Concrete driveway building in Kent WA - a driveway that stays level and drains well
Cracked, sinking or puddled driveway? We dig out, pack the base and pour a new slab that sheds water and carries your cars.
What goes into building a new concrete driveway in Kent?
Concrete driveway building in Kent means digging out the old drive or the bare ground, packing a solid gravel base, setting forms to the right slope, then pouring and curing a new slab that carries your cars and sends rain away from the house. Most of the work happens before the truck shows up, and afterward the slab needs its curing wait, the time concrete takes to harden before you drive on it.
Most calls start with a driveway that's cracked through, sunk at one edge or holding puddles by the garage, or a gravel drive you're tired of raking back into place. The price mostly turns on the size of the slab, how much old concrete or soil we haul out, how much base the ground needs and which finish you pick, while the schedule turns on the weather and that curing wait. If you're in Kent, building permits go through the City of Kent Permit Center, which works by appointment, and wherever you live we check which city or county office covers your address, take care of the permit when your job needs one and keep you posted on where it stands. Your estimate breaks out each part of the job, so you can see where your own number comes from.
How we build a concrete driveway, start to finish
Before we order anything, I go over the size and slope of the driveway with you, how your cars come and go, and which mix and finish make sense, because those choices set the layout and the order. Then our crew breaks out and hauls off any old driveway and digs down to the subgrade, the soil the slab sits on, instead of just raking the top level, since a slab poured over loose dirt settles right along with it. We bring in gravel and pack it in layers, set the forms so the slab falls away from your house and garage, and add rebar, steel bars that keep cracked sections from drifting apart, where the layout calls for it. We pour, give it a broom finish, a light texture dragged across the top so tires and shoes grip when it's wet, and cut control joints, shallow grooves that give the concrete a straight place to crack as it shrinks, before it has time to crack where it likes. A few fine cracks are still normal, and I'd rather tell you that now than promise otherwise. If the budget's tight, the base is the last place I'd cut, because a fancy surface over a poor base sinks and cracks anyway, while a plain finish over a good base just keeps doing its job.
A driveway is one kind of flatwork, our word for flat slabs on the ground like walks and patios, so the same crew and setup can handle more than one at a time. Plenty of owners add a concrete patio out back while we're already there, and if you'd like more than plain gray out front, stamped concrete adds a pattern and color to the slab.
Why Kent homeowners call D&L Kent Concrete Construction for driveways
I measure and walk your site
I come out for the estimate myself to measure and walk the site, and I run the job while our crew does the work. That way the person who checked your slope and drainage is the same one checking the forms before the pour.
Building concrete since 2013
I started this business in 2013 after years in an office job, because I wanted work I could stand back and look at. Thirteen years in, careful layout and prep are still what people know us for.
Licensed and insured in Washington
We're fully licensed and insured. Washington requires every construction contractor to register with the state Department of Labor & Industries and to be bonded and insured, so it's fair to ask anyone you're thinking of hiring, and the questions below show how to look a contractor up.
Pours planned around the rain
Rain can damage fresh concrete in western Washington, and cool, wet weather slows curing, so we plan the pour around the forecast and keep the fresh slab covered when it needs it. The gravel base matters more here too, because it lets water drain out from under the slab instead of sitting there.
On a driveway, the base and the slope you never see again are what decide how it holds up. Measure the rough length and width so you know the square footage, since prices run by the square foot, then send us your project details or call (253) 398-9060.
Book a free on-site driveway estimate
After you send the form, we reply within one business day to set a time for me to come out, measure and walk the site. The estimate is free and comes with no obligation. You get it in writing with each part of the job listed.
Examples of concrete driveway work
Questions before you book a concrete driveway
How much does a concrete driveway cost in Kent, WA?
A new concrete driveway in the Seattle area usually costs about $8 to $20 per square foot, which is the going rate across the market, not one contractor's price. Tearing out an old slab, extra base work and a fancier finish push you toward the top of that range. Have your rough square footage handy when you call (253) 398-9060, and your written estimate will show each part.
How long does a concrete driveway last compared with asphalt?
One Washington contractor directory puts concrete at 25 to 40 years with minimal maintenance and asphalt at 15 to 25 years with sealing every 2 to 3 years. The same directory shows concrete costing more up front, so you're weighing a higher first bill against a longer life and less upkeep.
When is the best time of year to pour a concrete driveway in Washington?
Late spring and fall are usually the best times, according to one Washington contractor directory, with good weather in April and May and moderate temperatures and less demand in September and October. Summer, June through August, is the busiest stretch with the longest waits, so booking for spring or fall can mean a shorter wait. Whatever the month, we still plan around the rain, as I mentioned above.
How can I check that a concrete contractor in Washington is registered and bonded?
Look them up with L&I's Verify tool, which shows whether a contractor's registration is active and their workers' comp account is paid to date. It also lists safety violations and any lawsuits against the contractor's surety bond. Every business working in Kent also needs a City business license, so that's a fair thing to ask about too.
What kind of concrete mix should I ask for on a new driveway?
Ask for good quality, dense concrete with entrained air, tiny air bubbles mixed in, which a national concrete industry guide says lowers the risk of scaling, the top layer flaking off over the years. That choice is made when the concrete is ordered, so ask your contractor before the pour whether the mix will be air-entrained. The same guide warns that overworking the surface knocks air out of the top layer and says a broom finish is adequate for most outdoor slabs.
How do I take care of a new concrete driveway in its first winter?
Skip deicing chemicals the first winter, then use them in moderate amounts in the winters after, which is the national concrete industry guide's advice. The guide also says you can consider sealing the surface with a commercial breathable sealer, and we can talk through whether that makes sense for your driveway at the estimate.
Other work owners pair with a new driveway
- Concrete patio construction
A patio out back can be planned alongside your driveway, with its own slope worked out so rain runs toward the yard instead of the back door.
- Stamped concrete services
For a front entry that looks like stone or brick, a stamped pattern and color can go into the same pour, though it needs resealing every so often.