Concrete contractor in Federal Way, WA - slabs built on a packed base
D&L Kent Concrete Construction is a Kent-based concrete contractor. In Federal Way, WA, we build driveways, patios, walkways, steps and retaining walls, laid out and graded for the sloped lots and older slabs we find there.
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Sloped yards and older homes across Federal Way
Federal Way sits south of Des Moines and north of Tacoma. We drive down from Kent to work for homeowners in neighborhoods built over several decades, and for businesses whose lots and walkways see heavy use. A lot of the houses sit on sloped streets, so driveways climb or drop to the garage, and many backyards were leveled by hand long before anyone poured a patio on them.
The price and the schedule here turn mostly on how much old concrete comes out and how much base work the ground needs, and your written estimate lists each part. On sloped lots the base work is usually the bigger piece, because loose fill and water running downhill are what we tend to find once the old slab is up.
Our services in Federal Way, WA
- Concrete driveway building
Driveways on sloped lots here crack and pool water when the base was only raked level. We dig out, pack the ground under it and grade the slab to drain.
- Concrete patio construction
Older patios here often settle and tip water back toward the house. We pitch the new slab away from your walls and cut grooves so cracks follow lines we picked.
- Stamped concrete services
For walks and patios on view from the street, we press stamped concrete to look like stone or brick. It goes on the same packed base and needs resealing over time.
- Concrete retaining walls
Sloped yards often need a retaining wall so a driveway or patio can sit level. We set it on a footing with drainage behind it so water doesn't push it over.
- Concrete steps construction
Houses set above the street often have front steps that chip or pull away from the porch. We form new ones with even rises and a brushed finish for grip.
- Concrete sidewalk building
Side walkways here often sink where downspouts and roots work under them. We dig out the soft spots, pack the base and pitch the walk to shed water.
What Federal Way's slopes ask of a slab
On a sloped lot, the first thing I check at an estimate is where the water goes. A driveway or patio that falls toward the house sends rain at your foundation, and water that gets under a slab washes out the ground it sits on. Before any forms go in, we dig down to firm soil, pack the base in layers and set the grade so water runs to the street or the yard. That base is the part you won't see on pour day, and it's the first thing people want to cut from the budget. I'd rather trim the finish than the base, because a fancy surface on soft ground cracks and sinks just like a plain one.
Parts of the city sit near wetlands, streams and steep ground, and the city requires a permit for any work in a critical area, which covers wetlands, streams, landslide hazard areas and the buffers around them. The city's Building Division issues those permits. We check which office covers your address, take care of the permit when your job needs one and keep you posted on where it stands.
Get a free on-site estimate for your Federal Way concrete job
Send the form or call (253) 398-9060 and we'll reply within one business day, with no pressure and no obligation. I come out to your Federal Way property myself to measure and walk the site, and then you get a written estimate with each part of the job listed.
Driveways, patios and other flatwork
Federal Way concrete questions answered
Do I need a permit to replace my concrete driveway in Federal Way?
The city's residential permit exemptions list driveways and sidewalks, but the city also says exempt items can still need separate permits, and the critical-area rule above still applies. If you'd like to ask the city yourself, the Permit Center is at 253.835.2607 and takes applications from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and it's closed Wednesdays. Either way, we check your address before we start.
Do I need a permit for a retaining wall in Federal Way?
The city exempts retaining walls four feet or shorter, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless the wall holds up extra weight behind it, such as a driveway or a slope. A taller wall, or one carrying that kind of load, needs a permit. I measure that height at the estimate with the footing counted, because a wall can look well under four feet above ground and still go over once you add what's buried.
How much does a new concrete driveway cost in Federal Way?
The price comes down to the size of the slab, how much old concrete we break out and haul off, and how much digging and base work your lot needs, which on a sloped Federal Way lot is usually the bigger share. Thickness, rebar, the steel bars that hold the slab together if it cracks, a stamped or colored finish and any permit also add to it. Each of those shows up as its own line on your estimate.
How long does a new concrete driveway need before I can drive on it?
You can usually walk on it within a few days, but cars wait longer, until the slab has cured enough to take the weight. Curing is the slow hardening that gives concrete its strength, and the weather and the mix move that wait either way, so we give you the timing for your slab when we pour. How long you're without the driveway overall also turns on tear-out, base work and any permit.
What causes a concrete patio to crack, and will a new one crack too?
Most bad cracks we see come from a base that was raked level instead of dug out and packed, water running under the slab, or control joints that were cut late or skipped. Concrete shrinks as it cures, so a few hairline cracks are normal, and we cut those joints early so the cracks land in the grooves instead of across the middle.
Does a contractor need a Federal Way business license to work at my house?
Yes, the city requires every business located or doing business inside city limits to hold a City Endorsement. The Washington Department of Revenue processes it online, it needs an active state business license first and it lasts one year, so it's fair to ask any contractor about it before they start.