Concrete contractor in South San Francisco - slabs built on a packed base
Complete San Carlos Concrete is a concrete contractor based in San Carlos that builds and replaces driveways, patios, sidewalks, steps, garage floors and foundations for homeowners and property owners in South San Francisco.
South San Francisco driveways, walks and patios we work on
South San Francisco is a short drive up the Peninsula from our base in San Carlos, and the calls we get here look a lot like the ones from Daly City and Mountain View. Most come from homeowners with a driveway, walk, patio or set of steps that has cracked, sunk or started pooling water, plus property owners with parking areas and sidewalks to redo.
What moves the price on a job here is mostly the size of the slab, how much old concrete comes out, how much work the base under it needs and the finish you pick. The schedule turns on the tear-out, any permit the job needs and curing, the days new concrete needs to harden before you put weight on it, and your written estimate spells out the work for your property. A lot of houses here are older and sit on tight lots, with short driveways and narrow side yards, so before anything else I look at how the truck, the forms and the dirt pile will fit and where the water will go.
What we find under South San Francisco slabs
Most of what we fix in South San Francisco started underneath the old slab or in how it was poured, not on the surface you see from the street.
Many older driveways here were poured on dirt raked level instead of dug out and packed, so they sink as it settles.
On short driveways and patios against the house, a slab that falls the wrong way sends rain toward the garage or foundation.
Old slabs often crack in random lines because control joints, the grooves that tell a crack where to go, were cut late or skipped.
A top that chips or dusts early often came from a hot midday pour or a rushed finish, which we avoid by timing the pour.
I'd rather see your slab, the ground under it and where the water runs before I quote anything, so every estimate starts with a visit and measurements.
Where we work, including South San Francisco
We're based in San Carlos and work in South San Francisco and the cities around it, such as Daly City and San Mateo, along with others nearby. Every city with its own page is listed below.
Concrete services for South San Francisco properties
Concrete driveway building
When an older driveway has sunk, cracked across or tips water toward the garage, we break it out, rebuild the base and pour a new one pitched away.
Concrete patio construction
For a backyard patio that has settled or holds puddles, we dig to firm ground, pack the base and set the slab to drain away from the house.
Stamped concrete services
Stamped concrete gives a patio or walk the look of stone or brick in one pour. It still needs a solid base and joints, so we start there.
Concrete sidewalk building
We replace front walks and side paths that have heaved, cracked or turned into trip hazards, and set them to shed water off the walking surface.
Garage floor concrete
An old garage floor that's cracked, pitted or sunken at the door gets broken out and repoured with a slight fall toward the door, so water runs out.
Decorative concrete
Colored, exposed-aggregate or scored finishes can dress up an entry or patio on a small lot. We go over how each one wears and cleans before you choose.
Concrete retaining walls
Where a yard steps down or a slope crowds the driveway, a retaining wall holds the soil back. Drainage behind the wall matters as much as the wall.
Concrete floor installation
We pour interior slabs for basements, workshops, additions and storage buildings, set flat and level over a packed base, so the floor has firm support under every corner.
Concrete pool decks
A pool deck has to drain away from the water and the house and stay comfortable underfoot. We talk through texture and slope with you at the estimate.
Concrete steps construction
Front steps on older houses here often pull away from the porch or vary in height. We rebuild them square, with every step the same height.
Slab foundation building
For a garage, addition or backyard building, we build the slab on a dug-out, packed base with rebar, steel bars that keep cracks from opening up.
Foundation installation
We form and pour foundations for additions and new structures to the plans you have, checking layout and depth before any concrete arrives.
Concrete parking lot building
For commercial and multi-unit properties, we pour parking areas and drive aisles that carry daily traffic, with the base and drainage planned for the whole surface.
Concrete footings
Decks, fences, walls and additions need footings, the concrete feet that carry the weight. We dig and pour them to the depth and size the plans call for.
Foundation raising
When part of a slab or foundation has dropped, we look at why before lifting it, because raising it without fixing the cause usually means it drops again.
Concrete cutting
We saw-cut concrete for new openings, utility trenches, control joints and clean edges where only part of a driveway or walk needs replacing.
Get a free written estimate for your South San Francisco job
Send us the form and we'll get back to you within one business day to set a time to look at your South San Francisco property. I usually come out myself to see the job and take measurements, and then you get a written estimate with the work spelled out. The estimate is free, and there's no pressure and no obligation.
- Call
- (650) 866-1977
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 8 AM–11 PM, Sat–Sun: 7 AM–11 PM
Why homeowners here call Complete San Carlos Concrete
Concrete gives you one chance, and the mistakes set with it. Here's how we handle the parts of a South San Francisco job that decide how the slab holds up.
I measure the job myself
I usually come out myself to look at the slab, check where the water runs and take measurements. Our crew does the forming, pouring and finishing, and I check the work as it goes.
We won't cut the base
The base is the first thing people want to trim from a budget, because nobody sees it once the slab is down. I'd rather cut back on the finish, since a slab on soft dirt settles with it.
Licensed, insured, pouring since 2017
We're fully licensed and insured, and I started this business in San Carlos in 2017 after learning concrete under an experienced contractor. Satisfaction guaranteed. Call (650) 866-1977 to book a visit.
Concrete questions from South San Francisco homeowners
How do I find out if my concrete job needs a permit in South San Francisco?
Check the city's Building Division handout on residential required permits and exempt work, which covers what needs a permit and what doesn't, and ask the division if your job isn't clearly listed. When a job needs a permit, we settle with you who will pull it before work starts and write that into the contract.
Which building codes apply to concrete work on a house in South San Francisco?
Home work here falls under the California building codes, including the California Residential Code, which the Building Division enforces along with the changes the City Council has made. Those local changes are in the city's Municipal Code, and since the online copy is for information only, the official printed code wins where the two differ.
Who licenses concrete contractors in California?
The Contractors State License Board licenses and regulates contractors across California's construction industry, and it does that to protect consumers. We're fully licensed and insured, and you're welcome to ask about it when I come out to measure.
How much can a contractor ask for as a down payment in California?
Under the board's rules, a down payment on a home improvement job can be no more than $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less. Any other payments have to be listed clearly in the contract and match work already done or materials already delivered to your house.
What affects the cost of a concrete driveway in South San Francisco?
Size, tear-out and the base under the slab drive the cost most, and how much bad dirt has to come out is sometimes only clear once the old concrete is up. Thickness, rebar, a decorative finish instead of a broom finish, the light texture that gives tires and shoes grip, and how close the truck can park on a tight lot add to it, and your written estimate lists each piece.
How long does a new concrete driveway take before I can drive on it?
You can walk on a new driveway well before you can park on it, because concrete keeps gaining strength for days after the pour and a car's weight too early can crack it. The wait depends on the mix and the conditions that week, so we go over the walking and driving wait for your slab before we pour.
Get your South San Francisco slab measured
Call (650) 866-1977 any day of the week until 11 PM, or use the contact form and tell us whether your slab is sinking, cracking or holding water, so I know what to look for when I come out.
Mon–Fri: 8 AM–11 PM, Sat–Sun: 7 AM–11 PM