's own amendments, which the city added for its local terrain, climate and geology. For structural work like footings, foundations and retaining walls, the city's design criteria use Seismic Design Category D, E or F, with the category for each lot set by the official maps. On those jobs I confirm the requirements with the city or an engineer before we form anything.
Does a concrete contractor need a business registration to work in Fullerton?
Yes, the city requires anyone doing business or working a trade in Fullerton to get a business registration certificate before the work starts. The city also says construction contractors need a State license and may have to show proof of it before the certificate is issued. We're licensed and fully insured, and you're welcome to ask me about either one at the estimate.
What causes concrete driveways and patios in Fullerton to crack and sink?
Most of it starts under the slab, with a base that was raked smooth instead of dug out and packed, so the concrete settles right along with the loose dirt. The other usual causes are joints cut late or skipped, water allowed to run toward the house, and a pour in midday heat that leaves a weak, dusty top. Concrete still shrinks and cracks a little as it dries, which is why I'd rather show you where the control joints go before you ever spot a line in the slab.
How long does a new concrete driveway take before I can use it?
The pour is the short part, and most of the wait comes after it while the slab cures, first until it can take foot traffic and then longer until it can take a car. Before pour day, the schedule turns on how much old concrete comes out, how much base work the ground needs and, on jobs that need one, the city permit. We pour early in the day to keep the top from drying too fast in the afternoon heat, so a hot spell can shift the start.
Get a free on-site estimate for your Fullerton concrete job
Send the form and expect a reply within one business day, usually a call from me. I'll set a time to come out to your Fullerton property, walk the job with you and measure, and the estimate is free with no obligation.
- Call
- (714) 750-8944
- Location
- Garden Grove, CA 92840
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 6 AM–11 PM, Sat–Sun: 7 AM–11 PM
Tell us about your Fullerton concrete project
If you're not sure whether the old slab needs replacing or just a repair, call (714) 750-8944 or send the form, and I'll tell you which one I'd do.