Concrete Contractor in Dublin, CA - Driveways, Patios and Walls Built From the Base Up
Good Form Hayward Concrete is a concrete contractor building driveways, patios, steps, retaining walls and foundations in Dublin, CA. I come out to look at the job myself, and our own crew forms, pours and finishes it.
Concrete work for homes in Dublin
Dublin is an incorporated city, so when your address sits inside its limits, the City of Dublin handles the permit side of a concrete job. I find out which office handles an address before I write the estimate, because a permit can change when we start and what goes on the paperwork.
The work itself is what we do across the cities around Hayward: driveways, patios, walkways, steps, garage floors and the foundation work behind them. We also take the jobs with a catch, where a slab has sunk, the water runs the wrong way or the truck can't get close, and those are the ones I enjoy most.
What I look at before we pour
Before I write a number, I look at what the new concrete will sit on and where the water will go. That means checking the subgrade, the dirt and base under the slab, seeing how the yard slopes and finding out how much old concrete has to come out. On a job with a catch, like a tight side yard or a steep bank, that walk-around is where we solve it.
- Base that settles. Where an old slab was poured on raked dirt instead of a dug-out, packed base, it sinks with the dirt and cracks across the middle.
- Water running back. When a driveway or patio falls toward the house, rain pools against the foundation instead of running off, so we set the grade before we form.
- Joints cut late. If control joints, the cuts that give a slab a place to crack, go in late or get skipped, cracks show up wherever they like.
The concrete work we do for Dublin homes
When a driveway or patio has cracked or sunk, we break out the old slab, dig down to firm ground and pack a new base before we set rebar, the steel that holds the slab together if it does crack. If the budget gets tight, I'd rather cut the decorative finish than the base, because nobody sees the base on day one but it decides how the slab holds up for years.
A lot of our work sits under a house or holds back a bank. We do foundation installation, footings and retaining walls, and that work needs the steel, the drainage and the paperwork lined up before the truck shows up. We're licensed and fully insured, and I'm on site to run the pour.
Getting us out to Dublin
We cover Dublin from our base in Hayward, along with Castro Valley and many cities around it. Size, how much old concrete comes out and the base work move the price most, and a permit or the wait while new concrete cures moves the schedule. Call or use the form, and I'll come out and put your figures in writing.
Tell us about your Dublin job
Tell us what you want poured or replaced and where. We'll reply within one business day and set a time for me to come walk the job.
(510) 264-7026- Free on-site estimate
- Everything in writing
- No obligation
Questions from Dublin homeowners
Does a concrete patio or driveway need a permit in Dublin?
Plan on one for a patio, because Dublin's Building and Safety Division names patios on its list of work it issues permits for. The list is open ended and doesn't name driveways, so we check with the city before we start one. Either way, we look into it at the estimate and file the paperwork or walk you through it.
Do I need a permit for a small retaining wall in Dublin?
Not always, because the city's list exempts retaining walls no more than three feet tall. That exemption drops away if the wall holds up added weight, like a driveway or a shed behind it, or a slope of 5 percent. If your wall is taller or carries a load, plan on a permit, and I'll tell you which side yours falls on.
How long does a building permit take in Dublin?
A permit that needs plan review takes about two to three weeks, or 10 to 15 business days, according to the city, while most minor permits are issued over the counter. That review can set your start date, so we look into the permit side at the estimate instead of after you've said yes.
Does a concrete contractor from Hayward need a Dublin business license?
Yes, the city requires everyone doing business inside its limits to hold a current city business license, including subcontractors and businesses based somewhere else. It's a fair thing to ask any contractor you're comparing, us included.
Will my new concrete patio crack like the old one?
It may get a hairline crack, because almost all concrete cracks a little as it dries and moves, but it shouldn't break up and sink like a slab poured on raked dirt. We pack the base and cut the control joints on time, so any crack lands in a line we chose.