Look up the licence, get the scope in writing, and do not pay more up front than California allows. The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) regulates the trade, and its rules are your main protection.
How do I find a good concrete contractor?
To find a good concrete contractor, check the licence on cslb.ca.gov first, then go and look at finished work that is at least two or three years old. Ask for jobs like yours: a hillside driveway is not the same skill as a flat patio. Get two or three written quotes on one identical scope. Pay attention to who measures, who asks where the water goes, and who mentions the City permit without being asked.
Does a concrete contractor need to be licensed and insured?
Yes. In California a contractor's licence is required for work valued at $1,000 or more, for any job that needs a building permit, or when employees are used. The $1,000 figure applies from January 1, 2025. The class for this trade is C-8 Concrete. A licensed contractor must carry a licence bond, and one with employees must carry workers' compensation. General liability insurance is separate, so ask to see the certificate. Oakland will issue its curb, gutter and sidewalk permit only to a state-licensed contractor. The Oakland Concrete Company is licensed and insured.
What should I ask a concrete contractor before hiring?
- What is your CSLB licence number and class?
- How thick will the slab be, and what base goes under it?
- What steel, what size, what spacing?
- How will the concrete get to the pour: truck chute, pump or wheelbarrow?
- Where do the joints go and when are they cut?
- Where will the water run when it rains?
- Who applies for the CGS permit and contacts USA North 811?
- Is removal, haul-away and cleanup included?
- What does the warranty cover, in writing?
What should a written estimate include?
A written estimate should give the measured area, thickness, base, reinforcement, concrete strength, finish, joints, drainage, removal and disposal, permits, start window, payment schedule and warranty. California requires a written contract for home improvement jobs over $500, and it should carry the contractor's licence number.
How much deposit is normal?
California sets it by law. The deposit, or down payment, on a home improvement contract may not exceed $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less. Later payments follow the progress of the work and should not run ahead of it.
A contractor wants 50 percent up front in cash with no contract. Should I agree?
No. Asking for 50 percent breaks the down payment limit, and working without a written contract breaks the rule for jobs over $500. Cash leaves no record. A contractor who starts by ignoring two state rules is unlikely to follow the others.
What are the red flags?
- No licence number, or a number that belongs to someone else.
- A deposit above the legal limit, or cash only.
- Pressure to decide on the spot.
- A one-line quote with no thickness, base or steel.
- A price well under every other bid.
- An offer to skip the City permit for sidewalk or approach work.
- A request that you take out the permit as owner-builder.
What warranty should I expect?
Expect a written warranty that says what is covered and for how long. Terms vary between contractors, and we will not quote a typical length. Workmanship faults such as a crumbling surface, ponding or settlement from a poor base are the things to see listed. Hairline cracks and color variation are normally excluded. Ask to read it before you sign.
I paid a deposit and the contractor stopped answering. What can I do?
Send a dated written demand with a deadline and keep a copy. If the contractor has stopped answering, file a complaint with the CSLB at cslb.ca.gov or on 800-321-CSLB (2752). If no licence exists, report that as well. Small claims court can be used to recover a deposit, and a card payment can be disputed with the card issuer.
How do I know they have done stamped work before?
Ask for addresses of stamped jobs and go and see them. Anyone who has done stamped work before can show several, including some a few years old so you can judge how the sealer and color have held. Ask who on the crew does the stamping and whether that person will be there on your pour day.
What if the crew hits a hidden water line?
The water is shut off and the pipe repaired before work goes on. Responsibility depends on the line. Utility-owned lines are marked through USA North 811, and a contractor who hits a marked line is accountable. A private water line to a garden, a pool or a rear unit is not marked by anyone, so tell the contractor about every line you know and let the contract say how unknown ones are handled.
Is a written estimate binding if they hit something unexpected?
An estimate is a price for the described scope. Once it becomes a signed contract it is binding for that scope. Hidden conditions such as buried concrete, an old tank or unsuitable soil are handled by a written change order that you approve before the extra work starts. Do not accept a surprise charge at the end with nothing in writing.
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.