California gives homeowners strong rules for hiring contractors, enforced by the Contractors State License Board (CSLB). Use them. The checks below take a few minutes.
How do I find a good concrete contractor?
To find a good concrete contractor, look up the licence on cslb.ca.gov, ask to see recent jobs nearby that are at least a year old, and compare written quotes that list the same scope. Concrete shows its quality after a couple of wet and dry seasons on our clay, so older jobs tell you more than new ones.
Does a concrete contractor need to be licensed and insured in California?
Yes. The CSLB says a licence is required for any job of $1,000 or more in combined labor and materials. Concrete work falls under the C-8 Concrete classification or a general licence. Contractors with employees must carry workers' compensation insurance. Liability insurance is not required of every licence type, so ask for a certificate. The licence record shows bond and workers' compensation status.
What should I ask a concrete contractor before hiring?
- What is your CSLB licence number and classification?
- How thick is the slab, and what base goes under it?
- What reinforcement, and how is it held up off the ground?
- Where will the control joints go, and when are they cut?
- How will you cure it in summer?
- Who gets the city permits for the approach or sidewalk?
- Who contacts USA North 811?
- What is the payment schedule?
What should a written estimate include?
A written estimate should include the area in square feet, thickness, base, reinforcement, concrete strength, finish, joint plan, demolition and haul-away, permits, start and finish dates, total price and payment schedule. In California a home improvement job should then be put into a written contract with the licence number on it.
How much deposit is normal?
In California the deposit is capped by law. The CSLB tells homeowners to pay no more than 10 percent down or $1,000, whichever is less. After that, payments follow the work and should not get ahead of it.
A contractor wants 50 percent up front in cash with no contract. Should I agree?
No. Asking for 50 percent up front breaks the California down payment limit, cash leaves no record, and no contract leaves you with nothing to enforce. Any one of the three is reason enough to walk away. Check the licence and report unlicensed activity to the CSLB.
What are the red flags?
- No licence number, or a number that belongs to another name.
- A large deposit or cash only.
- A price that is good "today only".
- No written scope, thickness or base.
- Will not discuss permits for sidewalk or approach work.
- Leftover concrete "from another job" at a discount.
- No physical business details and no past jobs to see.
What warranty should I expect?
Expect a written warranty that says what is covered and for how long. We do not state a warranty term here, because it should be on your contract, not on a web page. Most concrete warranties cover workmanship faults and exclude hairline shrinkage cracks, soil movement and tree roots. Read the exclusions.
I paid a deposit and the contractor stopped answering. What now?
Send a dated written demand to start work or refund the money. If the contractor has stopped answering, file a complaint with the CSLB at cslb.ca.gov or 800-321-CSLB (2752), and consider small claims court for the deposit. Licensed contractors carry a licence bond that may respond to a valid claim.
How do I know they have done stamped work before?
Ask for addresses of stamped jobs at least two years old and go and look. You want to see that they have done this before and how it aged: even color, clean pattern lines, joints in sensible places and sealer that is not peeling. Photos alone do not show that.
What if the crew hits a hidden water line?
If a crew hits a water line that was marked through USA North 811, the excavator who hit it is generally responsible. Private lines such as sprinkler mains and pool plumbing are not marked by 811, so the contract should say who pays if an unknown private line is hit. Tell the contractor about every line you know of.
Is a written estimate binding if they hit something unexpected?
A signed contract is binding for the scope it describes. An unexpected condition, such as buried debris or a soft pocket, is handled by a written change order that you sign before the extra work. A good contract says so in advance. An estimate you never signed is only an offer.
To get a real price for your address, book a free on-site estimate. Call (408) 889-7434 or text us a photo and rough measurements.