Concrete Contractor in Calexico, CA - Slabs Built on a Packed Base
Brawley Concrete is a concrete contractor based in Brawley, CA, building driveways, patios, walks, steps, garage floors and foundations for homeowners, landlords and property managers in Calexico who want it done once and done right.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
Calexico homes and the concrete around them
Calexico is a short drive south of us in Brawley, and most of our calls here are for flatwork, the driveways, patios, walks and steps that sit right on the ground. Those calls come from homeowners, landlords and property managers, often at older single-story houses where the driveway has cracked through, a side walk has sunk or the front steps have pulled away from the porch. We see the same kinds of jobs just up the road in Heber.
A lot of that older concrete went down on raked dirt with little base under it, which is why it settled and broke. So replacing it here usually starts with breaking out the old slab and digging down to firm ground before anything new goes in.
Concrete work we do on Calexico homes and lots
Concrete driveway building
We dig out and pack the subgrade, the ground a driveway sits on, then set the forms so water on Calexico's flat lots runs toward the street.
Concrete patio construction
A backyard patio here sits in hard sun most of the year, so we ask how you'll use it and where it should drain before we set forms.
Stamped concrete services
Stamped concrete gives a patio or entry the look of stone or tile, and we seal it so the color holds up better under the Imperial Valley sun.
Concrete sidewalk building
Walks to the front door and along the side yard tend to sink where sprinklers soak the dirt, so we pack the base firm before the new pour.
Garage floor concrete
A Calexico garage floor that's cracked, stained or sunk near the door can be broken out and repoured with rebar, steel bars that keep cracks from spreading.
Decorative concrete
Colored concrete, scored patterns and textured borders let a front entry or courtyard match the house, and we talk through how each handles heat and foot traffic.
Concrete retaining walls
Where a yard drops to an alley or a neighbor's lot, a concrete wall holds the dirt back, and we leave the water behind it a way out.
Concrete floor installation
For a shop, a storage building or a back room, we pour an inside floor flat enough for shelving, on a packed base instead of loose fill.
Concrete pool decks
A pool deck in Calexico gets bare feet in July, so we talk about lighter colors and textured finishes, and slope it so splash water drains off.
Concrete steps construction
Front steps on older houses and rentals often crack or pull away from the porch, and we rebuild them with even step heights and a solid footing underneath.
Slab foundation building
A new home, guest house or addition needs a slab foundation built to the plans, with the ground packed, pipes in place and steel tied before the pour.
Foundation installation
Foundations for a garage, an addition or a block wall go to the depth the plans call for, in clean, square trenches we check before the truck arrives.
Concrete parking lot building
Small lots for shops, offices and apartment buildings take tight turns and heavy loads, so we build a thicker slab and plan where the water goes.
Concrete footings
Patio covers, shade structures, block walls and posts sit on footings, the concrete underneath that spreads the weight, dug and sized before anything goes on top.
Foundation raising
When a slab or porch has dropped, we look for the cause first, usually water or loose fill, then talk through lifting it versus tearing it out.
Concrete cutting
We saw-cut concrete for new doorways, plumbing trenches and clean lines where a cracked section comes out, so the slab you keep ends at a straight edge.
Get a written concrete estimate for your Calexico job
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set up a free on-site estimate. Once it's in writing, there's no pressure and no obligation to go ahead.
(442) 230-0492- Based in
- Brawley, CA 92227
- Hours
- Mon–Sun: 7 AM–10 PM
Permits, licenses and price on a Calexico job
In Calexico, building permits come from the city's Building Division, which covers most construction and home improvement work, so if your job needs one, nothing gets dug until it's issued. Before you hire anyone, ask for two numbers, because the city's permit application requires a contractor's state license number and city business license number. We're licensed and insured, and any contractor you talk to should hand those over without a fuss. The state only lets someone work without a license on jobs below $1,000, up from $500, and only when the job needs no permit and they hire nobody to help. The city license isn't much of a hurdle, since an older city form put the contractor's total at $124.00.
Before we start, we check with the city for your address, and if your job needs a permit we take care of the application and keep you posted. The city also asks for a plan to recycle torn-out material and wants it recycled when a recycler is available, so your old slab goes there when it can. What moves the price is mostly the size of the slab, how much old concrete and dirt comes out, how much base goes back in and the finish you choose, while the schedule turns on the permit and on the heat. Your written estimate lays out each of those.
Why Calexico heat and flat lots wear on concrete
Weather records from the Imperial station just north of here show a hot year on average, and summer days run far hotter than that, which matters on pour day. Concrete poured in the midday heat dries at the top before it's ready, and that can leave a weak, dusty surface that chips later, so we start early and keep the new slab damp while it cures, the slow hardening that gives it its strength.
Rain is rare, only a couple of inches a year at that same station, so drainage gets forgotten until a storm or a sprinkler line leaves water standing against the house. On these flat lots we check where the water runs before we set the forms, then slope the slab away from the house.
How a Calexico concrete job runs once you call
Here's how a job goes from your first call to the walk-through at the end, and when you'll hear from me along the way.
Call or send the form
Call (442) 230-0492 or use the form, and we'll set a time for me to come out to your place in Calexico. Have a rough idea of what the space is for, because that's the first thing I'll ask.
I look and measure myself
I walk the spot with you, check the old slab, the dirt and where water runs, and take measurements. Then you get a written estimate that shows what's included, so you know what you're paying for before anything gets dug.
We handle paperwork and utilities
Once you're ready, we sort out any paperwork with the city and get buried lines checked before anyone digs. You don't need to be home for this part, and I'll keep you posted on where it stands.
We pour, clean up, walk it
Our crew digs out, packs the base, pours and finishes with me on site, and we leave the yard clean when we go. When it's done, I walk the job with you and go over how to treat the slab while it cures.
Questions about concrete work in Calexico
Do I need a permit to pour a concrete driveway or patio in Calexico?
The city's list of permit examples doesn't name driveways or patios, so the way to know for sure is to ask the city about your address before work starts. Its examples include decks, swimming pools, new homes, room additions and backyard units. Call the city's Planning and Building Departments at (760) 768-2105, or I'll check for you when I come out.
How do I schedule a building inspection in Calexico?
Leave a voicemail on the city's inspection line at (760) 768-7440 or email inspections@calexico.ca.gov, and the city schedules it for the following business day. Give the permit number, the address and the type of inspection you need. On our permitted jobs, we keep you posted on when each inspection is set.
How much can a contractor ask for as a down payment in California?
State law caps a home improvement down payment at $1,000 or ten percent of the contract price, whichever is less. That contract price doesn't count finance charges. If someone wants more than that before work starts, stop and ask why.
Where can I save money on a new concrete driveway in Calexico?
Save on the finish, not the base. A plain broom finish, a brushed texture that gives tires and shoes some grip, costs less than stamping or color and works well on most driveways, while the dug-out, packed base is hidden on day one and can't be fixed later without tearing out the slab. It's usually the first thing a low bid cuts, so ask every contractor how deep they dig and how they pack it.
What causes a concrete driveway to crack in Calexico?
Most cracks come from concrete shrinking as it dries and from ground settling underneath, often where sprinkler or hose water soaks the dirt, and some cracking is normal in any slab. We plan for it by packing the base and cutting control joints on time, shallow grooves that give the slab a straight place to crack instead of one it picks. Where cars park, we add rebar to help hold any crack tight.
How do I check if my Calexico lot is in an earthquake hazard zone?
Type your address into the state's EQ Zapp tool, which shows whether it sits in a mapped earthquake hazard zone. State rules for those zones exempt a single-family frame house up to two stories that isn't part of a development of four or more units, though the city can be stricter. If your lot shows up in a zone and you're planning a new foundation, tell me when I come out so we can look at it together.
Other areas we serve
Brawley, CA
Get your Calexico concrete job on the calendar
Call (442) 230-0492 or send the form now, because booking ahead of the hot months gives us more cool mornings to choose from for your pour.