Concrete Contractor in La Crescenta-Montrose - Driveways and Patios on a Solid Base
San Fernando Concrete is a concrete contractor based in San Fernando, and we build driveways, patios, steps, walkways and retaining walls for homes in La Crescenta-Montrose. I come out to look at each job myself.
La Crescenta-Montrose concrete work and who you deal with
La Crescenta-Montrose isn't its own city. It's unincorporated Los Angeles County, so the County takes care of the roads and services here, and the valley it sits in is shared with Glendale to the south and west. That matters on a concrete job, because the side of the line your house is on decides who you deal with for a permit. We come over from San Fernando for driveways, patios, steps and walls here, the same kind of work we do out in Stevenson Ranch.
Most calls here are from homeowners whose old driveway has cracked or whose patio has sunk at one corner. A lot of the yards slope, so before anything else I look at where the water runs and what the ground under the old slab is really like.
Slopes, water and old ground under La Crescenta-Montrose slabs
A lot of what we do in La Crescenta-Montrose comes down to slope and water. The tear-out, the base work and the finish move the price, and the cure time sets how long you're off the slab.
Driveways that climb from the street have to send rain back down toward the street, not toward the garage door or the house.
The valley's concrete flood channels and debris basins went in after a deadly flood in 1934, so water coming downhill here is something we plan for.
Ground that's been dug, filled and patched over the years settles unless we dig out the soft dirt and pack the subgrade, the layer the slab sits on.
Terraced yards with short retaining walls need those walls checked first, because a leaning wall drags along whatever concrete sits next to it.
Those are the things I look for when I come out, so your estimate covers the ground and the water, not just the slab you see on top.
Where we work around La Crescenta-Montrose
We're based in San Fernando and work in La Crescenta-Montrose, along with Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge and plenty of other cities nearby. Below are the cities that have their own page on our site.
Concrete work we do in La Crescenta-Montrose
Concrete driveway building
Driveways here often climb from the street, so we pitch the new slab to send water back down to the street and pack the base before we pour.
Concrete patio construction
A new patio has to drain away from the house, so we walk the yard, see where rain runs now and set the slab's fall to match it.
Stamped concrete services
Stamped concrete gives a patio or entry walk the look of stone or brick, and we press the pattern while the surface is soft so it reads clean.
Concrete sidewalk building
Front walks that have lifted or broken apart get torn out and replaced on a packed base, with joints cut where we want any cracks to go.
Garage floor concrete
An older garage floor that's cracked, stained or sunk at the door can be broken out and repoured thick enough to carry your car again.
Decorative concrete
Colored concrete, exposed aggregate and borders can dress up an entry or patio, and we talk through how each finish wears and cleans before you pick one.
Concrete retaining walls
Yards cut into a slope lean on retaining walls, so we build them on real footings and give the water behind the wall a way out.
Concrete floor installation
Interior slabs for a room addition, workshop or studio get a packed base, a moisture barrier under the concrete and a flat, smooth finish on top.
Concrete pool decks
Around a pool we use a textured finish that's easier on wet bare feet, and we slope the deck so splash water drains off instead of sitting.
Concrete steps construction
Front steps on a sloped lot take a beating, so we form new ones with even risers and rebar, the steel inside that holds them together.
Slab foundation building
For an addition, garage or backyard building, we pour the slab foundation on a dug-out, compacted pad and set it exactly to your approved plans.
Foundation installation
New foundations for additions and outbuildings start with footings dug to the plans, steel set and checked, and a pour done in one steady go.
Concrete parking lot building
Small apartment and business lots get thicker concrete over a firm base to take daily traffic, with slopes that move water off the lot.
Concrete footings
Footings for patio covers, walls, decks and sheds carry the weight into firm ground, so we dig them to depth and keep loose dirt out before pouring.
Foundation raising
When part of a slab or foundation has sunk, we look at what's under it first, because lifting it without fixing the cause usually means it sinks again.
Concrete cutting
We saw-cut openings, drain line trenches and clean edges in old slabs, so the concrete you're keeping doesn't get cracked by a jackhammer.
Your free on-site concrete estimate in La Crescenta-Montrose
We reply within one business day of your call or message, then set a time for me to come out to your place in La Crescenta-Montrose and look at the job myself. The estimate is free and there's no obligation, and if you go ahead, our own crew does the work with me running it on site.
- Call
- (818) 806-6170
- Hours
- Mon–Sun: 8 AM–9 PM
Why La Crescenta-Montrose homeowners call us
I started out as a helper on a small crew, hauling and mixing until the finishers let me hold a trowel, and I've run this business from San Fernando since 2020. Here's what that means for your job.
The base comes first
The base is the part you never see once the slab's poured, so it's the first thing people want to trim. I'd rather put your money into dug-out, packed ground and good drainage, because a pretty finish over soft dirt still settles.
Licensed, insured, permits pulled
We're licensed and insured. When a job calls for a permit, we pull it ourselves and work with the city or county office through plan check and inspections, so you're not the one chasing paperwork.
Our crew, with me on site
I come out to look at the job myself, and our own crew does the work with me running it. Satisfaction guaranteed, and if a question comes up later, call me at (818) 806-6170.
La Crescenta-Montrose concrete questions, answered
How do I find out who issues my concrete permit in La Crescenta-Montrose?
Start with the County's Service Locator, where your street address or parcel number shows which office gives permits for your property. For unincorporated La Crescenta-Montrose that's LA County Public Works, but part of the valley sits inside Glendale, where another office may handle it. If your job needs a permit, we pull it for you.
Do I need a permit for a concrete driveway or patio in La Crescenta-Montrose?
It can need one, so we check with the County for your job before we break ground. The County's permit list covers building new, repairs and replacements and grading work, but it doesn't name driveways or patios outright, so the County gets the final word on your project.
Does a small retaining wall need a permit in La Crescenta-Montrose?
A wall that holds back no more than 4 feet, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, is on the County's list of work exempt from a permit, as long as it isn't carrying an extra load like a driveway or slope above it or holding back flammable or combustible liquids. Exempt work still has to be built to code. If your wall is close to that height, we measure it on site and check before we start.
Does a concrete contractor need a license in California?
Yes, in most cases. The state's Contractors State License Board requires a current license for anyone who contracts for work on a project that needs a building permit, uses employees, or takes on work worth $1,000 or more in combined labor and materials. Check a contractor's license before you sign anything.
How much does a new concrete driveway cost in La Crescenta-Montrose?
Your price comes down to the size of the slab, how much old concrete and soft dirt has to come out, how steep the driveway runs and the finish you pick. A plain broom finish, the light brushed texture that gives tires and shoes grip, costs less than stamped or colored concrete, and a driveway that climbs takes more forming and base work. You'll get your own number once I've seen it.
What causes concrete driveways to crack and sink in La Crescenta-Montrose?
Most cracking and sinking comes from what's under the slab and where the water goes, not from the concrete itself. A base that was just raked level instead of dug out and packed settles with the dirt, and water running under from the uphill side makes it worse. Concrete still cracks a little, so we cut control joints, shallow grooves that give it a straight place to crack, while the slab is fresh.
Call about your La Crescenta-Montrose concrete job
We pick up seven days a week from 8 AM to 9 PM, so call (818) 806-6170 or send a note through our contact form whenever it suits you.
Mon–Sun: 8 AM–9 PM