Concrete driveway building
For a San Rafael driveway that's cracked, sunk near the garage or holds puddles, we dig out the soft ground, pack a firm base and pour a new slab.
Concrete Contractor in San Rafael - Driveways, Patios and Walls Built on Solid Ground
Sterling Stone Tiburon Concrete builds driveways, patios, steps, retaining walls and foundations for homeowners in San Rafael, CA. We're based in Tiburon, and I come out to every San Rafael job myself to look at the ground before we pour.
Sterling Stone Tiburon Concrete pours driveways, patios, walks, steps, retaining walls and foundations for homeowners across San Rafael. We're a concrete contractor based in Tiburon, CA, and most of what we pour here is flatwork, our word for the driveways, patios and walks that sit flat on the ground.
San Rafael driveways, patios and walls we work on
A lot of the houses we see in San Rafael are older, and so are their driveways and walks. The calls usually start with something you can see, like a crack that keeps getting wider, a slab that's sunk by the garage, water pooling against the house after rain or a front step that's pulled away. Most of that traces back to what's underneath, not the surface.
So the first thing I look at is the subgrade, which is the ground your slab sits on, along with where water runs across your lot. If the old slab sat on dirt that was raked level instead of dug out and packed, a new pour on that same dirt will settle the same way. It's the same way we start jobs in Larkspur and the rest of Marin.
- Based in
- Belvedere Tiburon, CA 94920
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 7 AM–10 PM, Sat–Sun: 6 AM–11 PM
Concrete services for San Rafael homes
Concrete patio construction
A patio works best when it's sized for how you'll use it, so we talk tables and grills first, then slope it to send water away from the house.
Stamped concrete services
Stamped concrete presses a stone or brick pattern into the fresh slab, which suits patios and walks where you want that look without setting each piece by hand.
Concrete sidewalk building
When a front walk has heaved or broken into edges people trip on, we replace it with an even path that sits on a packed base instead of loose dirt.
Garage floor concrete
Cracked or dusty garage floors in older houses get torn out and repoured as a smooth slab thick enough for your cars and the shelving you'll load onto it.
Decorative concrete
Colored concrete, exposed stone and custom borders suit homeowners who want a slab with some character, and the base under it gets the same care as plain gray.
Concrete retaining walls
Where a yard steps down or a bank keeps sliding onto the patio, a poured wall with drainage behind it holds the soil back and keeps water from building up.
Concrete floor installation
For a basement, workshop or room addition, we pour interior floors on a packed base with steel inside, finished smooth for whatever flooring you plan to lay.
Concrete pool decks
Pool decks need a surface bare feet can grip and a slope that sends splash water away from the pool and the house, so we plan both before pouring.
Concrete steps construction
Front steps that have cracked or pulled away from the house get rebuilt with even risers, so each step feels the same underfoot, on footings dug to firm ground.
Slab foundation building
For an addition, garage or backyard building, we form and pour a slab foundation, checking the ground and drainage first because the whole structure rests on it.
Foundation installation
New foundations for additions and rebuilds start with digging to firm soil and setting steel, and I'm on site with our crew to check each stage as it goes.
Concrete parking lot building
Small lots for offices, shops and apartment buildings need a deeper base and a slope that drains, and we can pour in sections so the lot stays partly open.
Concrete footings
Footings carry decks, walls, posts and additions down to firm soil, and we dig, set steel and pour them to the plans before anything gets built on top.
Foundation raising
When part of a house has settled and doors start sticking or floors slope, we look at the soil and the water causing it before we talk about lifting.
Concrete cutting
We saw-cut concrete for new doorways, utility trenches and drain lines, or to remove one bad section of a driveway so the rest of the slab stays in place.
Get a free on-site estimate for your San Rafael project
We reply to calls and messages within one business day. I'll come out to your San Rafael property myself, walk the job with you, measure and give you a written estimate that spells out what's included. It's free, with no pressure and no obligation.
(415) 429-4397Working in San Rafael: permits, licenses and what sets the price
In San Rafael, building permits come from the city's Building Safety Division, and the owner or someone acting for them applies and has the permit before work begins. Whether your job needs one is the city's call, so we find out what yours asks for and help with the paperwork. We wait until any permit is in hand before we start, so the city's review can set your start date more than our calendar does.
The city also requires a business license from anyone doing business inside city limits, even a contractor whose office is in another city. The city is plain that the license is a tax, not proof that someone knows the trade. It's fair to ask any contractor about it, us included, but it won't tell you who's careful with the ground under your slab.
What moves the price is mostly what you won't see once the slab is down, like how much old concrete comes out, how deep we dig and pack the base, the slab's thickness and steel, drainage work and how close a truck can get. Size and finish come after that. Your written estimate spells out what's included, and we bring the same approach to jobs in Novato and San Anselmo.
Why San Rafael homeowners call us for concrete
I started this business in Tiburon in 2020, and I still come out to look at each job, write the estimate and stay on site with our crew while the work gets done. That way the person who talked through your base and drainage with you is the same person watching it get built.
If the budget gets tight, the base is where I'd hold the line and the finish is where I'd give. On pour day you can't see the base, so it's the first thing people want to trim, but a fancy surface on soft ground still cracks and sinks. A plain broom finish, a light brushed texture that gives shoes some grip, on a well-packed base usually holds up far longer.
We're fully licensed and insured, and our work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee. I'd rather answer a question twice before we pour than have you wondering about it later, so ask whatever's on your mind. Call (415) 429-4397 or send us the form to set up a visit.
What shapes concrete work on San Rafael lots
A few things come up again and again on San Rafael jobs, and each one changes how we plan the pour, what goes into your estimate or who else at the city might weigh in.
Other city offices can weigh in
Even where a job needs no building permit, the city's older permit handout says the Planning Division, the Fire Prevention Bureau or the Public Works Department can still set conditions on the work. That can apply to a driveway, a walk or a wall just as much as a building. We ask about it before we schedule, because a condition is a lot easier to meet before the forms go in than after the pour.
Older slabs come out first
Many older driveways and patios here are thin, cracked through or poured straight onto dirt. Breaking out and hauling away the old concrete is part of the price, and it's also when we find out what the last crew left underneath, whether that's roots, soft fill or no base at all. I'll show you what we find before anything new goes down, so you know what we're building on.
Where the water goes
Pooling water and a slab that tips toward the house are two of the most common things we're called about, and both usually start with nobody checking where the water runs. We look at your downspouts, the lay of the yard and the low spots, then set the slope so water heads away from your foundation and toward a place that can take it.
Tight driveways and pour timing
A lot of driveways here are narrow or sit close to the street, so we plan where the truck parks, whether we pump or wheel the concrete in, and how to keep your neighbors' cars clear. We also aim to pour early in the day, because a slab that dries too fast in midday heat can end up with a weak, dusty top that chips later.
Questions San Rafael homeowners ask about concrete
How much does a new concrete driveway cost in San Rafael?
The price comes down to the size, how much old concrete has to come out, how deep the base needs to go, the slab's thickness and steel, any drainage work and the finish you pick. Access matters too, since pumping concrete costs more than backing a truck up. I'll give you a written estimate after I walk your driveway and measure it.
Do I need a permit for a short concrete retaining wall in San Rafael?
Not always, since the city's older permit handout exempts retaining walls up to 4 feet from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall. That exemption doesn't hold if the wall supports a surcharge, which is extra weight such as a driveway, a slope or a building above it. We check your wall with the city before we start.
Does a shed pad or a fence in San Rafael need a building permit?
The city's older handout exempts one-story detached sheds and playhouses up to 120 square feet with no plumbing, electrical or heating, and fences up to 7 feet high. A fence may still need Planning review, and separate electrical or plumbing permits can still apply. We confirm your job with the city before we pour a pad or set post footings.
How long is a San Rafael building permit good for?
Building permits the city issued after January 1, 2023 are valid for 2 years, and smaller minor permits for 180 days. If a permit hasn't passed its final inspection by the expiration date, the city charges a renewal fee. Inspections are scheduled through the city's OpenGov system, and we help you keep track of the dates so a permit doesn't lapse mid-job.
How long will I be without my driveway after a new concrete pour?
You can usually walk on new concrete well before you can drive on it, because curing, the slow hardening that gives concrete its strength, keeps going for days after the pour. Plan on parking on the street for a while. I'll give you the dates for your slab when we schedule it, so you can plan around them.
Will my new concrete driveway crack like the old one did?
Concrete can still crack, but a well-built slab cracks less and in places we chose. We pack the base so it doesn't settle, set rebar, the steel inside that holds the pieces together if a crack opens, and cut control joints, shallow grooves that give the slab a straight line to crack along. Most old slabs we replace skipped one of those.
How do I get my yard ready for a concrete pour in San Rafael?
Move cars, planters and furniture out of the work area, and tell us where sprinkler lines, lighting wires or anything else buried runs so we can work around it. On pour day, keep kids, pets and cars off the fresh concrete until we say it's ready, and let your neighbors know a truck will be out front for part of the day.
Call or message about your San Rafael project
We're open seven days a week, early mornings and evenings included, so call (415) 429-4397 or use the contact form whenever it suits you to talk through your San Rafael job.