Concrete Contractor in Alexandria, VA - Slabs Built on a Base That Holds
J&K Alexandria Concrete Company is a concrete contractor based in Alexandria, VA. We build and replace driveways, patios, walks, steps and retaining walls here, starting with what's under the slab and where the water runs.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- Replies within 1 business day.
Concrete work in Alexandria, our home city
We're based in Alexandria, and most calls here start with a driveway, patio or set of steps that's cracked, sinking or holding water. I framed houses for years before switching to concrete, learned the trade on other crews around Northern Virginia and started our company in 2017, so I tend to ask what's under a slab before I talk about what goes on top. We do the same work just north in Arlington and just south in Huntington.
As a concrete contractor in Alexandria, VA, we see two kinds of jobs most. Older houses near Old Town sit on tight lots where getting the concrete in is the puzzle and earlier crews left surprises in the ground, while newer townhouses farther out have short driveways squeezed between neighbors, where the slab has to shed water without sending it next door.
Concrete jobs we do in Alexandria
Concrete driveway building
Older driveways here often sink because they sat on loose dirt. A new concrete driveway starts with a dug-out, packed base and joints cut where cracks should go.
Concrete patio construction
Patios here often sit tight to the house, so one that tilts wrong sends water at your foundation. We set the slope away from the house first.
Concrete retaining walls
Sloped yards here often need a wall to hold the ground back. We build them on real footings with drainage behind, so water doesn't push them over.
Concrete steps construction
Front steps on older houses here often crack or pull away from the house. We break out the old set and pour new steps with even risers.
Concrete sidewalk building
Front walks here often get lifted by tree roots and turn into a trip waiting to happen. We rebuild the base and pour a level walk.
Concrete cutting
Older slabs here can hide pipes, old steel or a second slab underneath. We cut open just the section that needs work and check what's under it first.
What older Alexandria lots ask of a slab
Most of the trouble we find here started under the slab. On older houses, the driveway or patio was often poured over raked dirt instead of a dug-out, packed base, so it settled as the dirt did, and sometimes there's an older slab, old steel or a buried line underneath that nobody wrote down. Tight lots add their own wrinkle, because when the truck can't reach the back of the house, the concrete goes in by pump or wheelbarrow.
Water is the other thing I check, since a patio or walk that falls toward the house sends water at your foundation. If the budget gets tight, I'd rather you skip the stamping than skimp on the base, because nobody sees the base on day one and you can't fix it later without breaking the slab out. The tear-out, the base, access and the finish are what move your price, the start date mostly waits on any permit your address needs, and the estimate is where you get your own numbers.
Get a written concrete estimate for your Alexandria job
Call (571) 760-4255 or send the form, and we'll reply within one business day to set a time. I come out to your Alexandria property myself, walk the job with you and write down what's included, like tear-out and haul-away, so you can compare bids fairly. The estimate is free and comes with no obligation.
Alexandria concrete questions, answered
These are the questions Alexandria homeowners ask us most about permits, licenses, cost and cure times. If yours isn't here, ask us about your own job.
Do I need a permit for a concrete patio or retaining wall in Alexandria, VA?
A retaining wall holding back 2 feet of soil or more needs a city permit, and the city's list also names decks, porches and stoops, private pools, and sheds or garages over 200 square feet. That list doesn't name patios or driveways, so it doesn't settle those, and the City of Alexandria Permit Center is the place to ask. We find out which office covers your address and handle the permit work for our part of the job, and if anything needs your signature, we tell you up front.
How do I know if my Alexandria address is in the City or in Fairfax County?
Your ZIP code is the first clue, because some Alexandria mailing addresses actually sit in Fairfax County. ZIP codes 22301, 22305, 22313 and 22314 are entirely inside the City of Alexandria, while 22302, 22304, 22311 and 22312 are shared with Fairfax County, and 22206 is shared with Arlington County. The permit depends on which one your lot is in, not the name on your mail, so we confirm it before we write anything up.
Does a concrete contractor need a city business license to work in Alexandria?
Yes, businesses working in the city need a city business license that's renewed every year, on top of a contractor license from the state Board for Contractors. The state license comes in classes that cap how big a contract a firm can take, paired with a specialty for the type of work, and the city asks for both license numbers on permit plans. We're licensed and fully insured, so ask us for those details when I come out.
Which building code applies to concrete work in Alexandria, VA?
Virginia's statewide building code applies, and the city enforces it through permit processing, plan review and inspections. For permitted work like the walls and stoops above, that means the city looks at the plan and inspects the job. We build to what the permit calls for and sort out which office covers your address before we price the work.
How much does a new concrete driveway cost in Alexandria?
The price of a driveway comes down to its size, tearing out and hauling away the old one, the base underneath, how close the truck can get, and the finish, with a plain broom finish, the light texture that gives tires grip, costing less than stamped or colored work. If you need to trim the budget, cut decoration rather than the base, because the base is what keeps it from sinking. My written estimate lists what's included so you can compare bids line for line.
How long does a new concrete driveway take before I can drive on it?
Usually you can walk on a new driveway after a day or two and drive a car on it after about a week, and heavy trucks should wait longer. Concrete keeps curing, which means it's still gaining strength well after it looks dry, and loading it early is a common way to start cracks. Before we leave, we tell you when your slab is ready for feet and for cars.
Examples of concrete work
Other cities we work in
Pick a city from the list, or call (571) 760-4255 if yours isn't on it, since we work across Northern Virginia and nearby Maryland.