Concrete Sidewalk Building in Hayward CA - an even walk on a well-packed base
Cracked, lifted or crumbling sidewalk in front of your house? We dig it out, pack the base and pour a new walk that drains right.
Concrete sidewalk building in Hayward, CA is the forming, pouring and finishing of the flat walk along your property. Most people call us once a panel lifts, cracks wide or starts catching toes. In Hayward that repair is yours to pay for, because the city has made clear that state law puts sidewalk maintenance and repair on the owner of the property next to it.
What moves the price is mostly the size of the walk, how much old concrete has to come out and how much digging the ground underneath needs. The schedule turns on the permit side, which we look into early, and on the days the concrete needs to cure. Your estimate gives you the figure for your walk, and if it's one of a few jobs, we also do garage floor concrete and decorative concrete.
How we build a concrete sidewalk in Hayward
- Dug out, packed and sloped. We dig out topsoil and soft spots and compact the subgrade, the ground the walk sits on, then slope it so rainwater runs off instead of sitting there.
- Joints cut at the right time. Control joints are the planned lines across the walk that give it room to move with heat and moisture. We cut them on time so cracks follow those lines.
- Kept damp while it cures. Curing is the wait while concrete hardens, and the ready-mix industry's guide calls for a curing compound or damp burlap kept moist at least 3 days. We keep ours damp from day one.
- Licensed, insured, our own crew. We're licensed and fully insured. We've been in business in Hayward since 2013. Our own crew does the forming, pouring and finishing, and I'm on site running the work.
What goes wrong with an old sidewalk
| Problem | What it looks like | Usual fix |
|---|---|---|
| Lifted panel | What it looks like: One slab edge sits higher than the next and catches toes | Usual fix: Cut out the panel, repack the base, pour new |
| Sunken section | What it looks like: A panel has dropped and holds a puddle after rain | Usual fix: Dig out soft ground, compact it, re-pour with slope |
| Wide, wandering cracks | What it looks like: Cracks run across panels away from the joint lines and keep widening | Usual fix: Replace the panels with joints cut on time |
| Flaking, dusty top | What it looks like: The surface scales off, leaves grit and chips along the edges | Usual fix: Replace the panels and keep the new surface damp |
Patch, replace panels or start over
- Patch it. A patch suits a small chipped corner on an otherwise sound walk. I'll tell you straight that it buys time more than it fixes whatever caused the damage.
- Replace the bad panels. When the trouble is limited to a few panels, we saw cut them out at the joints, fix the ground under them and pour new ones to meet the rest.
- Replace the whole walk. When most panels are cracked, sunk or sitting on bad dirt, starting over usually makes more sense, because patching over a failed base just moves the problem down the walk.
How a sidewalk job runs
- Call or send the form. You call us or send the form, and we get back to you to set a time for me to come out and look.
- I walk the site. I walk the sidewalk, ask what will cross it and how it should look, then write an estimate that spells out the prep, steel and joints.
- We sort out the permit. Once you say go, we handle the permit side. The city says Encroachment Permits usually take five to ten business days, not counting revisions, or fifteen with traffic control.
- Our crew pours. Our own crew digs out, packs the base, forms and pours, then gives it a broom finish, a light brushed texture so shoes grip when it's wet.
- We walk it together. Once the joints are cut and the walk has cured, I walk the finished job with you and answer whatever questions are left.
What keeps a new sidewalk sound
What keeps a sidewalk sound is mostly what nobody sees once it's done, the packed base, the steel and where the water goes. When a budget gets tight, the base is the first thing people want to trim. I'd trim the finish instead, because a nice top on soft ground still sinks.
We're based in Hayward and pour for homeowners, rental owners and small commercial lots here and in many of the cities around it, including San Leandro and Fremont. Call (510) 264-7026 to ask for an estimate on your walk.
Tell us about your sidewalk
Send the walk's length and width, your street address and a few photos, and we'll get back to you within one business day to set a time to come look.
(510) 264-7026- Free on-site estimate
- Each line explained
- No obligation to hire
Sidewalk questions we get asked
How much does a new concrete sidewalk cost in the Bay Area?
A 4-inch concrete slab, installed, usually runs about $13 to $18 per square foot in the Bay Area. Treat that as a starting point rather than my price, because tearing out the old walk, the base work and access all move it. I'll put your own figure in writing after I see the site.
Do I need a permit to replace my sidewalk in Hayward?
Yes, if the walk is in the public right-of-way, because the City of Hayward requires an Encroachment Permit for work on public streets and sidewalks. The city says it may be a Minor or Major permit depending on the area, duration or scope of the work. For anything else, we check early whether the city or county handles your address.
Will my new concrete sidewalk crack?
Most likely, yes, because all concrete tends to crack, and wire mesh or rebar, the steel set inside the slab, can't prevent it. Well-placed steel keeps cracks narrower, and the joints we cut give them a straight line to follow. What I'm after is a walk that cracks where we planned it to.
What license does a concrete sidewalk contractor need in California?
California's C-8 Concrete Contractor classification covers pavement and flat concrete work, which includes sidewalks. For a public sidewalk in Hayward, the city's permit page also lists a valid City of Hayward Business License along with a valid contractor license, so it's fair to ask any contractor about both before you hire.