Concrete Contractor in Pasadena, CA - Driveways and Patios Built on Solid Ground
San Fernando Concrete is a concrete contractor based in San Fernando, CA, building driveways, patios, walks, steps and other concrete work for homeowners and small property owners in Pasadena, with our own crew on every job.
Pasadena concrete work, from what we see on site
Pasadena's a short drive down the 210 from us in San Fernando, and most of what we pour there is for homeowners with older houses, plus some small property owners with walks and parking areas to keep up. A lot of the concrete on those lots has done its time. It's cracked, uneven or patched so often you can't tell what it looked like new. Back when I was a helper hauling and mixing for a small crew, the finishers taught me to look past the cracks to what's going on underneath, and that's still where I start here.
On the west side, the Arroyo Seco runs through a canyon, and lots near it and up toward La Cañada Flintridge tend to sit on a slope, while the older blocks carry on east toward Arcadia. On a slope the job starts with where your water goes, and on an older lot it starts with digging out the ground that's been settling under the old slab.
Pasadena homes and what they ask of concrete
Most of what decides a Pasadena concrete job is already on the lot before we show up. Here's what we run into on these properties and how we handle each one.
The city has designated historic neighborhoods, and many older homes still have their original driveways and walks, which have had decades to crack and settle.
Big old trees shade a lot of these yards, and their roots push up slabs, so we check where roots run before we dig.
Lots that slope toward the house send runoff against the foundation, so we set the new slab to fall away from your walls.
Long driveways that run beside the house to a garage in back leave tight access, so we plan the tear-out and the pour around it.
Size, tear-out, base work, access and finish move the price, and the permit and weather set the schedule, so I'll see your job before giving a number.
Where we work around Pasadena
We're based in San Fernando and work in Pasadena and the cities around it, including Glendale and Burbank, plus plenty more nearby. These are the cities that have their own page on our site.
Concrete work we do on Pasadena properties
Concrete driveway building
When an old driveway has lifted, cracked or started holding water, we break it out, pack a firm base and pour one that drains away.
Concrete patio construction
We pour backyard patios sloped away from your back door, with control joints, shallow cuts that give cracks a straight line to follow, placed where they belong.
Stamped concrete services
Stamped concrete gives a patio or walk the look of stone or brick that can suit an older house, and we seal it to protect the finish.
Concrete sidewalk building
Walks lifted by tree roots catch toes, so we replace the raised sections and give the new walk a broom finish, a brushed texture that grips.
Garage floor concrete
Older detached garages often have cracked, sunken floors, so we break out the old slab, pack the subgrade, the ground it sits on, and pour a level floor.
Decorative concrete
Decorative concrete means color, exposed stone or a custom border, and we help you pick a finish that fits your home's age and style.
Concrete retaining walls
On sloped lots near the hills, a concrete retaining wall holds the ground back so a yard, driveway or patio stays put, and we build drainage behind it.
Concrete floor installation
We pour interior concrete floors for additions, workshops and other rooms, starting with a packed base and finished smooth so flooring or a sealer goes on clean.
Concrete pool decks
Pool decks here take hot sun and wet feet, so we give them a finish that grips and slope them to shed water away from the pool.
Concrete steps construction
Front steps on older houses often chip and pull away from the porch, so we rebuild them with rebar, steel bars that tie the concrete together.
Slab foundation building
For a new garage, studio or addition, we build the slab foundation on a dug-out, packed base so the building above has firm, level support.
Foundation installation
Adding onto an older house means a new foundation that lines up with the old one, and we lay it out and pour it on firm ground.
Concrete parking lot building
For small apartment or business lots that crack and pool water, we rebuild the paving with a packed base and a slope that carries cars and drains.
Concrete footings
Footings are the concrete under walls, posts and patio covers, and we dig and pour them to the size the job's plans call for.
Foundation raising
When part of an older house or slab has settled, foundation raising lifts it back toward level, and we check whether water running under it played a part.
Concrete cutting
We saw-cut concrete for new drain lines, wider driveways and clean breaks between old and new slabs, so the part that stays isn't cracked by the tear-out.
A free on-site concrete quote for your Pasadena home
Tell us about your Pasadena driveway, patio or other concrete job, and we'll reply within one business day to set a time to come out. I look at the job myself and give you a free quote on site, with no obligation to go ahead.
- Call
- (818) 806-6170
- Hours
- Mon–Sun: 8 AM–9 PM
Choosing a concrete crew for your Pasadena home
You're trusting someone with a slab you'll walk and park on for years, so here's how we run a job in Pasadena and who you'll be dealing with from the first visit on.
I look at every job myself
I come out to see your driveway or patio in person, and our own crew does the work with me running it on site, so the person who looked at your job is there the day we pour.
Your budget goes to the base first
If something has to give, I'd rather skip a fancy finish than skimp on the base, because nobody sees the packed ground on day one, but it's what keeps the slab from settling.
Licensed, insured, in business since 2020
We're licensed and insured, and we've been pouring for homeowners since I started the business in 2020. Satisfaction guaranteed, and you can call me at (818) 806-6170 with a question, even after the job is done.
Questions about concrete work in Pasadena
Do I need a permit for a new concrete driveway in Pasadena?
Yes, the city requires a Zoning Permit for driveways and other paving in residential zones, a check that the work meets Pasadena's zoning rules. Building permits for most construction projects come from the city's Permit Center, and you can see how that works on the city's permit page. When a job calls for a permit, we pull it and work with the city through plan check and inspections. It's worth doing right, since the city inspects homes when they're sold and owners with illegal construction can be made to tear it out.
Does a concrete contractor in Pasadena need a California license?
Yes, in most cases, because the California Contractors State License Board requires a license for work that needs a building permit, uses employees, or runs $1,000 or more in labor and materials. Pasadena's permit staff check the contractor's license with the board and require workers' compensation insurance. A contractor pulling a permit also has to show a current City of Pasadena business license.
How much does a new concrete driveway cost in Pasadena?
The price of a Pasadena driveway comes down to its size, how much old concrete we break out and haul away, how much base work the ground needs and the finish you choose. A plain broom finish costs less than stamped or colored concrete, and a long, tight driveway beside the house takes more labor. Once I've seen yours, you'll have your own number instead of a guess.
How do I keep a new concrete patio from cracking in the Pasadena heat?
You can't make concrete crack-proof, but a firm base, control joints and a slow cure keep cracks small and in straight lines where you won't mind them. On hot days we pour early, because a slab that dries too fast ends up with a weak, dusty top, and we keep it damp while it cures, the slow hardening that gives concrete its strength. I'll be straight with you that a hairline crack or two can still show up.
What causes concrete driveways to sink and crack in Pasadena?
Most sinking comes from what's under the slab, usually a base that was raked level instead of dug out and packed, or water running underneath and softening the ground. Cracks in odd places usually mean the joints were cut late or skipped, and roots, as we covered above, add their own push. When we replace a driveway, we dig to firm ground, pack the base and check which way the water runs before we pour.
How long do I have to stay off a new concrete driveway in Pasadena?
You can walk on a new driveway well before you can park on it, because concrete keeps getting stronger for a good while after it looks dry. The weather that week and the slab's thickness change the wait, so I'll tell you when it's ready for feet and when it's ready for your car. Before any of that, the permit and the tear-out set when we can start.
Call about your Pasadena concrete job
Our hours run seven days a week, 8 AM to 9 PM, so call (818) 806-6170 or send the form some evening or weekend while you're standing next to the slab.
Mon–Sun: 8 AM–9 PM