Concrete contractor in Long Beach - driveways and patios that drain away from the house
Sterling Lakewood Concrete is a concrete contractor based in Lakewood that pours driveways, patios, walkways, foundations and retaining walls for homeowners in Long Beach, with the ground prepped and the water planned for before any concrete arrives.
Concrete work we do in Long Beach
Every service below is available in Long Beach, from driveways and patios to concrete retaining walls, so open one to read more or call to ask about it.
- 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
Starting with the ground and the water
When a driveway is sinking or a patio holds water after rain, the trouble is usually under the slab, not in it. So before I price a Long Beach job, I look at the subgrade, which is the dirt the slab sits on, and at where the water goes, because new concrete poured over the same bad ground settles the same way.
Water matters more on some lots than others. The city says some areas of Long Beach could flood in a major rainstorm, so on a low lot I make extra sure the slab falls away from the house and the runoff has somewhere to go.
What's underneath
If the budget's tight, cut the finish, not the base. Nobody sees the base on day one, but a raked-level base settles with the dirt under it.
Where it'll crack
Concrete cracks, so we cut control joints, shallow grooves that give it a straight place to crack, before the slab picks its own spot.
Thickness and steel
We match thickness and rebar, steel bars that keep cracks from spreading, to the load, since a driveway carries more than a walkway.
Coming over from Lakewood
We're based in Lakewood and work in many of the cities around it, Long Beach among them, along with Hawaiian Gardens and Anaheim. I come out to look at the job and write the estimate myself, and I'm on site running our crew on pour day.
The price mostly moves with the size of the slab, how much old concrete comes out, how much soft dirt we dig out and replace with packed base, and the finish. A plain broom finish, the light texture that keeps wet concrete from getting slick, costs less than stamped work, and my estimate spells out what's included.
The schedule turns on whether a permit applies and on curing, the days new concrete needs to harden before you walk on it, and longer before you drive on it. When I come out, tell me how you use the space and where water stands after rain, so I can plan around both.
- Area
- Long Beach, 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 need poured
Send the form or call with what you want poured. We reply within one business day and set up a free estimate at your property, with no obligation.
To talk now, call
(562) 249-2521Questions before you hire us
Another question? Call (562) 249-2521
Do I need a permit for a new concrete driveway in Long Beach?
It may, since the city says most construction on a house needs permits and inspections, repairs and replacements included, though the Building Official can exempt some minor work. Historic districts and coastal zones can add requirements. We check before we price your job and handle the application with the city's Development Permit Center when one is needed.
Do I need a permit for a retaining wall in Long Beach?
The city says a retaining wall four feet tall or less, from the bottom of the footing to the top, needs no building permit. That leaves out walls holding back a slope or extra weight above them, and walls on ground steeper than one foot of rise in five. We check your wall against that before we price it.
Can I get my own permit for concrete work on my Long Beach house?
Yes, the city lets a homeowner take out a permit for work on their own house and accessory buildings, as long as they live there or will. The city limits owner permits to certain dwelling types, so check with the permit center first. Otherwise, permits go to a contractor with a California license and an active Long Beach business license.
When does a concrete contractor need a state license in California?
The state licensing board requires one when the job needs a building permit, uses any extra workers, or the labor and materials come to $1,000 or more. Long Beach also requires a city business license from anyone doing business there. We're licensed and fully insured.