These are the questions that fit nowhere else. Each answer starts with the short version.
How long does a concrete driveway last?
A well-built concrete driveway commonly lasts 30 years or more. Oakland's climate is kind to concrete, with almost no freezing. What ends a driveway early here is clay movement, roots, water under the slab and loads it was not built for.
Can I pour concrete myself or should I hire someone?
A small pad or a few stepping pads are fair do-it-yourself jobs with bagged mix and a helper. Hire someone for a driveway, anything on a slope, and anything larger than you can place and finish in about an hour. Ready-mix does not wait, and a bad finish is permanent. Work on the public sidewalk or approach in Oakland is permitted only to licensed contractors.
Can I do a small shed pad with bags from the store?
Yes. A small shed pad suits bagged concrete. Remove the topsoil, compact a few inches of crushed rock, set level forms, and add only the water the bag states. Keep the pad damp for several days. Contact USA North 811 before you dig, and ask the Planning and Building Department whether a shed of your size needs a permit or has to sit back from the fence.
I poured my own walkway and it cracked and sank. Should I redo it or hire someone?
Work out why it failed before you redo it. Sinking means the soil under it was soft or not compacted. Cracking means it was thin, had no joints or dried too fast. If you can fix those causes, a second try on a short level walk is reasonable. If it sits on a slope, on fill or over roots, a contractor will likely save you a third attempt.
How do I get oil stains out of concrete?
Blot fresh oil with cat litter, then scrub with a degreaser and hot water. Old oil stains respond to a poultice or an enzyme cleaner left on to draw the oil out, usually over more than one round. Do not hose oily residue into the gutter. Oakland's storm drains run untreated to the creeks and the bay.
Can an old concrete floor be stained or dyed?
Yes. An old floor can be stained once it is stripped to bare, clean concrete. Glue, paint and sealer are ground off first. The stain is see-through, so old repairs and marks remain visible. Many loft and warehouse floors in Oakland are finished this way. Test a patch before doing the room.
A customer tripped outside my business. Am I liable?
You could be liable, and it depends on facts we cannot judge. On your own property, owners and tenants are expected to keep walking surfaces reasonably safe. For the public sidewalk, Oakland puts the maintenance duty on the fronting property owner, and a lease may shift it to the tenant. Report it to your insurer, photograph the place, fix the hazard and speak to an attorney. This is not legal advice.
Can sections be replaced while my business stays open?
Yes, in most cases. We divide the work so one door and one route stay open, pour early, and barricade the fresh concrete. Tell us your delivery times and busiest days, and we will schedule the phases around them.
What does a basketball pad or sport court need?
A basketball pad needs an even slab with a slight fall for drainage, a medium broom finish, and joints laid out away from the key playing lines. The hoop post gets its own footing as the maker specifies. On a sloped Oakland yard the cost is mostly in creating the level area. No published price exists for sport courts, so we quote after a visit.
Does concrete need to be cleaned?
Shaded concrete in Oakland benefits from a wash once a year. Moss and algae build up over the damp winter and make walks slick. A stiff brush and a mild cleaner, or a pressure washer on a gentle setting, is enough. Keep the wash water out of the storm drain.
The only real price for your job comes from a free visit, a tape measure and a written quote. Call (510) 694-1913 or text us a photo of the area.