Concrete Contractor in Arlington, VA - New Slabs for Older Homes and Tight Lots
J&K Alexandria Concrete Company is a concrete contractor based in Alexandria. In Arlington, VA, we pour driveways, patios, walkways, steps and garage floors, and we cut out and replace old slabs that have cracked or sunk.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- Replies within 1 business day.
Concrete work on Arlington's older homes
In Arlington, VA, most of the concrete we're asked to replace sits around older houses. Brick colonials, Cape Cods and postwar ramblers are common here, and their driveways, front walks and steps have usually settled or cracked, each on its own schedule. The lots are small, the neighbors are close, and there's often a big old tree with strong opinions about where the walk should be. It's a lot like the housing we work on in Huntington and back home in Alexandria.
Small lots shape the job here more than anything, because a concrete truck can't always get close to your backyard or even your garage. So access, how much old concrete has to come out and how much base the ground needs set most of the price, while the weather and the wait for the concrete to harden set the schedule. I'd rather work all of that out standing in your driveway than on pour day.
What we pour in Arlington
Concrete driveway building
Arlington driveways are often short and tight to the street, and many settle where the base gave out. We dig to firm ground and pack new base first.
Concrete patio construction
Small backyards here leave room for one patio, so it has to drain away from the house. Our concrete patio construction starts by checking where water runs.
Concrete sidewalk building
Front walks on older houses here have often heaved where tree roots got under them. We take out the lifted pieces, rebuild the base and pour it flat.
Concrete steps construction
Front steps on older Arlington houses often pull away from the house or crumble at the edges. We form new ones on real footings so they stay put.
Concrete retaining walls
Plenty of Arlington lots slope toward the street or a neighbor's yard, and old walls lean. We build walls with drainage behind them, because water does the pushing.
Concrete cutting
On Arlington's tight lots, a new drain line or door often has to go through concrete that's already there. We saw out only what the job needs.
What Arlington houses and ground ask for
Winters here freeze and thaw over and over, and the ground has a lot of clay in it, so water that gets under a slab swells, lifts it and then lets it drop. A lot of the sunken driveways I look at got that way sitting on a base that was raked level instead of dug out and packed. We dig down to the subgrade, the firm soil the slab will sit on, pack new base on top of it, and in summer we pour in the cool part of the day, because concrete that dries too fast in afternoon heat ends up with a weak, dusty top. Driveways and walks get a broom finish, a light texture dragged across the surface so your shoes grip on a frosty morning.
Older houses also tend to have downspouts dumping right beside the driveway and slabs that tilt back toward the foundation. Before we set a single form, we check where the water runs and pitch the new slab away from your house. When we break out old concrete, we watch for whatever's buried in it, because old pipes and lines turn up more often than you'd think.
Get a free on-site concrete estimate in Arlington
Call (571) 760-4255 or send the form, and we'll reply within one business day. I come out to your Arlington property myself, walk the job with you and write an estimate that lists what's included, such as removal and haul-away. It's free, and there's no obligation.
Arlington concrete questions
Here's what Arlington homeowners usually want to know before a pour. If your driveway, patio or wall has a twist these don't cover, ask, and I'll come take a look.
Do I need a permit for a new concrete driveway or patio in Arlington, VA?
A large job, or one that blocks your street, can need a county permit, so we check which rules apply before anything gets dug up. Arlington County's building and land disturbance rules call for a land disturbance and stormwater permit when work disturbs 2,500 square feet of ground or more, and a right-of-way permit when work blocks a travel lane or curbside parking, which a concrete truck parked out front can do. We find out what 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.
Does a concrete contractor need a license to work in Arlington, VA?
Yes. Virginia's Board for Contractors licenses businesses that build, repair or improve property owned by someone else, and Arlington County says contractors must register with both the state board and the county. The county also says a contractor working on a project there likely needs a county business license, so it's fair to ask anyone you're comparing about all three. We're licensed and fully insured.
How much does a new concrete driveway cost in Arlington, VA?
I can't give you a fair number until I've seen the job, so your price comes from a written estimate at your house. It lists what's included, such as removal and haul-away, so you can line it up fairly against other bids. If the budget gets tight, cut the fancy finish before the base, because nobody sees the base on day one, but it's what holds the whole slab up for the years after.
What causes concrete to crack in Arlington, and will my new slab crack too?
Most cracks here come from a weak base, water getting under the slab and freezing, or control joints that were cut late or never cut at all. Control joints are the straight grooves cut into the surface so that when concrete shrinks and moves, it cracks along a line we picked instead of across the middle. All concrete cracks a little, so I won't promise you a crack-free slab, but a packed base, good drainage and joints cut on time keep the cracks small and where they belong.
How long does new concrete take to cure before I can use my driveway?
You can walk on a new slab well before you can drive on it, and I give you both dates for your job before we pour, because the weather that week moves them. Curing is the slow hardening that gives concrete its strength, and it keeps going long after the surface looks dry. Cold snaps slow it down and summer heat rushes the top, so we watch the forecast as closely as the calendar.
What building code does Arlington County use for work on my house?
For homes, Arlington County lists the Virginia Residential Code, which covers building work along with energy, mechanical, plumbing, electrical and gas work. It's part of Virginia's statewide building code, and the county's building inspections department enforces it. So the rules come from the state, but the inspections on your job come from the county.
A look at finished concrete
Other cities we serve
Find your city in the list, or call or send us a message if it isn't there. We work across Northern Virginia and nearby Maryland.