Look up the licence, compare written scopes and keep the down payment within the legal limit. In California the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) regulates contractors, and its public licence search is free.
How do I find a good concrete contractor?
To find a good concrete contractor, begin with the CSLB licence search at cslb.ca.gov, then judge the work and the paperwork. Ask to see slabs that have been through several winters on local clay. Get two or three quotes written to the same scope. Pay attention to who measures carefully, who asks about soil, water and trees, and who explains where the joints will go.
Does a concrete contractor need to be licensed and insured?
In California, yes for nearly every paid job. The CSLB says a licence is required to contract for work worth $1,000 or more, for any job that needs a building permit, or when employees are used. The $1,000 figure applies from January 1, 2025. Concrete work falls under the C-8 Concrete classification. A licensed contractor must have a licence bond, and must carry workers' compensation insurance if there are employees. The licence record shows both. Liability insurance is a separate question, so ask for a certificate. The City of Concord requires proof of it for right of way work.
What should I ask a concrete contractor before hiring?
- What is the licence number and whose name is on it?
- How deep will you dig, and what base goes in?
- How thick is the slab and what steel is in it?
- Where are the joints and when are they made?
- How do you cure concrete in hot weather?
- Who pulls the encroachment permit and who contacts 811?
- Is removal and disposal included?
- What is the payment schedule?
- What does your warranty say, in writing?
What should a written estimate include? Is it binding if they hit something unexpected?
A written estimate should list the measured area, thickness, base, reinforcement, concrete strength, finish, joints, removal, disposal, permits, cleanup, schedule, payments and warranty. An estimate on its own is an offer. Once it becomes a signed contract, the price is binding for the work described. If the crew hits something nobody could see, such as buried concrete or a wet pocket of clay, the price changes only through a written change order that you sign. California requires a written contract for home improvement jobs over $500.
How much deposit is normal? A contractor wants 50 percent up front in cash with no contract.
In California the deposit on a home improvement contract is limited by law to $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less. Later payments must track the work completed. A demand for 50 percent up front, in cash, with no contract breaks that rule three ways. Do not agree to it. Ask for a written contract with the licence number, and pay by check or card so there is a record.
What are the red flags?
- No licence number, or a number that belongs to someone else.
- A deposit above the legal limit, or cash only.
- A price good for today only.
- Nothing written about thickness, base or steel.
- No talk of joints, curing or where water will go.
- A request that you take out the permit as owner-builder.
- A bid far under every other quote.
What warranty should I expect?
Expect a written warranty that states what is covered and for how long. Terms vary between contractors, and we would sooner you read ours on the quote than rely on a number on a web page. Most warranties cover workmanship faults such as scaling, settling from a poor base and drainage that does not work. Hairline shrinkage cracks are normally excluded, since all concrete has them.
I paid a deposit and the contractor stopped answering. What do I do?
Send a dated letter or email that asks for a start date or a refund by a set day, and keep a copy. If the contractor still has not answered, file a complaint with the CSLB at cslb.ca.gov or 800-321-CSLB (2752). Small claims court can order a refund. A card payment may be disputed through the card issuer. An unlicensed contractor can be reported to the board too.
How do I know they have done stamped work before?
Ask for addresses of stamped jobs that are a few years old and go and look. You are checking whether the pattern lines are straight, the color is even, the joints fit the pattern and the sealer has held. Ask who on the crew does the stamping and whether that person will be on your job. To prove they have done this before, photos alone are weak evidence.
What if the crew hits a hidden water line?
The water is shut off at the meter, the line is repaired and work goes on. Who pays depends on the line. Public utilities are marked through USA North 811, and a contractor who hits a marked line is responsible. A private water line, sprinkler main or old pipe in the yard is not marked by anyone. Point out what you know, and make sure the contract says how unmarked private lines are handled.
Is The Concord Concrete Company the right fit for my job?
We pour driveways, patios, walks, slabs and walls and repair existing concrete for homes and businesses in Concord and the nearby towns. Estimates are free and done on site, and the quote is written. Ask us the same questions listed on this page. Call (925) 690-1468.
The real number for your job comes from a free visit, where we measure and look at the ground. Call (925) 690-1468 or text a photo of the area.