Concrete Contractor in Downey, CA - Driveways and Patios Built on Solid Ground
Sterling Lakewood Concrete is a concrete contractor based in Lakewood, and we pour driveways, patios, walkways, steps and foundations for homeowners in Downey, with the digging, base work and drainage done before any concrete goes down.
What we pour and build in Downey
Every service below is available in Downey, from driveways and foundations to new sidewalks and walkways. Open one to read how we do it, or call and 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
Driveways, patios and slabs on Downey homes
The city's records from 1997 counted about six in ten Downey homes as single-family houses and the rest as apartments and condos. That's an old count, but it fits what we're asked for here. Most calls are driveways, patios, walkways and garage slabs at houses, with some work for owners of multi-unit buildings.
I start with what the slab will sit on and where the water goes, because most concrete trouble starts with the ground and the water. The city's wording is that, generally, new construction and repairs need a permit, and its list includes hardscapes, which covers most of what we pour. So we sort out whether your job needs one before we price it, and we handle the application when it does.
The ground underneath
We dig out and pack the subgrade, the ground the slab sits on, because a base that's only raked level settles and takes the concrete with it.
Where water runs
We check which way the yard drains before we set forms, so the new slab sheds water away from your house instead of toward it.
The old concrete
Where an old slab has sunk or broken up, we look at why before tearing it out, because pouring over the same problem gets you the same cracks.
Base before finish
If the budget is tight, I'd pick a broom finish, the brushed texture that gives grip, and keep the money in the base that holds it up.
From our Lakewood base to Downey
We're based in Lakewood and take jobs in many of the cities around it, across Los Angeles County and Orange County. Downey is part of that regular run, along with Norwalk, Bellflower and Paramount.
Call (562) 249-2521 or send the form, and we'll set a time for me to come out. I look at the job and write the estimate myself, in plain words, and I'm on site running our crew on pour day. We're licensed and fully insured.
Price moves with the slab's size and thickness, the old concrete coming out, the base work and the finish. The schedule mostly turns on any permit and on curing, the days fresh concrete needs to harden before use. Rough measurements and a few photos help, and the estimate lists what's included.
- Area
- Downey, 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 Downey job
Describe the job 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) 249-2521Questions Downey homeowners ask us
Another question? Call (562) 249-2521
Can I pull my own permit for concrete work on my house in Downey?
Yes, if you live in the single-family house the permit covers, because the city issues building permits to owner-builders in that case as well as to licensed contractors. For condos, townhomes, duplexes and apartments, the city issues permits only to licensed contractors. The rules are on the city's building permit information page.
Does a concrete contractor need a Downey business license?
Yes, the city requires a business license for any business working in Downey, including contractors whose offices are outside the city. A contractor pulling a permit there needs a current City of Downey business license, which can be paid for when the permit is issued, so it's fair to ask anyone you're hiring about it.
Do I need a permit for a low block wall in Downey?
A block wall or fence no taller than 42 inches doesn't need a building permit in Downey, but it still needs approval from Planning and possibly Engineering at the city. A taller wall needs a building permit on top of that approval, and the Building and Safety Division can answer the odd cases.
Will my new concrete driveway crack like the old one did?
It may get hairline cracks, because nearly all concrete does, but it shouldn't sink or break up the way a slab on a poor base does. We cut control joints, grooves that give the slab a planned place to crack, and we build the base and drainage first so the ground stays put under it.
How long will I be without my driveway after a new pour in Downey?
You can usually walk on it within days, but driving waits longer while it cures, and I'll tell you when it's safe for your pour. The wait depends on the mix and the conditions, so we'd rather keep you off it a little longer than have a car crack it early.