Concrete Contractor in Laguna Niguel, CA - Slabs That Drain Right on Sloped Lots
All Star Aliso Viejo Concrete is a concrete contractor based in Aliso Viejo that builds driveways, patios, walkways, steps and foundations for homeowners in Laguna Niguel, with the owner on every estimate and on site with the crew.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- Replies within 1 business day.
Laguna Niguel homes and the hills they sit on
Laguna Niguel is mostly single-family homes and townhomes on curving streets, many of them in planned neighborhoods with an HOA, just over the line from us in Aliso Viejo. The calls we get here sound a lot like the ones from San Juan Capistrano: a driveway cracked across the middle, a patio that's dropped away from the house, front steps starting to tip.
The city sits against the San Joaquin Hills, so plenty of lots slope toward the street or step down in back, and a lot of the driveways and patios have been there as long as the houses. On a sloped driveway we use a broom finish, a light texture dragged across the wet concrete, so tires and shoes grip it in the rain. Out back, the grade decides the job before we pour anything, because a slab has to shed water away from your house, and some yards need a low wall or a few steps just to get a level spot.
Concrete work we do on Laguna Niguel properties
Concrete driveway building
Sloped driveways here crack and lift over the years, so we tear out the old slab, dig to firm ground, pack a new base and pour fresh.
Concrete patio construction
Backyards on a grade need a patio that drains away from the house, so we set the slope before the pour and pack the base hard.
Stamped concrete services
Stamped concrete gives a patio or entry the look of stone or tile in one pour, which suits HOA neighborhoods where you want something dressier than plain gray.
Concrete sidewalk building
Walkways beside the house get pushed up by roots and settle by downspouts, so we replace the broken sections and slope them so water runs off.
Garage floor concrete
Garage slabs in the older homes here crack or sink at the door, and we break them out and repour with a smooth finish that's easy to sweep.
Decorative concrete
Colored concrete and saw-cut patterns give a front entry or courtyard some character without the upkeep of pavers shifting on a slope.
Concrete retaining walls
Hillside lots here often need a wall to hold a terraced yard, and we build them on proper footings with drainage behind so water pressure doesn't build up.
Concrete floor installation
When you're adding a room, a studio or a workshop, we pour an interior floor slab that's flat and level, ready for tile, wood or a polished finish.
Concrete pool decks
Pool decks here bake in the summer sun, so we use a texture that grips wet feet and slope it so splash water drains off.
Concrete steps construction
Homes set above the street often have front steps that have cracked or pulled away from the porch, and we rebuild them with even rises and steel inside.
Slab foundation building
For an addition, a casita or a detached garage, we pour the slab foundation on a dug-out, packed base with the steel and footings the plans call for.
Foundation installation
New structures on sloped lots need foundations that suit the grade, and we build the footings, walls and slab to the approved plans, from layout to the pour.
Concrete parking lot building
Shared parking areas at townhome communities and small commercial lots wear out at the entries first, so we replace worn sections with slabs thick enough for daily traffic.
Concrete footings
Patio covers, block walls and decks all sit on footings, the concrete pads underneath, and on a slope we dig them deep enough to reach firm ground.
Foundation raising
When a slab or part of a house has settled where fill dirt compacted under it, we look at the cause first and lift it back toward level.
Concrete cutting
On remodels, we saw-cut openings for new drain lines, clean edges where old concrete meets new, and control joints, the cuts that tell a slab where to crack.
Get a free on-site estimate for your Laguna Niguel concrete
Send the form and I'll get back to you within one business day to set a time to come out. The estimate is free, done at your place, and there's no pressure to book.
- Based in
- Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 8 AM–10 PM, Sat–Sun: 7 AM–9 PM
Working in Laguna Niguel: permits, licenses and access
Building permits here come from the city's Building & Safety Division, and on work that needs one, the city reviews the plans before it issues the permit, so that review sets the earliest date we can start. We check with the city on every job, handle the permit paperwork when one's needed and tell you up front whose name it goes under. The city doesn't require a business license, so the license worth asking any contractor about is their state contractor license, and we're licensed and fully insured.
A lot of our jobs here are on hillside streets and inside HOA neighborhoods, where the concrete truck can't always pull close and the board may want to see plans first. Access, the size of the slab, how much old concrete comes out and how much digging and base work the slope needs are what move the price, while HOA review and any plan check usually move the schedule, and your written estimate puts a number on your job. It's the same kind of planning we do on the sloped lots in Mission Viejo.
What heat, wind and slopes do to concrete here
Orange County runs semi-arid, with long hot, dry stretches every year and Santa Ana winds that blow hot and hard, and that weather pulls water out of fresh concrete faster than it should go. A surface that dries out early turns weak and dusty and starts chipping later, so we pour in the cooler part of the day and keep the slab damp through curing, the waiting time while it hardens, and we'd rather push a pour back than set it in a Santa Ana.
The other thing we see is settling on yards that were graded into the hills, where a slab poured over loose fill sinks with the dirt and cracks where nobody chose. We dig down to firm ground and pack the base before the forms go in, because nobody sees that layer once the concrete's down, and it's the part that decides how long your slab lasts.
How a concrete job runs when you call us in Laguna Niguel
From the first call to the final walk-through, here's who you'll deal with and what you'll get at each step.
Call or send the form
When you call (949) 619-8302, you talk to me, and we pick a time for me to come out. If you send the form instead, I'll call you back to set it up.
I measure and write it up
I measure, look over the slope, the drainage and the access, and ask how you plan to use the space, so it helps if you're home. You get a written estimate that spells out tear-out, hauling and the finish, so you can compare it with other bids.
Permits, forms and the pour
If your job needs a permit, the city says its plan check, the review of the drawings, takes 10 business days on a first submittal and 5 on a resubmittal, and we plan the start around it. After that, our crew and I set the forms, pour and cure the concrete.
Walk the finished job together
Before we pack up, I walk the finished job with you and we look at the joints, the finish and where the water runs. Satisfaction guaranteed on every job, and we leave your site cleaner than we found it.
Questions about concrete work in Laguna Niguel
How much does a new concrete driveway cost in Laguna Niguel?
Your number comes from the written estimate after I've measured and seen the slope, since size, tear-out and base work change from lot to lot. The finish is the choice that swings it most, and stamped or colored concrete costs more than a plain broom finish. If the budget's tight, I'll tell you to keep the money in the base and go simpler on top, because a fancy finish on a poor base cracks just the same.
What causes a concrete driveway or patio to crack, and will a new one crack too?
Most cracks start with a soft base, water running under or toward the slab, or control joints that were cut late or skipped, so the slab cracked wherever it wanted. All concrete shrinks a little as it cures, so a hairline here and there is normal, and we cut the joints on time so any cracking that shows up usually follows them. Checking where the water runs before the pour takes care of the rest.
When does a concrete contractor need a California state license?
The Contractors State License Board requires a license when the job needs a building permit, uses any other workers, or totals $1,000 or more in labor and materials. The board lists some exemptions, so ask to see a contractor's license before anyone starts work on your property.
Does a short garden wall need a permit in Laguna Niguel?
It may not, because the city's code lists walls, fences and gates under a set height as work exempt from a permit. Height and the rest of the job both matter, so we check with Building & Safety before we start and handle the paperwork if a permit's needed.
How do I get HOA approval for a new driveway in Laguna Niguel?
Start with your HOA's application and design rules, because the city lists the HOA among the outside groups that may need to review plans or collect fees before it issues a permit. Many associations set rules on color and finish too, so check those before you fall for a stamped pattern, and I'm happy to go over what your board will want to see.
Do Laguna Niguel's fire hazard zones affect concrete work around a house?
They can, because the city says properties in its fire hazard severity zones have to keep defensible space, a cleared area around the buildings, and new buildings in those zones are to use fire-resistive features. The state's map rates parts of the city Very High, High or Moderate. Concrete doesn't burn, so if you're planning a patio, walk or addition near the house, we'll talk through how it fits those rules when I come out.
Start your Laguna Niguel concrete project
HOA review and any plan check happen before the first truck shows up, so calling (949) 619-8302 or sending the form early gives your job the best shot at the date you want.
Aliso Viejo, CA