Concrete Contractor in Hawthorne, CA - Level Driveways and Patios That Drain
What Hawthorne homes need from their concrete
We're based in Hawthorne, and I spend a good part of my week here looking at cracked driveways, patios that hold water and front steps that have started pulling away from the house. Most of the homes are older and sit close together on modest lots, and the concrete around them was usually poured long before today's owners moved in. The calls are much the same in Inglewood and Lawndale. In every one of those cities, I come out to look at the job and write the estimate myself, and our crew does the forming, pouring and finishing with a lead finisher on site.
The price depends on how much old concrete comes out, how much base work the ground needs and which finish you choose. The schedule turns on that same demolition, any inspection the job needs and the weather, and I spell all of it out in the written estimate. So many slabs here are decades old that most of our concrete driveway building in Hawthorne begins with breaking out concrete, not pouring on bare ground.
What we fix on Hawthorne driveways
Slabs sinking with the dirt
Most of the sinking we see started with a base that was only raked level, so it settled along with the soil. We dig out and pack the subgrade, the ground under the slab, before we pour.
Water running toward the house
Many older slabs have settled until they tip toward the house, so rain sits by the walls or in the garage. We check where the water runs before we form and slope the new slab away.
Afternoon heat on pour day
Concrete poured on a hot afternoon can dry too fast on top and turn weak and dusty later. We pour in the cooler part of the day and keep the top damp.
Tight lots and side driveways
Houses here often sit close together, with a narrow driveway running beside the house to the garage. Before pour day, we plan how the old slab comes out and how the new concrete gets in.
Should I repair or replace my Hawthorne driveway?
Thank you for asking before anyone sells you a new slab. A few hairline cracks in a slab that still sits level and drains away from the house usually don't need replacing, and I'll tell you so. When sections have sunk, edges have lifted or water now runs toward the walls, the trouble is underneath. Patching the top won't hold, so the honest answer is to replace that section or the whole slab.
If the budget is tight, I'd rather you save on the finish than on the base. Nobody sees the packed base on the day we pour, so it's the first thing some quotes trim, but it's what keeps the slab level. A plain broom finish, the light texture dragged across the top for grip, costs less than a decorative one and wears well. A bad base can only be fixed by tearing the concrete out.
Concrete services in Hawthorne
- Concrete driveway building in Hawthorne, CA
- Concrete patio construction in Hawthorne, CA
- Stamped concrete services in Hawthorne, CA
- Concrete sidewalk building in Hawthorne, CA
- Garage floor concrete in Hawthorne, CA
- Decorative concrete in Hawthorne, CA
- Concrete retaining walls in Hawthorne, CA
- Concrete floor installation in Hawthorne, CA
- Concrete pool decks in Hawthorne, CA
- Concrete steps construction in Hawthorne, CA
- Slab foundation building in Hawthorne, CA
- Foundation installation in Hawthorne, CA
- Concrete parking lot building in Hawthorne, CA
- Concrete footings in Hawthorne, CA
- Foundation raising in Hawthorne, CA
- Concrete cutting in Hawthorne, CA
Questions Hawthorne homeowners ask us
How much does a concrete driveway cost in Hawthorne?
The cost of a concrete driveway in Hawthorne comes down to its size and thickness, how much old concrete has to come out, the base work underneath and the finish you choose. Rebar, the steel bars set inside the slab to hold it together if it cracks, adds to the price. So does a spot that's hard to reach with equipment. My estimate is written, with what's included and what isn't, so you can hold any other quote up against it line by line.
Who handles building permits for concrete work in Hawthorne?
The city's Department of Building and Safety handles permits and plans for construction in Hawthorne, and its inspectors check the work against the approved plans. If your job needs a permit, I tell you at the estimate. We handle the application with the department and arrange the inspections. If you'd like to call the office yourself, the number is (310) 349-2990. It's open Monday through Thursday and closed on Fridays.
Can I apply for a building permit online in Hawthorne?
Yes. The city's Citizen Self Service portal is where you apply for permits or plans, check a record's status and review plan submittals. Even when we handle the permit for you, you can look it up there any time to see where it stands.
How do I schedule a concrete inspection in Hawthorne?
Contractors and applicants schedule inspections through the same Citizen Self Service portal. Permits issued before July 2022 are the exception, because those inspections are scheduled by calling the Building and Safety office. When we hold the permit, we arrange each inspection ourselves, so you don't have to.
How long does it take before I can drive on a new concrete driveway?
You can walk on a new slab well before you can park on it, because concrete keeps gaining strength while it cures, the slow hardening that continues for days after the pour. Driving on it too early is how good concrete ends up with broken edges, so we keep the driveway blocked off until it's ready. I go over both waits with you at the estimate so you can plan where to park.
Will a new concrete slab crack like my old one?
A new slab can still crack, but with a packed base and joints cut on time it shouldn't crack the way your old one did. Control joints are straight grooves we cut into the surface so that when the concrete shrinks, it cracks inside the groove, where you'd barely notice. The cracks running across older Hawthorne driveways usually started where the joints were cut late, cut too shallow or skipped.
Other cities we work in, and yours
Pick another city below to see its page. If yours isn't listed, please call (424) 307-8166 and ask, since we work in many cities around Hawthorne.
Get a free written estimate for your concrete
Tell us what you'd like poured and roughly how big. We reply within one business day, then I come out to write a free estimate, with no obligation.