Concrete parking lot building in Kent WA - a lot sized for the traffic it carries
Gravel lot rutting out, or an old surface cracking and holding water? We build a concrete lot sized, jointed and drained for its traffic.
What does it take to build a concrete parking lot in Kent?
Concrete parking lot building in Kent means digging out the site, packing a solid base and pouring a slab made for parking. Done with care, it can give you an economical lot that serves for many years with little maintenance.
Most owners call us when a gravel lot keeps rutting, an old surface is breaking up, or a new building needs somewhere for cars to go. The price turns on the lot's size, how thick the slab has to be for the traffic and the ground under it, how much digging and base work the site needs, and whether the slab gets steel. The schedule turns mostly on the permit and on curing, the wait while the concrete gains strength before cars can drive on it. Your written estimate lists each part of the job so you can see where the money goes. We check which city or county office covers your address and take care of the permit when your job needs one, and we keep you posted on where it stands.
How we handle concrete parking lot building
I start by measuring the site and asking how many vehicles the lot will see now and down the road, because that count, along with the ground underneath, shapes how thick the slab needs to be. We check where water runs before anything gets dug, so the finished surface sheds rain away from buildings instead of pooling in the stalls. Then our crew digs out and packs the subgrade, the soil and base the slab sits on, because a base that's only raked level settles with the dirt and takes the slab down with it. We set the forms, place rebar where the plan calls for it, which is the steel that helps the slab carry load and keeps cracks from spreading, and lay out the control joints before the pour. Those planned lines give the concrete a place to crack where we chose instead of across the middle of a stall. We pour, give it a broom finish, a light texture that helps tires and shoes grip, and let it cure before traffic goes on it. If the budget gets tight, I'd rather trim the finish than the base, because the base is buried on day one and it's the part that decides how long the lot lasts. Before we leave, I walk you through the upkeep a lot needs over the years so you can plan for it.
A lot often comes with other concrete work around it. Light poles, signs and low walls along the edge each need concrete footings set into the ground so they stay plumb. If the building beside the lot has settled and its doors or floors are out of level, foundation raising can bring it back up before we pour the new slab against it.
Why Kent property owners call D&L Kent Concrete Construction for parking lots
I measure and walk your site
I come out for the estimate myself to measure and walk the site, and then I run the job while our crew does the work. The person who looked at your drainage and your traffic is the one watching the pour.
Building concrete in Kent since 2013
We've been in business since 2013, and we're known for careful layout and prep. On a lot, that means the base, the forms and the joint plan get our time before any concrete shows up.
Licensed and insured for your lot
We're fully licensed and insured. You don't have to take that on faith, because the state's contractor lookup covered in the questions below lets you check any contractor before you sign.
Based in Kent, working nearby
We're based in Kent and work in Renton, Federal Way, Tacoma and many other cities nearby. The same crew and the same prep come to your lot wherever it sits.
On a lot, what matters most is the part you won't see once the stripes go down. When you're ready, request an estimate or call (253) 398-9060, and have the lot's size and the number of vehicles you expect now and later handy.
Get a written estimate for your parking lot
We reply within one business day, and the estimate is free, done on site and comes with no obligation. I'll come out to measure and walk the site, then send you a written estimate with each part of the job listed.
Examples of concrete paving work
Questions before you build a concrete parking lot
How much does a concrete parking lot cost per square foot near Kent?
Concrete slabs in the Seattle area usually cost about $7 to $14 per square foot, and reinforced slabs run a little more per square foot than plain pads. Where your lot lands in that range depends mostly on how thick the slab has to be and how much base work the ground needs. Your estimate comes in writing with each part listed.
How thick does a concrete parking lot slab need to be?
Thickness is set by the ground support under the slab, the traffic it will carry and the strength of the concrete, which is why it's figured for each lot. Owners help set it by sharing the vehicle count and the growth they expect. One trade group's guidance has a civil engineer set strength, joints and drainage and a geotechnical engineer recommend thickness from the ground, while the contractor handles the building method and the joint layout plan.
What is the best way to lay out a concrete parking lot?
Washington's transportation department advises that the best design isn't necessarily the one with the most stalls. It favors safe walking and driving routes, roomy stalls and aisles, reasonable slopes, a plan for stormwater and easy upkeep, and a trade group adds lighting and slip hazards as safety items to ask about. The state's stormwater guidance also lists parking lots among typical uses for permeable pavement, a surface that lets rain soak through, so it's an option worth weighing for a Kent lot.
How do I check a concrete contractor in Washington before hiring?
Washington requires every construction contractor to register with L&I, the state's contractor registration agency, and to be bonded and insured. You can look up any contractor with L&I's Verify tool to see whether the registration is active, whether workers' comp is paid up for employees, and any safety violations or lawsuits against its bond. Every business operating in Kent also needs a City Business License, so it's fair to ask about that alongside the state registration.
Where do I get a permit for a parking lot in Kent, WA?
The City of Kent Permit Center issues building, engineering and utility, land use and environmental, and fire prevention permits, and you make an appointment to get them. Which of those your lot calls for is something we sort out for your address before the pour is scheduled.
What upkeep does a concrete parking lot need over the years?
National industry guidance lists cleaning and restriping, sealing cracks, repairing spalls, which are chipped spots in the surface, and in time replacing or stabilizing slabs and resealing joints where they're sealed. Cleaning off oil, deicers and similar spills keeps the lot looking good and helps the concrete last longer, so it pays to plan for these tasks rather than wait for them.
Other concrete work that goes with a lot
- Concrete footings
When your lot plan includes lighting, a sign or a fence along the edge, each post needs its own footing, poured deep enough to hold steady as cars pass by.
- Foundation raising
If the building beside your lot has sunk at one corner, lifting it back toward level first lets the new slab meet its doors at the right height.