Concrete Contractor in Bakersfield, CA - Slabs That Drain Right and Stay Put
Shafter Concrete is a concrete contractor based in Shafter, building driveways, patios, walks and pool decks for Bakersfield homeowners, plus slabs and footings for builders. We're known for concrete that drains right and stays where we put it.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free quotes on site.
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Bakersfield concrete work, from older lots to new tracts
Bakersfield is a big city to pour in, and the work shifts depending on where you are. In the older neighborhoods, like much of East Bakersfield, we find driveways and walks that have been patched more times than anyone remembers, squeezed between carports, alleys and narrow side yards. Out toward Rosedale, it's more newer tract homes, and the calls are for pool decks, wider driveways and patios that run from the back slider out into the yard.
That split shapes the job. On the older lots we usually start by breaking out the old concrete, and that's when we find out what the last crew left under it. On the newer ones we dig through loose fill and pack the subgrade, the dirt the slab sits on, until it's firm enough to hold.
Concrete work we do on Bakersfield properties
Concrete driveway building
Older Bakersfield driveways that have cracked or sunk usually need a full tear-out, so we dig to firm ground and pour a new, steel-reinforced slab.
Concrete patio construction
A patio off the back door gets a lot of use in a Bakersfield yard, so we pitch it to shed water away from the house and the slider.
Stamped concrete services
Stamped concrete gives a patio or walk the look of stone or brick without loose pieces to shift, which suits the newer homes around the city.
Concrete sidewalk building
Walks on older lots tend to heave or settle into trip edges, so we replace the bad panels and set the new ones flush with what stays.
Garage floor concrete
A cracked or stained garage floor in an older Bakersfield house can come out and go back in, poured thick enough for the truck and the workbench.
Decorative concrete
Color, exposed stone and saw-cut patterns let a front walk or entry match the house, and we do the base work the same as on any slab.
Concrete retaining walls
Where a yard steps down or a pool sits near a slope, a poured wall holds the dirt in place and keeps it off the patio.
Concrete floor installation
Shops, workrooms and additions around Bakersfield need an interior floor that's flat and level, so we check the forms for level before the truck shows up.
Concrete pool decks
Backyard pools are common here, so we build decks with a textured finish for wet feet and a pitch that sends water to drains, not the house.
Concrete steps construction
Front steps on older houses often pull away from the porch, so we rebuild them with even step heights and steel tied into the porch slab.
Slab foundation building
Builders putting up houses, additions and shops in Bakersfield call us for slab foundations poured square and level on ground we've dug out and packed.
Foundation installation
For a new house or a room addition, we lay out, dig and pour the foundation to the plans, so the framers start on something square.
Concrete parking lot building
Shops, churches and small offices around Bakersfield need lots that handle daily traffic, so we pour them thick and slope them to drain.
Concrete footings
Patio covers, block walls and additions all start with footings, the buried concrete that carries the weight, and we dig them to the depth the job calls for.
Foundation raising
When part of an older Bakersfield house has settled and doors start sticking, raising the foundation can bring it back toward level before the cracks spread.
Concrete cutting
On remodels and driveway widenings we saw-cut clean edges, so the old concrete that stays doesn't crack when the rest comes out.
Get a free on-site concrete estimate in Bakersfield
We reply within one business day to set up a visit. I write the estimate myself on site. It's free, and you're under no obligation.
Call (661) 776-8737- Based in
- Shafter, CA 93263
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 6 AM–11 PM, Sat–Sun: 8 AM–9 PM
What to know before a Bakersfield concrete job starts
Permits here come from the city's Building Division, and its list names retaining walls, pools and spas, and remodels or alterations as residential work that needs a permit and a fee. A driveway, patio or walk isn't named on that list, so the list alone won't tell you whether yours needs one, and when a permit is involved it usually sets the start date more than the pour does. Before you hire anyone, you can check two things. One is the state contractor's license, covered in the questions below. The other is the City Business Tax Certificate that any business coming into Bakersfield to work has to carry. It's good through June 30 each year, so ask to see a current one.
Our part is the paperwork and the ground. If your job needs a permit, we handle the application and line up the inspections. The price mostly moves with the size of the job, whether old concrete has to come out, how much base we dig and pack, the finish you pick and how easy it is to get a truck in. Timing turns on the permit and on curing, the days concrete needs to harden before it takes weight. We come in from Shafter and do the same work out in Wasco, and the written estimate lays out what's included on yours.
Why Bakersfield slabs crack, sink and hold water
Most of the cracked and sunken driveways we see here went wrong underneath. Somebody raked the dirt level instead of digging it out and packing it, and the slab settled right along with it. When we replace one, we dig to firm ground, pack a new base, lay rebar, the steel grid that holds the pieces together if it does crack, and cut control joints, shallow grooves that give the slab a straight place to crack instead of across the middle. Concrete cracks. A good base and joints decide where. If the budget gets tight, I'd rather you skip the fancy finish than the base, because nobody sees the base on day one, but everybody sees it later.
Backyards here tend to hold a pool, a patio and not much room between them and the house. We check where the water runs before we set forms and pitch the slab away from the walls, because a patio that falls toward the house sends every hose-down to your foundation.
How a Bakersfield concrete job runs with us
Here's how it goes from your first call to the day you get your driveway or patio back, with me on the job the whole way.
Call or send us the form
Call (661) 776-8737 or send the form and tell us what you have in mind. We set a time for me to come out to your place.
I measure and write it up
I look at the job, measure and ask how you'll use it, because a slab for a boat trailer gets built differently than one for patio chairs. You get a written estimate that says what's included, so you know what you're paying for before anything starts.
Our crew preps and pours
We sort out any permit before anybody digs, then our own crew digs out, packs the base, sets forms and pours, with me on site. You don't need to be home while we work, as long as we can get to the spot.
Walk the finished job together
When we're done, I walk it with you and go over when it's ready for feet and when it's ready for the car. We clean up and haul off the old concrete before we leave.
Questions about concrete work in Bakersfield
Call (661) 776-8737Do I need a permit to pour a concrete driveway in Bakersfield?
The city's permit list doesn't settle it, because it doesn't name driveways or patios either way. Requirements change with the type of work, so we check with the city before we dig, and you can follow applications and permit status on the city's building permits page.
Does a concrete retaining wall in Bakersfield need a permit?
Yes, the city names retaining walls among the residential jobs that need a permit and a fee. Bakersfield also makes its own changes to the state code sections on retaining walls and shallow foundations, so the wall and its footing get built and inspected to the city's version. We handle the application and the inspections.
How do I know if a concrete contractor in Bakersfield needs a state license?
In California, a contractor needs a state license if the job needs a building permit, uses employees, or comes to $1,000 or more in labor and materials combined. The board also says a bigger job can't be split into smaller ones to get under $1,000, so ask for the license number before you sign. We're licensed and insured.
How much does a new concrete driveway cost in Bakersfield?
It comes down to the size, whether the old slab has to be torn out, how deep the base goes and the finish you pick, and I put your number in a written estimate after I see the job. Stamped or colored finishes cost more than a broom finish, the light texture dragged across the top for grip, and a long tear-out adds hauling.
How long does it take before I can drive on a new concrete driveway in Bakersfield?
Longer than it takes before you can walk on it, because concrete keeps gaining strength for days after the pour while it cures. Foot traffic usually comes first and cars later, and I give you the timing for your slab when we finish, since the mix and the thickness change it.
Who issues concrete permits if my house is in unincorporated Kern County near Bakersfield?
Kern County does, through the Building Inspection unit in its Public Works department, not the city. If you're not sure which one covers your address, we check with the building office before we start.
Shafter, CA
Get your Bakersfield concrete job on the calendar
Call (661) 776-8737 or send the form, because the sooner I see the ground, the sooner you know whether it's a repair or a full tear-out.