Concrete sidewalk building in Davis CA - a walk planned around your trees
Firm base, clean edges, joints where we choose
We build concrete sidewalks and front walks in Davis and the cities around it, from the base up. Most calls start with a walk that's lifted, cracked or holding water after the sprinklers run. We look at the route, the trees and where the water goes before we set a form.
When a new concrete sidewalk beats patching the old one
A new sidewalk is mostly work you never see. We break out the old walk, dig down to firm subgrade, the soil the slab sits on, pack a base, and set forms so water runs away from the house before we pour and finish.
Size, tear-out, base work and finish move the price. Weather and curing, the wait while fresh concrete gains strength, move the schedule. You get your own number at the estimate.
Best for
- Lifted or cracked walks
- Front walks to the street
- Side yard paths
- Walks near big trees
A base that's dug, not raked
We dig out to firm ground and pack the base, because a walk poured on loose dirt that was raked level settles right along with that dirt.
Water that runs the right way
We check where rain and sprinkler runoff go before we form anything, so the finished walk sheds water away from your house instead of toward it.
Cracks where we planned them
Concrete cracks. That's what it does. We cut control joints, shallow grooves that give the crack a straight line to follow, on time so they land where we chose.
Room for the roots
We plan the base around nearby trees and irrigation lines before we form anything, because a walk that lifts at the first root isn't worth pouring.
A sidewalk that lasts starts below the concrete
- I do the walk-throughs and estimates myself, so the person checking your slope, roots and sprinkler lines is the same one planning the base.
- Our crew lead runs the work on site, and I'm there for the pours, because finishing and joint cutting happen on the concrete's schedule, not ours.
- We've been in business since 2013. We're licensed and fully insured, and we'd rather spend the time on the forms than explain a crack later.
Choices for your new walk
We'll go through these at the estimate. If the budget's tight, keep the money in the base and go plain on top, because a pretty finish on a weak base cracks anyway.
Broom finish
A broom finish, light lines dragged across the wet surface, gives shoes some grip and suits most front and side walks.
Decorative finish
When the walk greets guests, color or a stamped pattern from our decorative concrete work dresses it up over the same solid base.
Curved or straight
A straight run is the simplest to form, while a gentle curve can swing around a tree trunk and give the roots more room.
Joined to the garage
When the walk runs to the garage, we can pour it alongside a new garage floor so the heights match.
Tell us about your sidewalk
Send the walk's rough length and width, any nearby trees or sprinkler lines, and a few photos. We reply within one business day to set a free on-site estimate, with no obligation.
Sidewalk questions we hear in Davis
What does a concrete sidewalk cost near Davis, CA?
A concrete sidewalk in the Sacramento area usually costs about $5 to $15 per square foot. That's the area's going rate, not our quote. Where your walk lands depends on the size, tear-out, base and finish covered above, and you get your figure at the estimate.
Can someone without a license pour my sidewalk in California?
Only on a small job. The state raised its limit for unlicensed minor work from $500 to $1,000, and even then it applies only when no permit is needed and the person hires no one. A sidewalk that needs a permit or a crew needs a contractor licensed by the state licensing board, whatever the price.
Will the tree in my front yard damage a new sidewalk?
It can. Research finds trouble is most likely near trees that grow large or fast, trees older than 15 to 20 years, and walks with little or no base under them, and that the building method changes how much damage roots do. Near a mature tree, we plan the base around it and ask where your sprinkler lines run.
Who maintains the sidewalk in front of my house in Davis?
The City of Davis has traditionally maintained and replaced walks in front of private homes, even though state law puts that upkeep on the owner next to the walk. A City staff report describes a proposed ordinance that could shift this over the next two-year budget cycle, so check with the City for the current rules.
What does the City of Davis flag as a sidewalk hazard?
City inspectors mark raised edges of half an inch or more, cracks wider than an inch, and holes over 2 inches wide and an inch deep with paint, cones or barricades. The staff report describes inspections by council district, so each district's walks get checked every fifth year.
Can you pour a concrete sidewalk in hot weather?
Yes, with some planning. National hot-weather guidance says high heat, low humidity and high wind change how concrete behaves and how it's mixed, hauled and placed. So we plan the pour day around them, because concrete rushed in midday heat can leave a weak, dusty top.
Work that often goes with it
Garage floor concrete
When your walk ends at the garage, a new floor poured at the same time keeps heights and drainage matched.
Explore Garage floor concreteDecorative concrete
For a front walk that should look like more than plain gray, with color, texture or a stamped pattern.
Explore Decorative concrete