Concrete Driveway Building in Tustin CA - a slab that sends water to the street
Cracked, sinking or puddling driveway? We dig out, pack the ground and pour a new slab sized for what you park on it.
Old slab removal
We break out and haul away the old driveway.
Dug and packed base
We dig out soft ground and pack a firm base.
Slope toward the street
Water runs to the street, away from your garage.
Joints and curing
Joints cut on time and the slab cured before use.
What goes into building a new concrete driveway in Tustin?
Building a concrete driveway in Tustin means preparing the ground, pouring a new slab and curing it as soon as the finishing is done, so you end up with a driveway that carries your cars and sends water toward the street.
The price mostly turns on the size of the driveway, whether an old one has to be broken out first, how thick the slab is and whether we add steel. The schedule turns on any city review the job needs and on curing, the wait while the concrete gains strength before it takes a car. My written estimate spells out what's included.
When budgets get tight, the base is usually the first thing people want to trim, because nobody sees it once the concrete is down. I'd rather keep it. We dig out and pack the subgrade, the ground the slab sits on, since a slab settles with whatever is under it. If you'd like a pattern on top, we can talk about stamped concrete, but not at the cost of the base.
- A base dug out and packed firm
- Water that runs toward the street
- Joints cut where cracks should go
- A clear word on when to drive
How do you know your driveway needs replacing?
If your driveway is cracking, sinking or holding water, or no longer suits what you park on it, it's worth having someone take a look.
Cracks that keep spreading
A few hairline cracks are normal, but cracks that widen, branch out or shift at the edges usually point to trouble underneath.
Sinking or uneven sections
When a section drops or tilts, the ground under it has usually settled or washed out, and patching the top won't hold.
Puddles that stay put
Water that sits on the slab or runs toward the garage means the slope is wrong, and it tends to make the damage worse.
Chipping and a dusty surface
A top that flakes or turns to powder often comes from a pour done in midday heat or a slab that wasn't cured properly.
Heavier vehicles than before
If you now park a truck, camper or work van, a thin slab without steel may not carry it for long.
Raised or broken edges
Lifted slabs and broken edges are a tripping hazard for anyone walking up, and they catch tires and mower wheels too.
Ask for a driveway estimate
Note your driveway's rough size in square feet and whether an old one comes out. We reply within one business day to book your free, no-obligation on-site estimate.
What I look at before pricing your driveway
Before I recommend anything, I measure and look at the ground, the way water runs, what you'll park and how a truck can reach the site.
The ground underneath
I look for soft spots, which should be dug out and replaced with gravel or crushed rock, because a slab settles with the dirt below it.
Where the water goes
I check which way water runs now, so we can set the new slab to fall toward the street and away from your house and garage.
What you'll park on it
We talk through your cars, trucks or trailers, because that decides how thick the slab should be and whether steel makes sense.
What to expect on your driveway job
We plan the job around your household, including where you'll park while the slab cures, and I keep you posted at each stage so nothing comes as a surprise.
Your call
Thank you for calling. We set a time for me to come out, see the site and hear what you have in mind.
The site visit
I come out myself, walk the driveway with you and take the measurements the estimate needs.
Written estimate
You get a written estimate that spells out what's included, and whether and when to go ahead is entirely your call.
Permits and the pour
Once you're ready, we take care of any permit steps, prepare the ground, set the forms and pour, and I check in with the crew throughout.
Walk-through
We walk the finished driveway together, and I tell you when it's ready for foot traffic and when it's ready for a car.
Why Tustin homeowners call Custom Tustin Concrete Company for driveways
You can count on plain explanations of each choice and courtesy from the first call to the last, with the ground, drainage and joints done properly. Satisfaction guaranteed.
I come out to every job
I look at every driveway myself and write the estimate, then check in with our crew of finishers and laborers while they work.
Building driveways since 2020
I opened the business in 2020 after years in equipment rental, learning the trade on the jobs of the concrete crews who rented from us.
Licensed and insured in California
California requires a contractor's license once labor and materials reach $1,000, and we're fully licensed and insured.
Choices laid out, no push
I lay out each option and the reason for it, then leave the decision to you. If you'd like a concrete patio too, call (714) 361-0137.
Concrete driveway building in Tustin and nearby cities
The apron, where your driveway crosses the curb into the public right-of-way, needs an encroachment permit from the city's Engineering Division and is built as the City Engineer specifies. Tustin also asks that underground utilities be marked through Underground Service Alert at least two full working days before digging, so we build that into the schedule. We help with the application and ask the city about anything unclear before work begins.
We're based in Tustin and work in the cities around it across Orange County and nearby. Most driveway calls we get are from homeowners with older slabs that have cracked, settled or started holding water, and the work is the same whether the house is here, in Santa Ana or in Irvine.
Would you like to talk through your new driveway?
(714) 361-0137Driveway questions we hear most
How much does a concrete driveway cost in Orange County?
A new concrete driveway in Orange County usually costs about $7 to $14 per square foot, not counting removal of an old one. Breaking out an existing driveway adds to that per-foot price, and thickness, steel and access move it too. My written estimate spells out the figure for yours.
Is a thicker concrete driveway slab worth the extra cost?
Usually yes if you park heavy vehicles, because national concrete guidance says going from a 4-inch to a 5-inch slab adds about 20% to the concrete cost but nearly 50% to the weight it can carry. We talk through what you'll park before we settle the plan.
How long does a new concrete driveway take to cure before I can drive on it?
National guidance says to let new concrete cure for at least a week before driving on it, so plan to park elsewhere that week. Curing protects the slab's strength and its resistance to weather, and I'll let you know when yours is ready for a car.
Does a concrete driveway in Tustin need rebar?
Not every driveway does, but steel adds strength and matters most when the slab will carry heavy traffic. Rebar, the steel set inside the slab, won't stop cracks, but it helps hold them together, so we decide it by how you'll use the driveway.
What causes a new concrete driveway to crack?
Concrete moves as it cures and ages, so some cracking is normal, and control joints, the grooves cut across the slab, help keep it from cracking at random. Random cracks generally don't shorten a driveway's life, but they can be an eyesore, which is why we cut joints on time instead of late.
Do I need a soils engineer before pouring a new driveway?
You can consult one if you're unsure about your soil, and they'll tell you what you're dealing with. National guidance notes that many western states have expansive soils, which call for crushed rock under the slab, and I'll tell you on the visit if anything I see makes a soils check worth it.
Ask Custom Tustin Concrete Company for an estimate
We take calls seven days a week, into the evening, so call (714) 361-0137 or send the form whenever it suits you.