Concrete driveway building in Berkeley CA - a slab built on solid, packed ground
Cracked, sinking or holding water? We dig out the old base, pack the ground and pour a new slab that drains away from your house.
What does it take to build a concrete driveway in Berkeley?
Concrete driveway building in Berkeley starts below the surface. A new driveway is a slab laid over packed soil or gravel, and both the slab and the ground under it are sloped so rainwater runs off instead of pooling or heading for your house.
Most people call us when the old driveway is cracked across, sunk at one corner or holding a puddle after rain, and the cause is usually what's underneath. When a base was raked level instead of dug out and packed, it settles with the dirt and the slab follows it down. Concrete is hard to undo, so I'd rather talk your driveway through with you before we pour than leave you guessing.
The price moves with the size of the driveway, whether the old one has to be broken out and hauled off, how steep your lot is, the finish you pick and whether the work reaches the sidewalk or curb. The schedule turns mostly on that last point, because city work adds a permit step, and on the weather we pour in, and your written estimate gives you your own figure. The state licensing board requires a license for work like this once labor and materials total $1,000 or more, and we're licensed and fully insured.
- Breaking out and hauling off your old driveway, or starting fresh where there's only dirt or gravel.
- The approach where your driveway meets the sidewalk and curb, when your job reaches that far.
- Matching the new slab to your garage floor, walks and steps so the heights meet without a trip edge.
What happens after you call about a new driveway?
I come out to every driveway job myself, and our crew does the forming, pouring and finishing with me running it. Here's how it goes from your first call to the walk-through at the end.
Call or send a request
Call (510) 345-1330 or use the form, and tell us the driveway's rough size, whether an old one needs to come out and whether the work reaches the sidewalk or curb. We'll set a time for me to come see it.
I measure and explain choices
I measure, check the slope and where the water runs now, look up which office covers your address and talk through finish and joint choices with you. You get a written estimate laying out those choices, so you can compare it with other quotes before you spend anything.
We prep, form and pour
Once you say yes, we take care of any permit steps, dig out and pack the base, set the forms, then pour and finish with me on the job. We cut the joints where we agreed and start curing the slab right away.
Walk the finished driveway together
I walk the new driveway with you and explain how to care for it while it cures and after. Your satisfaction, guaranteed.
Driveways, patios and other concrete flatwork in progress
Flatwork is the trade's word for flat slabs like driveways, patios and walks, and these photos show it at different stages. Use them to picture forms, finishes and joint lines before we talk about your own driveway.
Stamped concrete patio with an irregular stone pattern and curved dark border beside a house.
Two-story stone-and-siding house with a white-railed porch and short concrete steps leading to the walkway.
Wide concrete landing and broad steps descend toward a sidewalk and street.
Concrete driveway with pale rectangular slabs and dark edging, viewed from above with a black car parked on it.
Concrete pool deck surrounds a blue swimming pool beside a lit house and covered outdoor seating area at dusk.
Covered outdoor living area with gray concrete pavers, dining and lounge furniture, and built-in grills.
Get a written estimate for your new driveway
Send your request and we'll reply within one business day to set a time for me to come out. The estimate at your property is free, it comes in writing, and there's no pressure to book.
(510) 345-1330Questions about new concrete driveways in Berkeley
These are the questions I hear most when I'm standing in someone's driveway with a tape measure. If yours isn't here, ask me at the estimate and I'll walk you through it.
How much does a concrete driveway cost in the Bay Area?
An un-reinforced concrete driveway in the Bay Area usually costs about $8 to $14 per square foot, and that doesn't include tearing out an old driveway, which can raise the cost of a replacement. Size, slope, finish and any sidewalk or curb work move your number, and the written estimate I give you after measuring spells it out so you can compare.
Will a new concrete driveway crack like my old one?
No concrete can be kept from cracking entirely, but well-planned joints control where cracks show up and keep them to a minimum. That's why we settle the joint layout with you before the pour, and why the base gets so much of our attention, since a settling base is what usually splits an old driveway.
Does rebar or wire mesh stop a driveway from cracking?
No, rebar and wire mesh don't stop cracks, but placed in the right spot in the slab they can keep the cracks that form narrower. Rebar is steel rod set inside the concrete to hold it together, so think of it as a way to get tighter cracks, not a crack-free driveway.
How long does a new concrete driveway need to cure?
Trade guidance says curing should start as soon as possible, either with a sprayed-on curing compound or with damp burlap kept moist for at least 3 days. Curing is the wait while the concrete holds its moisture and gains strength, and it's fair to ask any contractor which method they'll use.
How do I know if my Berkeley lot is too steep for a driveway?
City guidance says driveway slopes should generally stay under 15%, and slopes up to 25% may be allowed if the city's traffic engineer approves. On a steep lot I measure the grade at the estimate, so we know before pricing whether your design needs that sign-off.
How much can a contractor ask for as a down payment in California?
Under state rules, a contractor on a home improvement job can't ask for or take a down payment of more than $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less. The same rules say any other payments are listed in the contract and based on work already done or materials already delivered.
Concrete driveway building in Berkeley and nearby cities
When your driveway job reaches the sidewalk, curb or gutter, Berkeley requires an engineering permit and work to city concrete specifications, and we handle the application and set up inspections. We meet the same hillside lots in the cities nearby.