Concrete Driveways in La Mesa

A concrete driveway in La Mesa has to handle a slope, a curb and the soil under it. We price all of it for free, in writing.

The Slab

Most driveway jobs follow the same order. Break out the old slab. Grade and pack the base. Set forms and steel. Place, finish and joint the concrete. Then let it cure.

Ask for each step in writing, so you can compare two prices line by line.

The Apron at the Street

The end of the driveway that meets the street sits in the public right of way. La Mesa's Engineering Counter handles inspections for public improvements, including work in the right of way. The city lists an Encroachment Permit Application and its standard conditions on that page.

State guidance says some cities want a General Engineering (A) license for street work. We check with the city about your apron before we price it, and we go over the answer with you on the visit.

Slopes and Soil

Many La Mesa streets climb. A steep driveway needs a finish that grips, like a heavy broom. County records also list expansive clay soils across the coastal plain and valleys. Clay swells when wet and shrinks when dry, so base prep and joints matter.

First Call to Final Pour

Here is the path a La Mesa driveway job takes, in order. Use it to spot a quote that skips a step.

1. You send the form with the address and what you want changed.
2. We visit, look at the slope, the old slab and the curb, and measure.
3. You get a written price that lists tear out, base, steel, finish and the apron.
4. If the apron needs the city, that paperwork is sorted before the old concrete comes out.
5. Someone calls 811 before the dig. State law wants notice at least two working days ahead.
6. Old slab out, base graded and packed, forms and steel set.
7. Pour, finish, cut joints, cure.
8. Walk the job with us and look at the edges, joints and drainage.

What Moves the Price

We will not make up a number here. Two driveways on the same street can cost very different amounts. These are the things that move the price, biggest first.

• Square feet and thickness of the slab.
• Tear out and haul off of the old driveway. Thick old slabs with wire or rebar take longer to break.
• Access. A truck that cannot reach the forms means a pump or a lot of wheelbarrow work.
• Slope. A steep drive needs more forming and a careful base.
• Steel and base depth.
• Finish. A broom finish is the plain choice. Stamped, colored or exposed finishes add steps.
• The apron, the curb and any city paperwork at the street.

Ask for the price split by line, so a low total cannot hide a missing base or a skipped apron.

Finish Choices for a Driveway

A heavy broom finish is the common pick on a La Mesa hill. It gives tires and shoes grip, hides small marks and is easy to clean. A light broom finish looks smoother and suits a flat lot.

Color and stamping change the look, not the strength. They add labor and they need a sealer. If you like the idea, read our page on stamped concrete in La Mesa first.

Rain, Heat and Upkeep

The National Weather Service lists about 42.9 days a year with measurable rain at downtown San Diego, and about 10.8 inches of rain a year, from 1971 to 2000 data. That is not much water, but it all lands in a few storms. Slope the slab so it drains away from the garage and the house.

Rinse oil and tire marks soon after they land. Ask us if a sealer makes sense for your finish and how often to renew it. Ask for the cure time in writing and keep cars off until then. If a crack shows up later, our concrete repair page explains what is cosmetic and what is not.

Questions to Ask Any Driveway Contractor

• Is the company on the contract the one that holds the license?
• What does the city want for the street apron?
• What base depth and steel are in the price?
• Where will the joints go?
• Who calls 811, and who pulls any city paperwork?
• How long before I can drive on it?

Read the La Mesa permit guide before you call anyone, ours included. If the work is retaining a slope beside the drive, see retaining walls in La Mesa.

Common Questions