Concrete contractor in San Lorenzo, CA - slabs that drain and hold up
Precision Hayward Concrete is a concrete contractor based in Hayward. We pour driveways, patios, steps and slabs for San Lorenzo homes, and we pack the ground and send the water away from the house before any concrete goes down.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free quotes on site.
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Services in San Lorenzo, CA
Concrete driveway building
A lot of older driveways here have cracked across, sunk at the garage lip or started holding puddles because the ground under them gave way over the years. We dig out the old base, pack new rock in layers and set the slope so the water runs to the street instead of back at your garage.
Concrete patio construction
Backyards in San Lorenzo sit low and flat, so a patio poured dead level or tipped toward the house ends up holding water against your foundation. We check where the water goes before we set a single form, and we give the slab enough fall to drain toward the yard.
Concrete steps construction
Front stoops on older houses here often pull away from the house or start to rock as the ground under them settles, and that's an easy place to trip. We tear them out and pour new concrete steps on a packed base, with steel tied into the house, even risers and a top that grips when it's wet.
Concrete sidewalk building
Side-yard walks and front paths tend to heave and break where roots or soft spots push the panels out of line. We replace the broken sections and cut control joints, shallow grooves that give the slab a place to crack where we choose, and we finish the top with a broom finish, a light texture that keeps it from getting slick.
Garage floor concrete
Older garage floors here are often cracked through and sitting low on one side, so rain runs in under the door instead of out. We break out the old floor, rebuild the base and pour a new slab that slopes toward the door.
Foundation raising
When part of a house on this soft, layered ground settles, you see it as sticking doors, cracked stucco and gaps along the floor. I look at the foundation myself first, and if raising it is the right fix, we work from an engineer's plan instead of guessing.
San Lorenzo, CA properties and local conditions
Between Hayward and the bay, San Lorenzo Creek crosses flat ground built up in layers of sand, gravel, silt and clay, and that's what most yards here sit on, though every lot is a little different. Ground like that can be firm in one spot and soft a few feet over. So we dig down to the subgrade, the native ground the slab rests on, and pack crushed rock over it in layers. Then we lay in rebar, the steel that keeps a cracked slab in one piece instead of letting the pieces drift apart.
Many houses here still have their original driveway and patio, and after decades a lot of those slabs have tipped back toward the house, so water pools by the garage or the back door after a rain. We set new slabs to fall away from the house. We also pour in the cooler part of the day, because concrete finished in afternoon heat dries too fast and leaves a weak, dusty top.
What working in unincorporated San Lorenzo means for your job
San Lorenzo sits outside any city's limits, so building permits here come from Alameda County, not Hayward or San Leandro. When a job needs one, the county's review and inspection dates set part of the schedule. Before you hire anyone, check that they hold a California contractor license and the county's business license. We're fully licensed and insured, and when your job needs a permit, we handle the paperwork and inspections with you through the county.
The county's permits page also covers work in county roads, sidewalks and the public right-of-way, which comes up when a new driveway runs out to the street, so I look at that end of the job on the first visit. The price mostly comes down to the tear-out, what the ground underneath needs, the size of the slab and the finish you pick. The schedule turns on the weather and those county dates, and your estimate spells out both for your job. We do the same work next door in Hayward and down in Union City, so this flat, layered ground isn't new to us.
Your San Lorenzo driveway or patio, priced on site
Call or send the form, and we'll get back to you within one business day to set up a visit to your San Lorenzo property. I come out myself, look at the ground and the drainage, and write up a free estimate with no obligation.
(510) 333-4444What happens when you call us about a San Lorenzo job
Call us or send the form
Call (510) 333-4444 or fill out the form, and we'll call you back to set a time to come out. Tell us what you're seeing, like cracks, sinking or pooling water, so I know what to look for.
I walk the site with you
I come out myself to look at the slab, the ground and where the water runs, and I listen to what you want, so it helps if you're home for this one. You get a written estimate that shows what each part costs and why, so you know what you're paying for.
We handle permits and prep
Once you're ready, we line up any permit with the county and any engineering the work calls for, then tear out the old concrete and build the base. You don't need to be home while the crew works, but keep the cars off the driveway.
We pour, finish and walk it
Our crew pours and finishes with me running the work, and we cut the joints as soon as the concrete is firm enough. Then we walk the finished job with you and go over how long to stay off it.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a building permit for concrete work in San Lorenzo?
You apply through the Alameda County Permit Portal, which covers San Lorenzo along with the county's other unincorporated areas. That's where plans get submitted, inspections get scheduled and you can check where your permit stands. When your job needs one, we handle the paperwork and the inspections with you.
Does my concrete contractor need a California state license?
Yes, for just about any real driveway or patio. The state Contractors State License Board requires a license when the project needs a building permit, uses any extra workers, or the labor and materials come to $1,000 or more across one or more contracts. Ask for the license number before you sign anything.
Does a contractor from Hayward need a county business license to work in San Lorenzo?
Yes. Alameda County requires a business license for any business working in the unincorporated area, even one based outside it or already licensed by another city. The county treats it as a yearly tax, and the license only shows that the tax is paid, so it doesn't replace the state contractor license.
How much does a new concrete driveway cost in San Lorenzo?
On most San Lorenzo driveways, the biggest part of the cost is what's under the surface: the tear-out, the haul-off and the digging and packing of a new base. A plain broom finish costs less than stamping or color, and if the budget's tight, that's where I'd save, because a fancy top on a weak base still settles. Your written estimate breaks out each part so you can see where the money goes.
How long does a new concrete driveway take to cure before I can drive on it?
Usually you can walk on it after a few days, but you'll wait longer before you park a car on it. That's because concrete keeps curing, slowly gaining strength as it holds onto its water, well after it looks dry. Weather moves that wait, so plan on parking on the street for a while, and we'll tell you when it's ready.
Will a new concrete driveway in San Lorenzo crack like my old one?
It can still get a hairline crack, because all concrete shrinks as it cures, but it shouldn't break up and sink the way a slab on a raked-flat base does. We pack the base, slope it away from the house and cut the joints on time so a crack has a groove to follow. Concrete can't promise to stay crack-free, and I'd rather tell you that now than later.
About San Lorenzo, CA
San Lorenzo is mostly neighborhoods of older single-story houses on flat lots, set between San Leandro and Hayward with Ashland close by, plus shops and small businesses along the main roads. Homeowners call us about cracked driveways and front steps, landlords about walks and patios at their rentals, and shop owners about the concrete out front. A lot of what we tear out has been there since the house was built.
Because the lots are flat and the ground is layered, the job here is less about fighting a slope and more about getting the water to leave and building a base that holds. That's where most of our time goes on flatwork here, the driveways, walks and patios that sit right on the ground.
Explore the services
Hayward, CA
Ask about your San Lorenzo concrete job
Call (510) 333-4444 or send the form before you settle on a pour date, so I can tell you what the county may want for your job and build it into the plan.