Concrete contractor in Ladera Ranch - driveways and patios built on a solid base
Prestige Mission Viejo Concrete Company is a concrete contractor based in Mission Viejo, and we build driveways, patios, walks, steps, pool decks and retaining walls for homeowners in Ladera Ranch, starting with the ground underneath.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free on-site estimates.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
Family homes and small yards in Ladera Ranch
Ladera Ranch is mostly planned neighborhoods of family homes, with driveways out front, compact back yards and slopes graded into terraces between the streets. The calls we get here lean toward back patios, pool decks and driveways that carry two cars and a pile of bikes. That's a different mix from Laguna Woods, where more of our work is walks and steps. Ladera sits right next to San Juan Capistrano and a short drive from us in Mission Viejo.
A lot of the ground here was cut and filled when the neighborhoods went in, so what's under a slab usually matters more than what's on top. Side yards tend to be narrow too, so figuring out how we get concrete to the back yard is part of planning the job.
Our services in Ladera Ranch, CA
- Concrete driveway building
Driveways here face the street, so a cracked or sunken one is the first thing you see. We tear it out, rebuild the base and pour a fresh slab.
- Concrete patio construction
Back yards here are often small, so the patio becomes the whole outdoor room. We dig out, pack the base and slope it away from the house.
- Concrete pool decks
Pools here usually sit close to the house, so splash water has to run away from it. Our concrete pool decks get a grippy top and a slope to the drains.
- Concrete retaining walls
Many lots here step down a graded slope, and a leaning wall is usually water pushing from behind. We build retaining walls with footings and a drain behind them.
- Stamped concrete services
Homes here lean toward stucco and tile roofs, and plain gray can look flat beside them. We stamp a patio or walk with a stone or tile pattern that fits.
- Concrete steps construction
Front entries here often sit a few steps above the walk, and an uneven step catches toes. We form and pour new steps with even heights and a textured top.
What Ladera Ranch lots ask of your concrete
When a slab here sinks at one corner or cracks across the middle, the cause is usually under it, not in it. The subgrade, the dirt the slab sits on, has to be dug out to firm ground and packed in layers, because a base that's just raked level settles with the dirt and takes the concrete with it. We also check where the water runs, from downspouts, the slope above you and the neighbor's yard, so the new slab falls away from your house instead of toward it. When a budget gets tight, the base is the first thing people want to cut because nobody sees it on day one, and that's the one place I'll push back. I'd rather put a plain broom finish, a light brushed texture that gives shoes some grip, over a good base than a fancy finish over a bad one.
The price moves with the size of the slab, how much old concrete we haul out, how much base needs rebuilding, how hard the spot is to reach and the finish you pick. The schedule turns on whether the county needs a permit and on curing, the wait while fresh concrete hardens enough to take weight. I come out to look at every job myself, and that visit is where you get your own number, the same way we do it in Mission Viejo.
Get an on-site concrete estimate for your Ladera Ranch home
We get back to you within one business day to set up a visit. I come out to your Ladera Ranch home myself, look at the ground, the drainage and the access, and give you a free estimate on site with no obligation.
Ideas for your next slab
Ladera Ranch concrete questions answered
Who issues building permits for concrete work in Ladera Ranch?
Orange County does, through OC Development Services, because Ladera Ranch is an unincorporated community with no city hall of its own. The county says patios, retaining walls and pools typically need a permit, and the owner can apply, or an authorized agent such as a licensed contractor or someone holding a notarized letter from the owner. When your job needs one, we take care of the application, book the inspections and keep you posted.
Does a concrete contractor need a California license to work on my house?
Yes, for nearly any concrete job on a house. California's Contractors State License Board requires a license when a project needs a building permit, uses any additional workers, or comes to $1,000 or more in labor and materials across one or more contracts. State rules also cap the down payment on home improvement work at $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less, with later payments tied in the contract to work done or materials delivered. We're licensed and insured.
How long does county plan check take for a Ladera Ranch project?
The county gives about 15 working days for a first plan check and about 10 working days for each recheck or revision. Once a permit is issued, work has to start within a year or it expires, and it can be extended only once, before it runs out, for up to 180 days. That's why I like to have the plans settled before we submit, so a recheck doesn't push back your start.
How much does a new concrete driveway or patio cost in Ladera Ranch?
Your price comes from what I find on site, since size, tear-out, base work, access and finish all move it. On Ladera Ranch lots, the big swings come from narrow side yards that mean pumping or wheeling concrete to the back, slopes that need extra forming, and stamped or colored finishes. Call (949) 619-8245 and I'll come out and give you a number.
What causes new concrete to crack, and how do you keep it from happening?
Concrete shrinks as it dries, so a little cracking is normal, and the real job is deciding where it goes. We cut control joints, straight grooves that give the slab a planned place to crack, before the concrete picks its own spots, and we add rebar, steel bars that hold the pieces together, where the slab needs it. Most ugly cracks I see on older slabs come from joints cut late or skipped, a base that settled, or a pour rushed in the heat of the day that left a weak, dusty top.
How long does it take before I can use a new driveway in Ladera Ranch?
You can walk on new concrete well before you can drive on it, because it keeps gaining strength for days while it cures. The tear-out and pour usually go quickly, and most of your time without the driveway is that wait. At the estimate I'll walk you through the timing for your slab, and if a permit is needed, the county's review comes first.