Concrete Contractor in Costa Mesa, CA - Slabs Built on Packed, Well-Drained Ground
Sterling Lakewood Concrete is a concrete contractor based in Lakewood, and we take jobs in Costa Mesa: driveways, patios, steps, walkways, foundations and foundation raising, poured on ground we've dug out, packed and checked for drainage.
Concrete work we do in Costa Mesa
Every service below is available for Costa Mesa homes and properties. Tap one to see how we handle it, or call (562) 249-2521 to ask about yours.
- 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 we look at before we pour
Most of our calls start with cracks, a sunken corner or water pooling on a driveway or patio. When I come out to a Costa Mesa house, I look past the surface first, because most concrete trouble starts with the ground and the water under it.
The base is the part you'll never see once the slab is down, so it's the first thing people want to trim from a budget. I'd rather you skip a fancy finish than skimp there. We dig out soft dirt and pack the subgrade, the ground the slab sits on, so your concrete doesn't sink along with it.
Which way water runs
We check which way the yard drains so the new slab falls away from the house instead of sending rain toward your foundation.
Control joints
We cut control joints, shallow grooves that give the slab a planned place to crack, early enough that cracks follow those lines and not random ones.
Pour timing
When it's hot out we pour early in the day, because concrete that bakes in midday sun can leave a weak, dusty top later.
Steps and landings
Where a walk meets the front door, we check each step's height and how the landing sheds water, the same way we handle concrete steps construction anywhere.
From Lakewood out to Costa Mesa
We're based in Lakewood and take jobs in many of the cities around it, across Los Angeles County and Orange County, and Costa Mesa is one of them. We also work in Garden Grove, Long Beach and East Los Angeles, among others.
When you call, I set a time to come out myself, walk the job with you and write the estimate in plain words so you can see what's included. It helps to have photos of the problem and a rough idea of the size ready.
Price moves with the size of the slab, how much old concrete and soft dirt comes out, and the finish you pick. Timing turns on the weather, curing, the days new concrete needs to harden before you use it, and the permit question, which we settle before we price and file with the city's Building Safety Division when one's needed.
- Area
- Costa Mesa, CA
- Phone
- (562) 249-2521
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 8 AM–11 PM, Sat–Sun: 6 AM–10 PM
- Based in
- Lakewood, CA 90712
Tell us about your slab
Send a few photos and a note through the form, or call (562) 249-2521. We reply within one business day to set up a free, no-obligation estimate at your property.
To talk now, call
(562) 249-2521What people ask before we pour
Another question? Call (562) 249-2521
Do I need a licensed contractor for concrete work in Costa Mesa?
In most cases, yes. The state's Contractors State License Board requires a license when a job needs a building permit, uses employees, or totals $1,000 or more in labor and materials, and a bigger job can't be split into small contracts to get under that line. We're licensed and fully insured.
How do I apply for a building permit in Costa Mesa?
You apply online through TESSA, the city's permit system, where every detail is entered directly. The city ignores paper forms and sends back incomplete applications. We work out whether your job needs a permit before we price it, and when it does, we handle the application for you.
Can I get an Insta-Permit for concrete work in Costa Mesa?
Concrete work isn't on the city's Insta-Permit list. Those quick permits cover simple jobs like re-roofs, water heaters, EV chargers and HVAC work. That doesn't tell you whether your slab needs a regular permit, so we check that before we give you a price.
What happens if a contractor works without a license in California?
A first offense is usually a misdemeanor, with up to six months in jail, a $500 fine or both. The state board can add an administrative fine of $200 to $15,000. That risk sits with the contractor, but it's a good reason to ask for a license before anyone pours at your house.
Will my new concrete driveway or patio crack like the old one?
Some cracking is normal in concrete, and I'd rather tell you that up front. The control joints we cut give cracks a straight path, rebar, steel bars set inside the slab, helps hold the pieces together, and a packed, well-drained base keeps the slab from settling and splitting the way old ones often do.