2024 Concrete Pricing Guide In Southern California
WHAT DOES CONCRETE COST IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA?
A GUIDE TO HOW MUCH A CONCRETE PROJECT COSTS
The following will describe the costs associated with doing a concrete project and the process detailed process to help you in your research for doing a concrete project.
The purchase of either getting new concrete or replacing old/ damaged concrete is much like purchasing a new vehicle. With so many options available, pricing can vary tremendously.
Just as a basic Honda can cost as low as $18,000, it can quickly go to $25,000 or even $30,000+ depending on what features you would like with the car. So if the average American only keeps a car for on average of 3 years, then why do people pay such different amounts for a vehicle that essentially does the same thing? The answer is most people understand the importance of getting what the want the FIRST time so that way they can avoid any big regrets down the road.
The same principles apply to most homeowners who are shopping for a new concrete driveway or patio.
Just like other shoppers you will want to consider how you want your concrete to look, how strong it is, and look at it to ensure maximum enjoyment with minimum maintenance or repairs down the line. Because of this, most homeowners decide to go with a concrete contractor and project that will give them maximum enjoyment in the long-run.
Regrettably, some homeowners decide to go with the cheapest initial cost for any given concrete project, therefore sacrificing things like quality workmanship, buying experience, warranty, and how long their project will last. This always ultimately ends up with many homeowners regretting the decision they made initially. Especially considering your concrete can’t be turned in or traded like purchasing a car or some other household item. Once concrete work has been done it will be much harder (and more expensive) to tear everything up and re-do it down the line.
Some of the common items that can affect concrete project pricing are:
- Project Size
- Access to the project site
- Strength of concrete
- Prep work needed
- Concrete Reinforcement
- Warranty of contractor
- Customer service of installing contractor
- Design of concrete
- Time of year
HOW MUCH DOES A CONCRETE PATIO COST IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA?
Do you want to add a new concrete driveway or replace an existing driveway? As you research your driveway options, you might be asking questions to yourself like:
- How much does replacing my driveway cost?
- What differences are there with concrete driveway installation contractors and prep work and what are the cost differences?
- What maintenance costs are associated with a new driveway?
As a concrete driveway installer in the Southern California area, the following will help you understand the costs and things to consider when deciding whether or not to get a new driveway.
How Much Does Replacing A Driveway Cost in Southern California and The Surrounding Areas?
Size – This is the most impactful thing to consider when researching your driveway costs. The concrete industry typically uses what we call cost per square foot. The square foot can be found by multiplying the length and width of your driveway. For smaller driveways (under 600 square feet), a typical range in cost per square foot is between $10 and $13. For larger driveways (Over 600 square feet), a typical cost per square foot is between $8 and $11 per square foot.
Prep work – Although perp work has a little less to do with costs when building a new driveway, it has everything to do with how long your driveway will last you. If prep work is done correctly, your concrete driveway’s life can be extended up to 2-3 times what it would have been without proper prep. Things that will add to the cost of the driveway, but are well worth it, are things like a strong base, proper compaction, and steel reinforcement. Also if you are replacing a driveway, the cost to remove your existing driveway will be factored into the cost per square foot. The more prep work you do, the more your total investment will go up, but you may decide that it will be worth it.
Design – The design is the last thing that will impact your driveway installation cost. One of the first things people notice about your home is the driveway. How do you want it to be perceived? Simple and clean, slight decoration, colored, or even decorative with stamped concrete? The most common upgrades are adding smooth borders on the sides of your driveway and changing the control joint patterns.
With all that being said, a standard driveway in Southern California (between 600 and 800 square feet), typically costs between $6,000 and $7,200 on average.
What Are The Differences Between Concrete Driveway Installation Prep and Contractors, And What Are The Costs And Benefits Associated?
When it comes to shopping for a new driveway, it can be very intimidating. Most homeowners will only replace a driveway of 1-2 times in their life. This can be a big decision, and there is a lot of information to consider
Proper Base – Southern California has a wide range of natural soil conditions. To keep it simple, there are a LOT of different soils and they can all have different affects on concrete and how long your new driveway will last. Certain soils are very prone to getting bigger and expanding in the winter, or moving over time. Certain soils are compactable and provide a lot of support for concrete, and others don’t.
As you can imagine, this will have a big impact on how well your driveway lasts in the long run. The solution to this problem is by replacing anywhere from 1-6″ of soil with a compactable base like recycled concrete or road base.
This is one of the most important factors for the longevity of your new driveway. A Proper base can increase the cost invested per square foot by $1-$3, but if you want your driveway to stay in better shape for longer.
Concrete Reinforcement – Concrete is one of the most durable building materials that our society uses. However, once concrete cracks there is little you can do to hold everything together. That is where reinforcement comes in. Not only does reinforcement aid in the overall strength of your new driveway, but it also will keep everything together over the long run. If your driveway does get a crack, your reinforcement is designed to not allow separate sections of your driveway to start pulling apart, creating tripping hazards that can also not be very appealing. The best reinforcing options out there range from rebar, wire mesh, and fiber. Costs can range between $.50-$2.00 per square foot depending on what type and amount used.
Concrete Depth and Strength Of Concrete Used (PSI Rating) – Most concrete driveways installed in the Southern California area, are done with 4″ depth. In most scenarios, this is more than strong enough, but if you plan on parking heavy equipment on your driveway, it is best to go with a thicker depth of concrete. For this it is best to consult your concrete contractor or ready mix supplier on what is best for your scenario.
Craftsmanship – Unlike most building materials that are pre-made like wood, steel, drywall, etc, concrete is a chemical reaction that is done on the job. Because of this concrete has a very limited time (2-5 hours) of working time before things are literally set in stone. The level of expertise and craftsmanship will have an affect on the total investment in your end product.
What Are The Maintenance Costs With A Concrete Driveway?
- Maintenance sealer
- Caulking cracks
Sealer – The concrete needs to be cleaned with a power washer, and then sealer can be applied with a disposably sprayer or a roller. It is best to seal your new concrete driveway after about 30 days, and then re-seal every 2 years depending on the weather and tear of your concrete. For people who hire a contractor, the cost is roughly $600-$1,000 depending on the size of your driveway. To DIY, the cost is about $250-$500.
Sealer Benefits:
- Keeps the top layer of your concrete looking like new
- Adds extra stain resistance
- Seals smaller hairline concrete cracks
Caulking cracks – Even the best concrete work can crack, and in California, concrete is almost guaranteed to crack. Hairline cracks do not need caulking, but if a crack starts to open up it is best to use caulking to keep the area water tight. To have a contractor do this it will run around $200-$500 per service visit. To DIY, this can be done for as little as $100.
- Keeps cracks water tight
- In-expensive way to preserve concrete in the long run
HOW MUCH DOES A CONCRETE PATIO COST IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA?
Are you a homeowner thinking about replacing your old, cracked concrete patio with a new one? You may be thinking of doing this project but you have no idea how much something like this costs. Perhaps these are some of the questions you are asking yourself:
•How much will it cost to tear my old patio out and replace with a new one?
•What is the average price of a concrete patio replacement?
•Is it expensive to replace a concrete patio?
As a local installer who has removed and replaced many Southern California patios, we are here to help you understand how much concrete patio projects cost.
HOW MUCH DOES A CONCRETE PATIO COST IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA?
Removing your patio normally costs between $500 and $4,000 on average, depending on the complexity of the project and the size of your existing patio. Some things that will influence your patio removal cost will be:
Size – The size of the biggest determining factor of your patio removal cost. Expect the cost per square foot for removal to be between $3 and $6 per square foot for your patio removal.
Accessibility—Is your patio easy to access with equipment? Or will it be challenging to remove the existing concrete and require hand labor?
Thickness of your patio – The thinner your patio is, the easier it will be to remove.
How Much Does It Cost To Replace A Concrete Patio?
Now that your old patio is removed and we have a clean slate to work with. The cost of pouring a new patio in Southern California is usually around $5-$15,000 with some costing a little less and some costing more.
The best way to get an idea of how much your patio installation will cost will be to find out your patio square footage and then figure in a cost per square foot of around $8-$16 per square foot. The exact cost per square foot will depend on these 3 factors:
Size – The more square foot you do, typically the lower your cost per square foot
Design – There are so many things you can do with your patio. Add curves, color, stamping, make it multiple tiered, raise it, lower it, make it strong enough to hold a hot tub, add lighting, etc. Whatever you dream, we can build, but this will have an impact on final cost.
HOW MUCH DOES STAMPED CONCRETE COST IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA?
- How much does stamped concrete cost?
- Is stamped concrete right for my home?
- What is the maintenance costs associated with stamped concrete?
As local contractors who design and build many stamped concrete projects every year, we help many homeowners learn about, design, and install the stamped concrete that fits their budget and their wants.
In this section, we will outline the costs associated with doing stamped concrete for your landscape, and list some of the pros and cons of owning stamped concrete so you can make the decision if it’s right for your home.
The installation cost of stamped concrete might be around $4,000 on the low end, and upwards of $50,000 on the high end. This is a wide range, and we will help break this down so you can get a better idea of what your project might end up costing.
3 Main Factors That Affect Stamped Concrete Cost:
Size
The overall size of your stamped concrete project is the biggest determining factor for the overall cost. The bigger your patio, the more investment it will take.
The larger the area you do in stamped concrete, the lower your cost per square foot is on the project. For instance, a large stamped concrete project can be as little as $12 per square foot for jobs over 2000 square feet, compared to smaller projects can have a cost per square foot of $25 or more. The average stamped concrete project is around $15 per square foot in the Southern California area.
Prep Work
What type of prep will be needed to be done in order to create the best stamped concrete project you can imagine? Are you a new homeowner and have a blank slate to work with? Are you replacing an existing patio or deck with a new one? Is your yard flat, or do you need the area to be leveled off? All of these factors will come into play for your stamped concrete project. Here are some typical costs associated:
- Existing deck/patio removal – $2-$5 per square foot
- Excavating or raising the area for concrete- $1-$3 per square foot per inch up or down on average
Design
Are you looking to have one main color and design in your stamped concrete, or are you wanting to create something very intricate? The more complex the design, the more the investment cost.
How Much Are Maintenance Costs Associated with Stamped Concrete?
One of concrete’s main advantages over other building materials are the low maintenance costs associated with it. If concrete work is done right, you can expect a long life span, sometimes as long as 40 years! To maintain stamped concrete and preserve the color, we recommend re-sealing the concrete every 2 years. This timeframe can be shorter if the area is exposed to constant wear and tear from traffic and the sun, or longer if the area is nice and shady.
If you hire a professional to re-seal your patio every couple of years the cost be anywhere in between $400 and $1000 depending on project size.
Re-sealing concrete can also be a quick DIY project. Just pick up a High Quality bucket of sealer from a professional grade supplier, a re-usable sprayer, and a roller and you can do this project yourself. Costs can be as low as $150-$400.
What Are the Pros and Cons Of Stamped Concrete Vs. Other Building Materials?
Stamped concrete projects cost more than standard concrete projects and various landscaping materials like gravel and crushed rock but are less expensive than pavers and wood decks in Southern California.
Pros
- Beautiful
- Durable
- Cheaper to maintain than wood decks
- More affordable than other decorative options
Cons
- More expensive than standard concrete or DIY areas
- Once cracked, there is not much you can do to repair (That is why it is important to invest in proper prep work)
- More maintenance than standard concrete
- The sealed area can be slippery when wet