Grading & Excavation
Site prep, cut and fill, compaction and pad preparation. Compaction tested where the scope calls for it, not assumed.
C-27 — Landscape & Site Contractor
Concrete, Retaining Walls & Drainage
Most exterior failures are water failures. We correct grade and drainage first, then build the concrete and masonry that sits on it — so the slab is still flat and the wall is still plumb in ten years.
Order of Operations
Why Grade Comes Before Concrete
A cracked driveway or a leaning wall is almost never a concrete problem. It is a base problem, a drainage problem or a reinforcement problem that concrete was poured on top of.
Drainage Correction
Area drains, French drains and solid outlet lines to daylight. Negative grade at a foundation gets re-graded to positive fall, not patched.
Base & Reinforcement
Compacted base, rebar or mesh on chairs, and joints laid out before the pour — which is what controls where concrete cracks.
Placement & Finish
Continuous placement to avoid cold joints, then the finish you specified — broom, salt, stamped or exposed aggregate.
Concrete
Flatwork, Driveways & Slabs
Driveways & Approaches
Removal of failed sections, base correction and repour at the correct thickness for vehicle loading — with joints placed where they will actually control cracking.
Patios, Walkways & Steps
Rear-yard slabs, side yards, walkways, curbs and steps, poured to drain away from the structure rather than toward it.
Structural Slabs
Slabs on grade for additions and outbuildings, with a full rebar mat, plumbing stub-ups set and protected, and a single continuous placement.
Demolition & Replacement
Heaved, settled or delaminated flatwork removed to sound subgrade, the cause corrected, then repoured.
Masonry
Retaining Walls, Masonry & Hardscape
Reinforced Retaining Walls
CMU on a proper footing, vertical steel and grouted cells, with drain rock and a pipe behind the stem. A wall without drainage behind it is a wall that will lean.
Block, Brick & Stone
Garden walls, pilasters, seat walls and veneer — laid to line and plumb, with joints that match across the whole run.
Pavers & Hardscape
Interlocking pavers, decking and planters over a properly compacted and edged base, so the field stays flat and the pattern stays tight.
Outdoor Living
Outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, fire pits and BBQ islands, built as masonry structures rather than framed boxes with veneer stuck on.
Cost & Schedule
What Affects The Price And The Timeline
Demolition & Haul-Off
Removing failed concrete, old footings or a leaning wall is often a significant share of the job. Thickness, reinforcement and access all change how long removal takes.
Subgrade & Soil
Soft, expansive or poorly compacted soil has to be corrected before anything is poured. Where the ground is uncertain, test holes or a soils report come before a firm number.
Wall Height & Engineering
A low garden wall and an engineered retaining wall are different scopes. Height, the slope behind the wall and anything bearing on it decide whether engineering and a permit are required.
Access For Pump & Equipment
Side-yard and rear-yard work often depends on a concrete pump or small equipment. Tight access adds time to demolition, excavation and placement.
Heat & Curing
In summer heat, pours are scheduled around the temperature and the concrete is protected while it cures, because how a slab cures decides how it performs.
Finish Choice
Broom and salt finishes are the simplest. Stamped and exposed aggregate take more labour and more coordination on the day of the pour, and that shows in the price.
Common Problems
What We Are Usually Called About
Ponding & Water At The Foundation
Hardscape poured flat or toward the house sends water against the slab. The fix is re-grading to positive fall and giving the water a drain path, not sealing the crack it causes.
Settled Or Heaved Flatwork
Sections that sink or lift usually sit on a base that washed out, was never compacted, or is being pushed by roots or expansive soil. The cause is corrected before the section is repoured.
Leaning Or Cracked Garden Walls
Walls built without a proper footing, reinforcement or drainage behind them start to lean. Depending on condition, they are reinforced, rebuilt or replaced with an engineered retaining wall.
Driveway Approach Damage
Cracking where the driveway meets the street often comes from vehicle loads on an undersized section. Work in the public right-of-way can need a separate permit from the city, which we confirm before scheduling.
Spalled Or Delaminated Surfaces
Surface scaling and delamination usually trace back to how the concrete was finished or cured. Patching rarely holds, so failed areas are removed to sound material and replaced.
Before the Estimate
Describe the Wall, Water and Access
A patio slab, a garden wall and a wall holding back a slope are different projects. These details help us review your request before discussing the site conditions and scope.
Wall Height and Surroundings
Send the approximate wall length and height, photos from both sides where accessible, and a description of the slope or structures nearby. Note leaning, cracks or movement. Wall height, slope and loads affect engineering and the permit path.
Water and Equipment Access
Describe where water collects or runs toward the house, and include photos of the existing surface and drainage. Tell us about side-yard access and any concrete or old footings that need removal; access and demolition affect the scope.
See the retaining-wall replacement and site-drainage examples. If the same project includes an attached cover or timber pavilion, review patio-cover and shade-structure planning, then send the combined scope for an estimate.
Project Questions
Concrete, Retaining Wall & Drainage FAQs
Why does my driveway or patio keep cracking?
Usually the cause is underneath the concrete: a weak or poorly compacted base, water running under the slab, or missing reinforcement and control joints. Pouring a new surface without correcting that tends to repeat the cracking.
Why does a retaining wall need drainage behind it?
Water builds pressure behind the wall. Our reinforced CMU walls sit on a proper footing with vertical steel and grouted cells, and drain rock and a pipe behind the stem give that water somewhere to go.
Can you fix water that drains toward my foundation?
Yes. Negative grade at a foundation is re-graded to positive fall, and area drains, French drains or solid outlet lines to daylight are added where water needs a path off the lot.
Does a retaining wall need engineering or a permit?
It depends on the wall height, the slope above or below it and the local jurisdiction. Walls are engineered where the height calls for it, and we confirm the permit path for your address before pricing.
What concrete finishes can you provide?
Broom, salt, stamped and exposed aggregate finishes, placed in one continuous pour to avoid cold joints.
What should I include when asking for a retaining-wall estimate?
Send the property address, approximate wall height and length, and photos of the wall, slope and nearby structures. Describe any leaning, cracks, water buildup or limited equipment access. These conditions affect the scope, engineering and permit path.
Cracked Slab or a Wall That Is Moving?
Send photos and the address and we will tell you whether it is a surface repair or a base and drainage problem. Include the approximate dimensions and any known drainage or access problems. For an example of how grade and older foundations affect planning, see our concrete and drainage guidance for Pomona, or return to Tad's Construction.