Concrete Contractor in San Lorenzo, CA - Slabs Built for Bay Flatland Soil
P&J Castro Valley Concrete Company is a concrete contractor pouring driveways, patios, garage floors and foundations for San Lorenzo homes. We dig out the old base, pack a new one and slope each slab so water runs away from your house.
San Lorenzo: flat lots, layered ground
Most of what we see in San Lorenzo is houses on flat, level lots between Hayward and San Leandro, with driveways, garage slabs and front walks that have been down a long time. Many of our calls here are about a driveway that has sunk at one end, a slab cracked across the middle or a patio that holds water after a rain.
The ground is the part you can't see. The flatlands along San Lorenzo Creek out to the bay sit on layers of sand, gravel, silt and clay, and each lot has its own mix. That's why I don't trust the dirt under an old slab until we've dug it out and looked at it, because one soft layer under a driveway is enough to let it settle.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free on-site estimates.
- We respond within 1 business day.
Concrete work we do in San Lorenzo
Concrete driveway building
Older driveways here often sink near the garage where the base was never packed. We dig out, compact a new base and slope the slab toward the street.
Concrete patio construction
On a flat backyard, a patio poured dead level can pool water against the house. We set the slope before the pour so rain runs out to the yard.
Garage floor concrete
Garage slabs in older homes here often crack and drop at the edges. We break out the old floor, rebuild the base and cut joints so cracks follow a line.
Concrete floor installation
Garage conversions and additions here need a level interior slab before anything goes on top. Our concrete floor installation starts with a packed base and a moisture barrier.
Concrete sidewalk building
Front walks here lift and tilt where roots or soft spots push under them. We tear out the bad sections and repour them level with the rest.
Foundation raising
On softer ground near the bay, one corner of a house or slab can settle more than the rest. We find out what's moving before we lift and support it.
Building in San Lorenzo under county rules
San Lorenzo sits outside any city's limits, so Alameda County handles building permits and business licenses here. When a job needs a permit, the county's inspections set part of the schedule, so I check with the county before we price the job, and we handle the application and set up the inspections. We're licensed and insured, and before you hire anyone here, ask for two things: a California contractor license and an Alameda County business license.
Most streets here are flat and residential, so getting a concrete truck to your curb is usually simple, and the real work is what's under the old slab. The price moves with how much concrete comes out, how deep we dig to reach firm ground and how big the new slab is, and the schedule moves with the permit and the weather on pour day. I come out to walk the job and do the estimate myself, and our crew lead runs the pour with our own crew, the same way we work as a concrete contractor in Castro Valley, CA and out in Dublin.
Get a free on-site estimate for your San Lorenzo concrete job
Send the form or call (510) 264-7164 and we'll reply within one business day to set a time. I come out to San Lorenzo, walk the job with you and give you a free estimate that says what's included, with no pressure to book. If your job needs a county permit, we'll go over those steps right there.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free on-site estimates.
- We respond within 1 business day.
Driveway and patio ideas for San Lorenzo
Concrete questions from San Lorenzo homeowners
How do I get a permit for a concrete driveway in San Lorenzo?
Building permits for San Lorenzo go through the Alameda County Permit Portal, where you apply, submit plans, schedule inspections and check the permit's status. The county also permits work in its roads, sidewalks and public right-of-way, which can matter where a driveway meets the street. A county committee has proposed updated codes for the unincorporated areas, so we ask which code edition applies when we file.
Does my concrete contractor need a California state license?
Yes, for almost any driveway, patio or slab job. The state licensing board requires a license when the project needs a building permit, uses any additional workers, or the labor and materials come to $1,000 or more across one or more contracts. A real driveway or patio clears that figure easily, so ask for the license number before you sign.
Does a contractor from another city need a business license to work in San Lorenzo?
Yes. Alameda County requires its business license for any business activity in the unincorporated area, even when the company is based somewhere else or already holds another city's license. The county treats it as an annual tax, and the license only shows that tax was paid, so it tells you nothing about whether the contractor knows concrete.
How much does a new concrete driveway cost in San Lorenzo?
Your price is set by the slab and the ground under it, and you get the figure for your driveway in the estimate after I walk the job. The biggest choice you control is finish versus base, because stamping or color shows on day one while the subgrade the slab sits on stays hidden. On this ground, I'd cut the fancy finish before I'd ever cut the base.
What causes concrete driveways to crack and sink in San Lorenzo?
Most sinking here comes from a base that was raked level instead of dug out and packed, so the slab drops as the soft layers under these flat lots compress. Cracks across the middle usually mean the control joints, the grooves cut so the slab cracks along a straight line, went in late or not at all. We pack the base, check where the water runs and cut the joints on time, so a new slab usually cracks where we planned it to, at the joints.
How long until I can drive on a new concrete driveway in San Lorenzo?
You can walk on it well before you can drive on it, because concrete keeps getting stronger for days after the pour. That wait is curing, and keeping the car off until it's done protects the surface and the edges. I'll tell you how long to stay off yours when we set the schedule.