Concrete Contractor in San Luis Obispo - Flatwork That Stays Flat
J&D Santa Maria Concrete Company is a concrete contractor in Santa Maria, CA. We pour driveways, patios, walks, steps and pool decks for homeowners in San Luis Obispo, and our own crew does the forming and finishing.
Concrete work in San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo is one of the cities we come up to from Santa Maria, the same as we head south to Lompoc. The work here is mostly flatwork, meaning the flat pours like driveways, patios and walks. It runs from houses near downtown to lots that back onto the city's open space. I walk every job myself before we price it, because the slab you can see only tells you half of what's going on.
The city's permit process is part of planning a job here. The City of San Luis Obispo issues building permits when a structure is built or altered, and the property owner has to have that permit before work starts. When your job calls for one, we handle the application with the city and set up the inspections, so you're not chasing it. We're licensed and insured.
What we look at under the slab
On any San Luis Obispo job, I start with what the new slab will sit on and where the water goes, because that decides whether it holds up. If an old driveway has sunk or cracked, the cause is usually underneath it. So we dig out and pack the subgrade, the soil and base the slab rests on, before a single form goes up.
- A base that settles. If the base was only raked level instead of dug out and packed, the slab sinks with the dirt and cracks soon follow.
- Water headed for the house. A slab that falls toward the house sends rain to the foundation, so we check where the water runs and set the slope away first.
- Cracks nobody chose. Concrete shrinks as it dries, and control joints are grooves we cut so it cracks there instead of across the middle, as long as they're cut on time.
What we pour for San Luis Obispo homeowners
If a driveway has sunk, cracked across or holds water after a rain, patching usually buys very little time, because the problem sits under it. We tear it out, fix the base and pour new. If replacing one section will do the job, I'll tell you that instead.
Backyard work is the other half of it, meaning patios, walks, steps and concrete pool decks. The finish matters to you every day out there, so we match the texture to the spot, like a broom finish, a light ridged texture that gives your feet grip on a deck that gets wet. I won't trim the base to pay for a fancier top, though. A stamped surface on a poor base still cracks, and you can't fix the base later without tearing the whole thing out.
Getting us out to your job
We're based in Santa Maria and cover San Luis Obispo along with Arroyo Grande and Pismo Beach. Price turns on the slab's size, the tear-out, the base work and the finish. Timing mostly turns on permits and curing. Call (805) 268-7763 or use the form, and I'll come walk it.
Tell us about your concrete job
Send us a few lines about the slab and what's wrong with it, or call. We reply within one business day and set a time for me to come look.
(805) 268-7763- Free estimate at your property
- Written out line by line
- No obligation
Questions we hear in San Luis Obispo
Do I need a permit for concrete work in San Luis Obispo?
That depends on the job, and the office to ask is the city's Building & Safety Division at (805) 781-7180. It issues permits when a structure is built or altered. Larger development projects can also need engineering, encroachment and stormwater approvals. I'll check your job before we start, and we'll handle the application if it needs one.
How far ahead do you book a building inspection in San Luis Obispo?
The city needs your call at least 24 hours ahead to schedule a building permit inspection. On jobs where we pull the permit, we book the inspections ourselves and plan the pour around them, so you don't have to keep track of it.
When is the Community Development counter open in San Luis Obispo?
Walk-in counter service at Community Development runs Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to noon, at 919 Palm Street. Phone help and appointments run Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at (805) 781-7170.
How much does a new concrete driveway cost in San Luis Obispo?
The price comes down to the size of the slab, how much old concrete we haul out, how much base work it needs and the finish you pick. A plain broom finish costs less than stamped or colored work. Your estimate lists each of those as its own line, so you can see where the money goes.
How long until I can drive on a new concrete driveway?
You'll walk on it well before you drive on it, because concrete keeps gaining strength long after it looks dry. That wait is called curing, and if you rush it you get a weaker, dusty top. I'll give you the dates for your slab when we schedule the pour.
Will my new concrete patio crack like the old one did?
Hairline cracks can still show up, but a slab on a packed base with its joints cut on time cracks where we planned, not across the middle. Old slabs usually fail because the base was skipped or the joints were cut late, and those are the parts we don't cut corners on.