Concrete contractor in Cupertino, CA - driveways and patios on a solid base
Benchmark Sunnyvale Concrete Company is a concrete contractor based in Sunnyvale, CA, and we build driveways, patios, walkways, garage floors and foundations for homeowners in Cupertino, with most of our attention on the base under the slab.
Cupertino homes and the ground they sit on
Cupertino is mostly neighborhoods of single-family homes on quiet streets, with shops and offices along the main roads. Many of the houses went up decades ago, and plenty of lots have since had a newer, larger house built where the old one stood, so an original driveway can sit right next to one poured a few years back. Toward the west the ground rises into the foothills on the way to Saratoga, and the north end of the city runs flatter toward Los Altos.
For us, that means a good share of Cupertino jobs begin with breaking out an older slab, and on the sloping lots they begin with deciding where the water should go.
Working in Cupertino, from permit to final inspection
In Cupertino, the city's Building Division issues permits for residential work, and on a concrete job that needs one, the city's plan review is usually what decides how soon we can start. Before you hire anyone, it's worth checking two things about them, a California contractor's license and a Cupertino business license, because the state requires the first on most home jobs and the city requires the second of every contractor working here. We're licensed and insured, and I'm glad to go over both at the estimate.
When your job needs a permit, we handle the application and the inspections with the city and keep you informed, and when it isn't clear whether it needs one, I check with the city's permit office before we start. The price mostly follows the size and thickness of the slab, how much old concrete has to come out and how much work the ground needs before we pour, while the schedule turns on the city's review and the weather. Your written estimate sets out the scope and the price for your own project. We're based next door in Sunnyvale and do the same work in Mountain View and the other cities around us.
What we find on Cupertino driveways and patios
Most calls we get from Cupertino start with a driveway or patio that has cracked, sunk at one corner or gone uneven, and on older houses the cause is usually under the concrete rather than in it. The base, the packed layer of rock and soil the slab rests on, was often just raked level instead of dug out and compacted, so it settled with the dirt and took the slab down with it. We dig the old base out to firm ground and pack new rock in layers before we pour, whether the job is a driveway or a new concrete patio, because that hidden layer decides how the slab holds up.
Water and heat are the other two things we plan around. Winters here bring steady rain and summers run dry and warm, so we check where water runs off your roof and yard and slope the new slab away from the house, and in hot weather we pour early in the day so the top doesn't dry too fast and turn weak and dusty.
Request a free on-site estimate for your Cupertino concrete job
We reply within one business day to set a time for me to come out to your Cupertino home, look over the site and hear what you have in mind. After the visit you get the scope and the price in writing, with no pressure and no obligation to go ahead.
(669) 215-2122How a Cupertino concrete job goes once you call
Call or send the form
Call (669) 215-2122 or send the form, and we set a time for me to come out to your Cupertino home. It helps to have a rough idea of the size and finish you want, though we can work that out together.
I look over your site
I come out myself, walk the old slab and the yard, and check where the water runs and how firm the ground is. This is also when I hear what you have in mind and answer your questions.
Review your written estimate
After the visit you get the scope of work and the price in writing. Take the time you need, because nothing moves forward until you decide to go ahead.
We handle the city's permit
If your job needs a permit, we apply with the city, schedule its inspections and keep you informed. The city reports an average of 20 to 30 business days for the first plan review and 10 to 20 for each review after that.
We build it and walk through
Our own crew does the work with me on site, and we clean up when the pour is finished. Before we leave, we walk the job with you and go over how long to stay off it while it cures, which is the slow hardening that gives concrete its strength.
Concrete driveways, patios and walkways
Cupertino concrete questions homeowners ask
How much does a new concrete driveway cost in Cupertino?
The cost of a Cupertino driveway comes down mostly to its size, what has to come out first and the finish you choose, and I give you the figure in writing after seeing the site. A plain broom finish, the light brushed texture that keeps the surface from getting slick, costs less than stamped or colored concrete. The one place I'd ask you not to save is the base, because it's hidden the day we pour and it's what decides whether the slab settles later.
How do I find out if my concrete project needs a permit in Cupertino?
Ask the city's permit office before any work begins, because Cupertino requires a permit for any construction or alteration that isn't on its exempt list. One of the city's exemptions for single-family homes covers small detached one-story buildings up to 120 square feet, so a driveway, patio or wall is worth confirming first, and the city's building permit FAQ is a good place to start. Skipping a needed permit is costly here, since the city stops the work until a permit is issued and doubles the fees.
What causes cracks in new concrete, and can they be prevented?
Concrete cracks because it shrinks a little as it dries and the ground under it moves with the seasons, so the aim is to control where it cracks rather than promise it won't. We cut control joints, straight grooves that give the slab a planned line to crack along, soon after the pour so a crack follows the groove instead of wandering across the surface. On a driveway, rebar, the steel bars set inside the concrete, holds the pieces together if a crack does open.
Does a concrete contractor need a Cupertino business license?
Yes, the city requires a business license from every person or company doing business in Cupertino, and that includes contractors. It matters to you because the city won't schedule a final inspection on a permitted job until the contractor and every subcontractor on it holds one, so an unlicensed crew can leave your project stuck at the last step.
When does a concrete contractor need a California state license?
A state contractor's license is required whenever the job needs a building permit, uses any additional workers or comes to $1,000 or more in labor and materials, which takes in almost any driveway or patio. The California Contractors State License Board issues that license, so ask any contractor you're considering for theirs before you sign.
How much can a contractor ask for as a down payment in California?
On a home improvement job in California, a contractor can't ask for or accept a down payment of more than $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less. That limit comes from the state licensing board, so if a contractor asks for more up front, it's a good reason to ask questions before you sign.
Tell us about your Cupertino concrete project
Call (669) 215-2122 or send us the form to describe the job and ask about the permit steps, since knowing early whether the city needs to review it lets us plan your pour around that wait.