Concrete Contractor in Lakewood, CA - Slabs that start with the ground
Sterling Lakewood Concrete is a concrete contractor based in Lakewood, CA. We build driveways, patios, walkways, steps, footings and slab foundations for homeowners here, and we spend our time on the dirt and drainage under each pour.
Everything we pour in Lakewood
Every service below is available for homes and properties in Lakewood. Tap one to read how we handle it, or call (562) 249-2521 and tell us what you're planning.
- 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
The ground under your slab comes first
Most of the calls we get are for a driveway, a patio or a foundation. Before we talk about finishes, I check the subgrade the new slab will sit on and where the water runs off your yard, because most concrete trouble starts with the ground and the water, not the surface.
The base is the part nobody sees once the slab is in, so it's usually the first thing people want to trim from the budget. I'd rather cut back on a fancy finish than on digging out and packing the ground, because a nice surface on a soft base just settles with the dirt. Our concrete driveway building page has more on how that job goes.
Where water runs
If a slab falls toward the house, rain ends up against your foundation, so we check how the yard drains before we set any forms.
What sank the old slab
When we break out an old driveway or patio, we look at the dirt underneath, because loose fill that was raked level is usually why it sank.
Time of the pour
On a hot day, a slab poured at midday can dry too fast on top and turn weak and dusty later, so we plan the pour around the heat.
Close to home in Lakewood
We're based in Lakewood and take jobs in many of the cities around it, like Bellflower and Paramount. I come out to look at the job and write the estimate myself, and I'm on site running our crew on pour day.
Price mostly turns on the size of the slab, how much old concrete comes out, how much base work the ground needs and the finish you pick. The schedule turns on whether a permit applies and on curing, the wait while new concrete gains strength before you use it. Your written estimate spells out what's included.
When you call, it helps to know roughly how big the area is, what's there now and what you'd like instead. Photos of the cracks or the pooling water help too, and if there's a narrow gate or a tight side yard, tell me so I can plan how we get in.
- Area
- Lakewood, 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 what you're planning
Send the area's size, what's there now and some photos, or call. We reply within one business day to set up a free estimate at your property, with no obligation.
To talk now, call
(562) 249-2521Questions Lakewood homeowners ask
Another question? Call (562) 249-2521
Do I need a permit to replace a concrete driveway in Lakewood?
It depends on the type and scope of the work, and the city's Building and Safety Division issues building permits in Lakewood. Its list of home projects that often start with a permit names kitchens, baths, re-roofing and sewer work, so we check your concrete job before pricing it and handle the application if one's needed.
Who licenses concrete contractors in California?
The Contractors State License Board licenses and regulates California's construction industry. Applicants usually have to pass two exams, one on law and business and one on their trade. We're licensed and fully insured, and I'm glad to go over it when I come out to look at your job.
How much of a down payment can a contractor ask for in California?
Under the state licensing board's rules, a down payment on a home improvement job can't be more than $1,000, and on a smaller job the cap is lower. After that, each payment has to be listed in the contract and tied to work already done or materials delivered to your home.
Will my new concrete patio crack like the old one did?
Some cracking is normal, because concrete shrinks as it dries and no slab is crack-proof. What we can control is how much the slab moves and where a crack lands, by digging out and packing the base, keeping water running away from the house and cutting control joints, the grooves that give a crack a straight line to follow.
Where can I look up past building permits for my Lakewood house?
Permits the City of Lakewood has issued since 2008 can be viewed in the L.A. County Building Permit Viewer. It's worth a look before a foundation or slab job, since it can show work done on the house before you owned it.