Concrete contractor in Marina del Rey - patios, driveways and steps built from the base up
Keystone Beverly Hills Concrete is a concrete contractor based in Beverly Hills, and we build driveways, patios, steps, walkways and foundations in Marina del Rey, starting with the base under the slab.
Concrete work in Marina del Rey
Marina del Rey isn't set up like most places we pour. The County of Los Angeles owns the land and leases it to private companies that build and manage the properties, so on a job here I start by asking who else needs to sign off, because the leaseholder or your building's management may have a say in the concrete outside your door.
The work itself is the same work we do in Santa Monica and Del Aire. The price moves with the size of the slab, how much old concrete comes out, how deep the base goes, whether it needs steel and the finish you choose, since stamped or colored work costs more than a plain broom finish, the brushed texture that gives shoes some grip. The schedule turns on approvals before the pour and on curing after it, which is the stretch of days new concrete needs to harden before it takes weight. I come out, look at the site and send you a written estimate that explains what's included. Every lot has its own ground, so I look at what's under the old slab first, because a base that was raked flat instead of dug out and packed is usually why the old concrete sank.
What we build in Marina del Rey
Most driveway calls start with cracks or a low spot holding water, and the fix usually starts underneath, with a base we dig out and pack.
On a small patio every inch of slope counts, so we set the fall away from your door and toward somewhere the water can actually go.
Stamped concrete presses a stone or brick pattern into the wet surface, and we bring samples so the look is settled before the pour.
Walkways between buildings and parking see steady foot traffic, so we keep the sections level with each other and broom-finish them so shoes grip.
If your garage floor is cracked, stained or sloping the wrong way, we break it out, rebuild the base and pour a floor that drains toward the door.
Decorative concrete covers color, exposed stone and custom borders, and it suits entries and courtyards where people see the concrete up close every day.
A retaining wall holds back soil where the grade changes, and the parts that matter most, the footing and the steel, sit underground where you won't see them.
For interior floors, we check the base under the slab before anything else, because a floor is only as flat as what it sits on.
Around a pool you want grip underfoot and water running away from the edge, so we plan the slope and the texture together before the forms go in.
Entry steps have to be even, so we form every rise and tread to match, which keeps anyone from catching a toe on the odd one.
A slab foundation starts with the subgrade, the packed ground it sits on, and the rebar, steel bars that keep the slab tied together.
When a house, addition or garage needs a new foundation, I go over the soils report and drawings with you before we dig, so nothing gets guessed at.
Property managers and building owners with shared parking can have us pour in sections, so part of the lot can stay open while we work.
Footings carry walls, posts and columns, so we dig them to the size the plans call for and set the steel before the inspector looks.
If a slab or foundation has dropped and doors stick or floors slope, we find out why it sank before we lift it, so we fix the cause too.
We saw-cut openings, trenches and clean edges in existing slabs, which lets us replace one damaged section instead of tearing out a whole patio or walk.
What Marina del Rey properties need under the slab
I come out myself, I explain what goes under the surface before we pour, and our crew does the work while I run the job on site.
Estimate from the owner
I look at the job and write the estimate myself, and I walk you through why each step is in it.
A base we dig out
We dig out and pack the base instead of raking dirt level, because a slab settles with whatever is under it.
Water checked first
We look at where water runs on your lot so the finished slab falls away from your house, not toward it.
Joints cut on time
Control joints are grooves that give a slab a chosen place to crack, so we cut them before it picks its own.
Licensed, insured and guaranteed
We're licensed and insured, our work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee, and you can reach us at (424) 550-5006.
Marina del Rey concrete questions
Who issues permits for concrete work in Marina del Rey?
If your property is in unincorporated Marina del Rey, the county acts as your city government and LA County Public Works issues the permits. A property outside the county's jurisdiction may go through another office, so I check your address first. We find out what that office asks for on your kind of job and take care of the permit paperwork when it's needed, and if something has to come from you, like a soils report or drawings, we tell you early.
Do I need Design Control Board approval for a new patio or driveway in Marina del Rey?
Yes, plan on it, because the Design Control Board has to review and approve any exterior change or improvement to a Marina del Rey parcel before the work starts. That even covers repainting and re-landscaping, and the board can approve a plan as submitted, approve it with changes or turn it down. Depending on the job, permits may also be needed from Public Works, the county's Department of Regional Planning or the California Coastal Commission.
How do I keep an LA County building permit active during a concrete job?
Request your first inspection within 12 months of getting the permit, then schedule a follow-up inspection every 6 months, which is what Public Works tells permit holders to do. I keep track of those dates while I run the job, so the permit stays active from the first inspection to the last.
How much does a new concrete driveway or patio cost in Marina del Rey?
Your price comes from a written estimate after I see the site, and the biggest swing is usually what's under the old slab and how much of it has to be dug out and rebuilt. When a budget gets tight, people want to trim the base first because nobody sees it on day one, but I'd rather simplify the finish, since a fancy surface over a weak base cracks and sinks just like a plain one. The estimate spells out what's included, so you can see where the money goes.
How long will I be without my driveway after a new concrete pour?
You're off it until the concrete has cured enough to carry a car, and you can walk on it well before you can drive on it. Here, the wait before we start can be the longer part, since the board's review and any permits come ahead of breaking out the old slab. When I come out, I'll walk you through the order of things so you can plan where to park.
What causes a new concrete slab to crack, and how do you prevent it?
Most cracks come from a soft base, water running the wrong way, a pour in the midday heat, or joints that were cut late or skipped. Concrete shrinks as it cures, so we cut joints early to choose where that happens and plan pours for the cooler part of the day when we can. The base and drainage work we already covered takes care of the settling that broke up the old slab.
Nearby cities, and ones not listed
We work across many of the cities around Beverly Hills, so pick yours below, or call (424) 550-5006 if it isn't listed and ask us anyway.
Talk through your Marina del Rey concrete job
Send your address and planned work by phone or form, so I can check what the county asks for before I come out.