Concrete Contractor in Ventura, CA - Driveways and Patios on a Solid Base
Masterwork Ventura Concrete is a concrete contractor based in Ventura, CA. We pour driveways, patios, walkways, steps and slabs for homeowners and small businesses across the city, and we dig out and pack the ground before any concrete goes down.
Ventura as we see it from the driveway
Ventura runs from the older streets near downtown and the beach, up into the hillside neighborhoods and out to the newer tracts on the east side. On a lot of the houses we work on, the driveway or patio is the one that went in when the house was built. After decades of roots, settling and patch jobs, that slab is often cracked, sunk at one corner or holding water by the garage. We also hear from rental owners and small businesses who need a walkway, steps or a parking pad redone so it's safe to use again.
Most of our week is spent right here, and we also head south to Oxnard and up the valley to Ojai. In Ventura, the age of the house and the tilt of the lot decide most of the job, because an old slab usually comes out with soft dirt under it, and a sloped yard means we have to steer the water away from the house before we pour.
Working in Ventura: permits, prep and what sets the price
The city's Permit Services office issues building permits for a Ventura address. Small jobs like water heaters and re-roofs can go in without plans, while additions, alterations and new construction go through plan review. Its list doesn't name driveways or patios, so whether yours needs a permit depends on the job, and when one is needed it can add time before the pour, so I plan for that from the first visit. We're licensed and insured.
What moves the price here is mostly the part you won't see once it's done. That means how much old concrete has to be broken out and hauled away, how deep we dig before we hit firm ground, how close the truck can get on a tight or sloped lot, and how thick the slab needs to be for what's going on it. A stamped or colored surface costs more than a plain broom finish, which is the light texture we drag across the top so it isn't slick when it's wet. The schedule turns on the permit if there is one, the weather on pour day and curing, the time the slab needs to harden before it takes weight. On a concrete driveway, curing is what keeps your car off it for a while, and the written estimate I send you is where you'll see your own job laid out.
What Ventura's houses and lots do to concrete
When we break out an old slab in Ventura, the base under it is often just dirt that was raked level and never packed, so the concrete sank right along with it. We dig down to the subgrade, the firm ground the slab sits on, and pack the base in layers so the new slab has something solid to rest on. If the budget gets tight, I'd rather you skip the fancy finish than cut the base, because you can dress up a good slab later but you can't fix what's under it without tearing it out.
Sloped lots bring the other common problem, a slab that falls toward the house and sends rain at the foundation or the garage door. Before we set forms, I check where the water runs now and where it needs to go. On warm days we pour early, because concrete that dries too fast in midday heat can end up with a weak, dusty top.
Get a free on-site concrete estimate in Ventura
Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day to set a time, with no pressure to book. I come out to your Ventura property myself, look over the site, answer your questions and then send you a written estimate.
(805) 507-9817How a concrete job goes when you call us in Ventura
Call or send a request
Call (805) 507-9817 or use the form and tell us what you're dealing with, like a cracked driveway or a patio that holds water. A few photos help if you have them.
I walk the site with you
I come out myself, look at the old slab, the ground and where the water runs, and ask how you'll use the space. Bring every question you've got, because this is the best time to go over them.
Look over your written estimate
After the visit I send you a written estimate. Take your time with it, and call me if any part isn't clear.
We handle any permit
If your job needs a permit, we work out which office covers your address and take care of the paperwork. The city's permit counter is closed on Fridays, and inspections have to be requested by the business day before, so we plan the pour around both.
Prep, pour and walk through
Our crew digs out, packs the base, sets the forms, then pours and finishes the slab. When it's done, we walk the finished job with you and tell you when it's ready to walk on and drive on.
Driveways, patios and finishes
Concrete questions from Ventura homeowners
How much does a new concrete driveway cost in Ventura?
A driveway's cost in Ventura comes down to its size, the tear-out and the ground work under it, so the real number only comes after someone looks at your site. A driveway that carries trucks needs a thicker slab than a walkway, and a hillside lot with tight access takes more labor than a flat one. I'll go over each of those with you on the visit, then put it in your written estimate.
What causes concrete driveways in Ventura to crack, and will a new one crack too?
Most cracks we see come from a base that settled or from control joints that were cut late or skipped. Control joints are the grooves cut into the slab so that when concrete shrinks and cracks, as it naturally can, it cracks along a line we chose instead of across the middle. A packed base and joints cut on time are what keep a new slab looking like a slab.
Do I need a permit to replace a concrete driveway or patio in Ventura?
The city's permit lists don't name driveways or patios, so the answer depends on your job, and Permit Services is the office that decides. Its quick permits cover jobs like water heaters and re-roofs, and larger work like additions and new construction goes through plan review. If your job needs one, we handle it.
How do I apply for a building permit online in Ventura?
You set up a Ventura OPS account, the city's online permit system, before you can apply for a permit online. If you'd rather go in person, the counter is at 501 Poli Street, Room 117, at 805-654-7869, with walk-ins Monday to Thursday from 8 AM to 1 PM. Visits from 1 PM to 3 PM on those days are by appointment.
How early do I need to request a building inspection in Ventura?
The city needs an inspection request by the business day before you want the inspector out. The Building and Safety Division does the inspections, so when a concrete job has one, we put the request in ahead of time so the crew and the truck aren't left waiting on pour day.
Which building codes does the City of Ventura enforce?
The city enforces the California construction codes along with its own local amendments, through its Building and Safety Division. If something on your job hinges on a code detail, Permit Services is the place to ask, and I'm glad to go over what the answer means for your slab.
Call to set up your Ventura estimate
We pick up at (805) 507-9817 until 11 PM on weekdays and 9 PM on weekends, so you can call after work and I'll set a time to come out and look, free.