Concrete driveway building
We tear out cracked or sunken driveways, dig to firm ground and pack a new base. Then we pour with rebar, the steel that keeps cracked pieces from pulling apart.
Concrete contractor in Ceres, CA - driveways and patios that sit level and shed water
City of Atwater Concrete is a concrete contractor working in Ceres, CA. We build driveways, patios, walks, garage floors and foundations, and we take our time with the ground under each slab so it stays level.
How our concrete work goes in Ceres
We're based in Atwater and come up to Ceres for the same work we do in McSwain, Turlock and Keyes. Most calls start with something you can see from the curb: a driveway cracked across, a patio that's sunk toward the house, or a walk where water sits after the sprinklers run.
The price mostly depends on the size of the job, whether old concrete has to come out first, how much digging and packing the ground needs, and the finish. A plain broom finish, the light texture brushed in for grip, costs less than stamped or colored work. The schedule depends on whether a permit is needed and on curing, the days new concrete needs to gain strength. You'll be off a new walk for a short while and off a new driveway for longer. The written estimate shows what's included for your job.
Two City of Ceres rules are worth knowing before anyone starts. Any business working inside city limits needs a city business license, so it's fair to ask a contractor about one. Work in the public right of way usually includes the strip where a driveway meets the street, and that work needs an encroachment permit through the city's permit and license center.
Ground first, then the finish
The subgrade, the ground a slab sits on, is hidden once we pour, so it's the easy budget cut. I'd recommend the opposite, because a slab on raked dirt settles along with it.
Water runs away from the house
We check where water goes before we set forms, so the slab falls away from your foundation. A patio that tips toward the house sends every puddle back against the wall.
Cracks where we choose them
Concrete shrinks as it dries, so we cut control joints, shallow grooves that give a crack a straight place to form. If they're cut late or skipped, the cracks wander wherever they like.
Concrete work we do for Ceres homes
Concrete patio construction
Patios are flatwork, our word for slabs at ground level. We slope each one slightly away from the house so roof and sprinkler water runs into the yard.
Stamped concrete services
We press patterned mats into the concrete while it's still soft, so a patio or walk can look like stone or brick. The pattern only lasts as well as the base underneath.
Concrete sidewalk building
We replace walks that have heaved or sunk into trip edges. We cut the joints at even spacing so any crack lands in a straight line instead of across a panel.
Garage floor concrete
We break out stained, cracked or sunken garage slabs and pour a new floor set at the right height for the door. It gets a smooth finish that's easy to sweep.
Decorative concrete
Color, exposed stone and saw-cut patterns can dress up a plain front walk or patio. I'd recommend looking at samples first, since a finish looks different in a yard than in a photo.
Concrete retaining walls
We build walls where a yard steps down or a slope crowds a patio. Each one gets a footing under it and drainage behind it, so water doesn't build up and push on it.
Concrete floor installation
We pour floors inside shops, barns and finished rooms on a packed base. A plastic vapor barrier usually goes under the slab to keep ground moisture out of the space.
Concrete pool decks
Around a pool, bare feet and splash water are the daily test. We give the deck a textured finish for grip and slope it toward drains, away from the house.
Concrete steps construction
We form and pour front and back steps with even rises so nobody misjudges a step. We tie them into the walk or porch so they stay put.
Slab foundation building
For additions, garages and outbuildings, we pack the ground, set rebar and check plumbing lines before the truck arrives. None of it can change once the slab is poured.
Foundation installation
We dig and pour the concrete footing and low wall that a house or addition stands on. Each one is set to the plans and checked for level before framing starts.
Concrete parking lot building
For small businesses and shared driveways, we pour thicker slabs for heavier traffic. We also plan where the water runs so the lot drains instead of holding puddles.
Concrete footings
The buried concrete under posts, walls and patio covers carries the weight. We dig each footing to firm ground and size it to the load instead of guessing.
Foundation raising
When part of a slab or foundation has settled, we find out why before we lift it back toward level. Raising it without fixing the cause usually only buys time.
Concrete cutting
We saw-cut slabs for clean edges, plumbing trenches and sections that need replacing. That way the concrete that stays keeps a straight edge instead of a broken one.
Book a free on-site estimate in Ceres
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set a time to come out. The estimate is free, done on site and comes with no obligation.
I come out myself
I look at the job, measure it and talk it through with you on site. That way the person who prices the work is the one who answers your questions.
Every step explained
I'd like you to know what you're getting before we start. I explain why each step is there and answer your questions as plainly as I can.
There for the pours
Our crew does the work, and I'm on site for the pours and the final walkthrough. A pour is the one step that can't be redone the next day.
Questions about concrete work in Ceres
These are the questions Ceres homeowners usually ask before a concrete job, about permits, inspections, licenses and flood maps.
Does my concrete project need a building permit in Ceres?
Possibly. Ceres issues building permits for almost anything done to a structure except cosmetic work like painting. Please ask the city about your job before we pour, especially if a patio cover goes over the slab, because patio covers are on its permit list. If a permit is needed, we'll tell you which office handles it and agree with you up front whose name it's in.
Who inspects concrete work in Ceres?
Stanislaus County inspectors do the inspections, because the city contracts with the county for all its inspections and plan checks. Plans still go to Ceres, and Ceres issues the permit. When the permit is in our name, we file it and book the inspections, and I'm on site for the pours.
Does a concrete contractor need a state license in California?
Yes, when the job needs a building permit, uses any additional workers, or has one or more contracts totaling $1,000 or more in labor and materials. The state licensing board doesn't allow a larger job to be split into smaller contracts to get under that amount. We're licensed and insured, so please ask us about it when I come out.
Is my house in Ceres in a flood zone?
The answer is different for each property, and you can look yours up on the flood maps FEMA updated for Stanislaus County and Ceres in 2020. The county says those changes may affect building or insurance requirements, and the Tuolumne River forms part of the city's northern boundary. If your lot is near the river, I'd recommend checking your address on the updated county maps before we plan a slab or foundation.
Cities where we do concrete work
These are the cities with their own page on our site, and we also work in many other cities around Atwater. If yours isn't listed, please call (209) 280-3262 and ask.
Tell us about your concrete project in Ceres
Our phone hours run seven days a week, 7 AM to 11 PM, so call (209) 280-3262 or use the form to describe your project.