Concrete Contractor in Lakeland South, WA - Driveways and Patios on a Packed Base
D&L Kent Concrete Construction is a concrete contractor based in Kent, WA. We build driveways, patios, walkways, steps, retaining walls and slab foundations for homes across Lakeland South, including the wooded lots around Lake Geneva.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- Replies within 1 business day.
Lakeland South homes and the lots around them
Lakeland South sits in southwest King County between Federal Way and Auburn. Algona, Pacific, Milton and Edgewood run along its other edges, and the Pierce County line marks the side that meets Edgewood. Most of what we're called out for here is homes on residential streets. Around Lake Geneva, those homes back onto woods, private docks and the public park on the lake's northeast shore.
A lot of the lots out here are wooded. Between tree roots and ground that was never packed under the first pour, many of the older driveways and walkways have lifted, dropped or cracked. We do the same work in Lake Morton-Berrydale, and it starts the same way in both places, with digging down to firm ground before anything gets formed.
Our services in Lakeland South, WA
- Concrete driveway building
Older driveways here often crack and sink where the base was only raked level. We dig out, pack a fresh base and slope the new slab away from your garage.
- Concrete patio construction
Backyard patios here often tip toward the house as the ground under them settles. We check where the water runs before we set forms for a new one.
- Slab foundation building
A new garage or addition needs a slab that carries a building, not just foot traffic. Our slab foundation building starts with measured layout, square forms and a packed base.
- Concrete sidewalk building
Walkways on the wooded lots here often heave where tree roots push up under them. We take out the lifted panels, rebuild the base and pour a level path.
- Concrete steps construction
Front steps on older homes here often pull away from the house or chip at the edges. We tear them out and form new steps with even rises.
- Concrete retaining walls
Sloped yards here often shed soil onto the driveways and patios below them. We build concrete walls on proper footings with drainage behind them so they hold the grade.
What Lakeland South ground asks of new concrete
Most of the cracked or sunken slabs we see here failed from the bottom up. The subgrade, which is the dirt under the concrete, was raked level when it should have been dug out and packed. So on your job we dig to firm ground and pack the base. We check where the water runs so the slab falls away from your house. We also cut control joints, which are shallow grooves that give the slab a chosen place to crack. If the budget gets tight, I'd keep the base and go with a plain broom finish, the light texture that keeps the surface from getting slick. Nobody sees the base on day one, but it decides how the slab holds up. Your price turns mostly on the slab's size, what has to come out first and the finish you pick. The schedule depends on whether your job needs a permit and on curing, the wait before the slab can take foot traffic or a car. Your written estimate lists each of those parts.
Lakeland South isn't a city. For addresses in unincorporated King County, local government services come from King County Local Services. Several cities border the area, so before we plan your job we check which office covers your address.
Get a written estimate for your Lakeland South concrete job
Call (253) 398-9060 or send the form with what you're planning and any permit questions, and we'll reply within one business day to set a time. I come out to Lakeland South myself to measure and walk the site. You then get a free written estimate with each part of the job listed, with no pressure and no obligation.
Finished driveways, patios and steps
Lakeland South concrete questions answered
How do I find out if my concrete driveway or patio needs a permit in Lakeland South?
Ask King County, because it issues building permits for unincorporated areas like Lakeland South. Those permits generally cover work that builds, enlarges, alters, repairs, moves or demolishes a building. The exempt work the county lists includes fences under 6 feet and decks under 30 inches above grade, so we check with the county about your slab instead of assuming it's exempt. When your job needs a permit, we take care of it and keep you posted on where it stands.
What does a concrete contractor need to work legally in Lakeland South?
Washington requires every construction contractor to register with the Department of Labor & Industries and to be bonded and insured. The bond is $30,000 for a general contractor and $15,000 for a specialty contractor. The required liability insurance is $200,000 in public liability and $50,000 in property damage, or $250,000 combined. We're fully licensed and insured.
How much does a new concrete driveway cost in Lakeland South?
The price of a driveway here is set mostly by its size and by the work that happens before the pour, like tearing out the old slab and digging past soft ground. Thickness adds to it. So does rebar, the steel inside that keeps cracks from spreading apart. Tight access between trees and a stamped finish in place of a plain broom one add cost too. I'll measure your site and give you a written estimate with each of those parts listed.
How do I check if my Lakeland South property is in a landslide hazard area?
King County has a potential landslide hazard areas map that shows the areas it places in that category. The county says the map doesn't identify actual landslide hazards or existing risks for a specific property. Depending on what you're building, it may recommend a site evaluation by a licensed geological engineer. If you're planning a retaining wall or a foundation on a lot in one of those areas, tell me at the estimate so we can plan the job with that in mind.
Which building code applies to a new slab or foundation in Lakeland South?
The state building code applies, with state and King County amendments. The version used depends on the date the county deems your permit application complete. The county council has a hearing scheduled on a proposal to adopt the state building, fire and energy codes for unincorporated King County with local changes. Because that could shift, we check what applies when your application goes in.
Who handles plumbing and electrical permits for a new slab in Lakeland South?
Plumbing and gas piping permits go through the Department of Public Health. Electrical permits go through the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries, and septic permits go through Environmental Health Services. That matters on a slab foundation, because pipes and conduit often run under the concrete and have to be in place before we pour. If your property is on septic and you're adding on or remodeling, the county asks for a copy of the approved septic permit and site plan when you apply.