Concrete contractor in Lakeland North, WA - driveways and slabs built on a solid base
D&L Kent Concrete Construction is a concrete contractor based in Kent. We build driveways, patios, steps, floors and walls for homes in Lakeland North, starting with the base under the slab.
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Homes and yards across Lakeland North
Lakeland North sits between Auburn and Federal Way, outside any city limits, so King County is the local government here rather than a city. We come down from our base in Kent for jobs here, the same as we do for Lakeland South next door and out to Covington.
Most of what we're called out for here is houses, which means driveways, back patios, front steps and garage floors. On a job here, the price mostly turns on how much old concrete comes out and how much base work the ground under it needs. The schedule turns on the county permit when there is one and on curing, the wait while new concrete gains strength before you walk or drive on it. I'll give you your own figure after I've walked the site. A lot of the concrete around here has put in years of service, so the job usually starts with tearing out an old slab and finding out what it was sitting on.
Our services in Lakeland North, WA
- Concrete driveway building
Many driveways here have settled into dips and cracks. We break out the old slab, dig to firm ground and pack a new base before we pour.
- Concrete patio construction
Patios that tip toward the house send water against it. We set the slope to run water away, then cut control joints, shallow grooves, so cracks follow lines we picked.
- Concrete floor installation
Older garage and shop floors here are often cracked or sunk. Our concrete floor installation starts with a packed base and rebar, the steel that holds the slab together.
- Concrete steps construction
Front steps on older houses often pull away from the porch or chip at the edges. We form new steps with even rises so nobody catches a toe.
- Concrete retaining walls
Where a yard drops off toward the street, a wall holds the ground back. We dig real footings and give water a way out to keep the wall from leaning.
- Concrete cutting
On some driveways here, only one heaved or root-lifted panel needs to go. We saw-cut a clean line so the rest stays put and the new pour meets it square.
What Lakeland North lots ask of new concrete
The cracks and sunken corners we see on driveways and patios here usually trace back to what's under the slab, not the concrete itself. When a base was raked level instead of dug out and packed, the dirt keeps settling and the slab goes down with it. When nobody checked where the water runs, a slab can end up falling toward the house. So I measure the grades first, our crew digs down to firm subgrade, the ground the slab rests on, and we pack a new base before anything gets poured. It's the part people most want to trim from the budget because you can't see it on day one, and it's the last place I'd cut, since a nice finish over a weak base cracks just as fast. Concrete will still get a few hairline cracks, and the control joints we cut are where we want them to show up.
Where a lot has a real grade change, steps and retaining walls do more of the work, and the ground above them matters. King County maps landslide hazard areas along river corridors and in unincorporated parts of the county, so on a sloped lot I look into that before we plan a wall or a slab near the slope.
Get a free on-site concrete estimate in Lakeland North
Send us your details and we'll reply within one business day to set a time. I come out to your Lakeland North property myself to measure and walk the site. Then you get a written estimate with each part of the job listed, free and with no obligation.
Concrete driveways, patios and steps
Lakeland North concrete questions answered
Do I need a permit for a concrete driveway or patio in Lakeland North, WA?
Permits for concrete work in Lakeland North come from King County's Permitting Division, not a city, because the area is unincorporated. The county generally requires a building permit to build, enlarge, alter, repair, move or tear down a building or structure, and whether your slab, steps or wall falls under that is something to confirm with the county for your address. We check which office covers you, take care of the permit when your job needs one, and keep you posted on where it stands.
How do I find out if my address is in unincorporated King County?
King County has an interactive map that shows whether an address is in unincorporated King County and which community service area it's in, and you can reach it from the county's Local Services site. That tells you whether the county or a city handles your permits. It's the first thing I check when I set up a job.
Does a concrete contractor have to be registered in Washington State?
Yes. Washington requires every construction contractor to register with the state Department of Labor & Industries, and state law also requires contractors to be bonded and insured. Separately, the state Department of Revenue requires a business license under several conditions, such as gross income of $12,000 a year or more, and King County adds its own license only for certain regulated activities in unincorporated areas. We're fully licensed and insured, and you're welcome to ask about it when I come out.
How do I know if my Lakeland North lot is in a floodplain or a critical area?
King County publishes floodplain maps, and any development in a mapped floodplain needs a permit, applied for through the county's Permitting Division. If you're planning a new home on a slab, hazardous or sensitive areas on the lot can limit where you can build, and the county says most rural and some urban lots will need a Critical Areas Designation. I'd rather sort this out before we set forms than after, so it's part of how I plan any job on a lot near water or a slope.
What building codes apply to concrete work in Lakeland North?
Work that needs a county permit in Lakeland North is reviewed under the Washington State Building Code with King County's own amendments. A proposed ordinance on adopting the state building, fire and energy codes with local amendments is also before the county council, so the details can change. We build to whatever code applies to your permit.
How much does a new concrete driveway cost in Lakeland North?
The price comes down mostly to the size of the slab, how much old concrete has to come out, and how much digging and base work the ground needs. Thickness, rebar, access for the truck and the finish move it too, since a plain broom finish, which leaves a light texture for grip, costs less than stamped or decorative work. Call (253) 398-9060 or use the form above, and I'll come measure so you get a real number.