Concrete Contractor in Camarillo, CA - Driveways and Patios Built on a Solid Base
J&S Camarillo Concrete is a concrete contractor based in Camarillo, CA. We pour driveways, patios, walkways, steps and foundations for homes and properties here, and I come out to look at every job myself.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- We reply within 1 business day.
Camarillo homes, yards and the ground under them
Most of what we pour in Camarillo is for homeowners with one of these problems: a driveway that's cracked across or dropped near the garage, a patio that holds a puddle every winter, or front steps that have pulled away from the porch. We see plenty of single-story homes still sitting on their original flatwork, which is the driveways, walks and patios that lie flat on the ground. We also see newer neighborhoods where the first owners want a bigger backyard, and small business and apartment lots that need their parking redone. Camarillo is where we're based, so a lot of our jobs are a short drive away, and the same work takes us over the grade to Thousand Oaks and down to Oxnard.
On most jobs here, the ground shapes the work more than the house does. Lots can go from flat to sloped within a few blocks, so before we set a single form we work out how much dirt has to come out and be packed before a slab will stay put on it.
Concrete services for Camarillo homes and properties
Concrete driveway building
When an old driveway has cracked across or sunk near the garage, we dig out to firm ground and pour a new one that drains toward the street.
Concrete patio construction
A backyard patio gets used most of the year here, so we slope it away from the house and plan the joints before the pour.
Stamped concrete services
Stamped concrete gives a patio or entry the look of stone or brick, and we seal it so the pattern holds up to sun and rain.
Concrete sidewalk building
As they age, walkways along the side yard or out to the street tend to lift and trip people, and we replace them on a packed base.
Garage floor concrete
A garage floor that's cracked, stained or sunk can be broken out and repoured, with a smooth finish that's easy to sweep and a fall to the door.
Decorative concrete
Color, exposed stone and borders let a front walk or patio match the house, and we'll show you samples before anything is mixed.
Concrete retaining walls
On sloped Camarillo lots, a concrete retaining wall holds back the hill so you get a usable yard, with drainage behind it so water doesn't push it over.
Concrete floor installation
For a new room, a workshop or a commercial space, we pour interior floors flat and level so tile, wood or a sealed finish can go on top.
Concrete pool decks
A pool deck here gets wet feet and strong sun, so we give it a finish with grip and slope it to carry splash water away.
Concrete steps construction
Front steps that have cracked or settled away from the porch are a fall waiting to happen, so we form new ones with even step heights.
Slab foundation building
For an addition, a garage or an ADU, we build the slab foundation on dug-out, packed ground with steel inside, ready for the framers.
Foundation installation
We dig foundations for homes and outbuildings to the depth the plans call for, then form and pour them so the walls above start out level.
Concrete parking lot building
Small business and apartment lots around Camarillo take traffic every day, so we build them for that weight and drain them so water doesn't sit.
Concrete footings
Patio covers, block walls and decks all sit on footings, so we dig them deep enough to reach firm ground and pour them before the rest goes up.
Foundation raising
When a slab or part of a house has settled, we find out why first, then raise it back toward level so the same thing doesn't keep happening.
Concrete cutting
We saw-cut slabs for a new door, a sewer or drain line, or a clean edge where new concrete meets old, without breaking more than we have to.
Get a free written estimate for your Camarillo concrete job
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set a time. I come out, measure and listen, and you get a written estimate showing what's included, with no obligation.
(805) 586-6003- estimates@concretecamarillo.com
- Based in
- Camarillo, CA 93010
- Hours
- Mon–Sun: 7 AM–11 PM
Permits, licenses and price on a Camarillo job
Permits here come from the City of Camarillo, and the permit concrete work runs into most often is the grading permit. The city issues one for any grading, with a separate permit for each site, and the application lists roughly how much dirt is being dug out or brought in. Nothing gets poured until a needed permit is approved, so we handle the paperwork with the city and pick the pour date once it's approved. If you'd rather pull it yourself, I'll walk you through what they'll ask for. Before you hire anyone, us included, check two things. The first is a license from the Contractors State License Board. The second is the city's yearly business tax, which anyone doing business in Camarillo has to pay, even with a license from another city.
What moves the price here is mostly the ground and the access. That means how much old concrete comes out, how much dirt has to be dug and packed, whether a slope calls for a step or a wall, and how close the truck can get. The schedule turns on the permit, if your job needs one, and on the weather, because we don't pour into a storm. Your written estimate puts a number on all of that for your property. We work the same way up in Moorpark and over in Ventura, and if your job is a bit farther out, call and ask.
Why Camarillo driveways and patios crack and sink
Most of the year's rain here falls in a few winter months, and when it comes, it finds every low spot in a yard. Water running under the edge of a slab washes out the dirt the slab sits on, and that's how corners drop and puddles end up by the garage. So we check where the water goes on your lot and give the new slab enough fall to carry it away from the house.
The other cause is what's underneath. A lot of the old flatwork we break out was poured on dirt that was raked smooth instead of dug out and packed, so it settled along with that dirt and cracked wherever it wanted. We put our time into the subgrade, the ground the slab sits on, digging it out and packing it firm. On the day we pour, we cut control joints, shallow grooves that give the slab a straight line to crack along instead of a random one. If a budget has to come down, I'd rather simplify the finish than skimp on the base, because you can redo a surface later but you can't fix what's under it without tearing the whole thing out.
How a concrete job runs when you call us in Camarillo
Here's how it goes from your first call to the walk-through at the end, so you know who you'll talk to and what you'll get at each step.
Call and set a visit
Call (805) 586-6003 or send the form, and I'll set a time to come out myself. It helps if you're home so you can show me what's bothering you about the old slab.
We measure and write it up
I measure, check how the ground slopes and where the water runs, and listen to what you have in mind. You get a written estimate that spells out what's included and what isn't, so you know what you're paying for before anything gets torn out.
Sort out permits, pick a date
We settle the permit side together before anything goes on the calendar, since a needed permit has to be approved first. Then we pick a pour date that stays clear of rain in the forecast.
We pour, then walk it
Our crew builds to the plan we agreed on, and I lead the crew on site. When it's done, I walk the finished work with you and go over curing, the wait while the concrete hardens before you walk or drive on it, and how to look after it.
Questions about concrete work in Camarillo
Do I need a permit to grade my yard in Camarillo for a driveway or patio?
Yes. The city issues a permit for any grading, as covered above, and the amount of grading decides how much comes with it. Grading under 1,000 cubic yards counts as regular grading with no grading bond. Anything bigger needs a plan from a civil engineer and a bond of $3.00 per cubic yard, which a home driveway or patio rarely comes near. Whether the slab itself also needs a building permit is the city's call, so check the city's When is a Permit Required handout or call the public counter at (805) 388-5340.
Can I still file paper plans for a permit in Camarillo?
No. The city no longer accepts paper plans, and all permit plans now go in through its online permitting and licensing system. If you're filing yourself and get stuck, the public counter at City Hall, 601 Carmen Drive, can help. If we're handling the permit, we take care of the online filing for you.
Does a concrete contractor need a state license in California?
In most cases, yes. The state board licenses anyone who builds or alters structures, and the license is required when a job needs a building permit, uses employees, or costs $1,000 or more in labor and materials. A home improvement contractor has to be licensed before giving you a bid, so ask for the license up front. We're fully licensed and insured.
What is the best time of year to pour a driveway or patio in Camarillo?
Late spring through fall is usually easiest, because most of Camarillo's rain falls in winter and August is typically dry. We still pour in winter between storms. In summer, we start early so the top doesn't dry out too fast in the midday heat, which can leave it weak and dusty later.
Will my new concrete slab crack like the old one did?
Any slab can crack a little as it dries, so the goal is to keep cracks small and inside the joints we cut instead of across the middle. Rebar, the steel bars laid inside the slab, holds the pieces together if a crack does open. Together with the packed base described above, that's what keeps a crack from spreading or one side from dropping.
How much does a concrete driveway cost in Camarillo?
The price depends on the size of the slab, how much old concrete has to come out, how much base work the ground needs, and the finish you choose, so your real number is the one in your written estimate. A plain broom finish, the light texture brushed in for grip, costs less than stamped or colored concrete. A steep lot or tight access that keeps the truck back adds labor, and any city permit fees are part of the total too.
Camarillo, CA
Ask about your Camarillo concrete project
A question asked before the pour costs nothing, while one asked after can cost everybody, so call or send the form and I'll come take a look.