These are the questions that did not fit on the other guide pages. If yours is missing, call or text and ask.
How long does a concrete driveway last?
A concrete driveway that is built well can last 30 years or more. Here the mild winters help, since there is no freeze-thaw cycle or road salt wearing the surface. What shortens the life is clay movement under a thin base, tree roots, poor drainage and loads heavier than the slab was built for.
Can I pour concrete myself, or should I hire someone?
Small jobs are fine to do yourself: a mower pad, a short step, a post footing. Bigger slabs are hard for a first-timer because concrete will not wait. A driveway means several yards arriving at once, to be placed, leveled, floated, edged, jointed and broomed before it sets, and on a warm day that window is short. Mistakes are permanent and removal is costly.
Can I build a small shed pad with bags from the store?
Yes. A small shed pad is a reasonable bag-mix project. An 8x10 pad at 4 inches thick takes roughly a cubic yard, which is a lot of bags, so rent a mixer and have help. Dig out the topsoil, compact a few inches of rock, form it square and level, and add mesh. For anything much larger, ordering ready-mix is easier and gives a more even result. Check whether the shed itself needs a permit.
I poured my own walkway and it cracked and sank. Should I redo it or hire someone?
Find out why it failed before you decide. Walks usually sink because the soil below was soft or not compacted, and crack because there were no joints. If you are willing to redo the base properly, you can redo it yourself. If the walk is long, on a slope or next to the house, hiring it out costs more and removes the risk of doing it a third time.
How do I get oil stains out of concrete?
Treat oil stains as early as you can. Soak up fresh oil with cat litter or an absorbent, then scrub with a concrete degreaser and rinse. Old stains may need a poultice left on to draw the oil out, and they often lighten instead of vanishing. Keep the rinse water out of the storm drain, which runs to local creeks. Sealing the slab afterwards makes the next spill easier to clean.
Can an old concrete floor be stained?
Yes, an old floor can be stained once it is stripped to bare, clean concrete. Glue, paint, sealer and oil all block stain and have to come off first. Stain is translucent, so patches, cracks and old marks will remain visible, which many people like for its character. Test a small area. Check for moisture coming through the slab before sealing over the stain.
Does insurance cover a damaged retaining wall or slab?
Sometimes. Homeowners insurance usually covers sudden accidental damage, such as a vehicle hitting a wall or a tree falling on a patio. It generally does not cover slow settling, earth movement, root damage or age. Policies differ on whether a retaining wall counts as an other structure. Photograph the damage and ask your insurer before repairs begin.
A customer tripped on the concrete outside my business. Am I liable?
You may be liable, and the answer turns on facts your insurer and a lawyer should review. In general the party that owns or controls a walking surface must keep it reasonably safe and repair hazards it knows about. In Santa Rosa that duty extends to the public sidewalk along your frontage under City Code section 13-32.020. Report the incident to your insurer, photograph the spot, and repair it. This is general information, not legal advice.
Can sections be replaced while my business stays open?
Yes. Most commercial flatwork is replaced in phases so the business stays open. We split a lot or walkway into sections, keep one safe route to the door at all times, and schedule noisy tear-out and pours around your trading hours where possible. New sections need about a week before cars and longer before trucks, so deliveries are planned with you.
Do you pour basketball pads and sport courts?
Yes. A basketball pad wants a flat, even slab with a gentle fall for drainage, a light broom or fine finish for ball bounce and grip, and joints placed outside the key playing lines where possible. On clay, a good base and steel keep it flat. No national price was published for sport courts, so we quote after seeing the site.
Does salt air from the coast affect concrete in Santa Rosa?
Very little. Santa Rosa is well inland from the Pacific, so salt in the air is not a real concern for concrete here. Homes out toward Bodega Bay are a different case, and steel there needs more cover. In town, moss and algae on shaded slabs in winter are the more common nuisance, and a yearly wash handles them.
Can concrete be made to match my house or my old concrete?
New concrete can come close but will not match old concrete exactly. Age, sun and weather change the color over years. Integral color, a matching broom texture and aligning the joints help a new section blend. For a strong match across a whole area, a stain or overlay applied over old and new together is the usual method.
The real number for your property comes from a free on-site estimate with measurements and a written quote. Call (707) 385-5837, or text a photo of the area.