Concrete Contractor in Alum Rock, CA - Driveways and Patios Built on Packed Ground
Pinnacle Saratoga Concrete Company builds and replaces concrete driveways, patios, steps, walls and foundations for homeowners in Alum Rock and the rest of East San José, with our own crew on every pour.
Get an estimate for your Alum Rock concrete
I walk the site, check where water runs and look at what's under the old slab.
Request an estimateAlum Rock: older homes on foothill ground
Alum Rock is on San José's east side. It runs from the homes and shops along Alum Rock Avenue up into the eastern foothills toward Alum Rock Park. In Alum Rock Village you'll see Victorian-era houses next to small shops and restaurants, and a lot of the neighborhood has been fixed up in recent years. North of here, toward Milpitas, the houses sit on flatter blocks, and the lots tilt more the closer you get to the hills.
That mix shapes the job. On the older lots we often find a driveway that's been patched over and over on dirt that was never packed. On the sloped lots, the first thing I look at is where the water will go once it runs off a new slab.
How a concrete job works in Alum Rock
If your house is in San José, the city's Permit Center at City Hall issues the permits, and that's the office we deal with on Alum Rock jobs. Plan reviews there are running slow, and the city's Building Division asks people to add two to three weeks to its usual review times. When your job needs a review, I build that into the schedule from the first visit. Before you hire anyone, check two things: a California contractor's license and San José's business license, which the city calls a Business Tax Certificate. We're fully licensed and insured. We check early what the city wants for your job, then handle the contractor's side of any permit and help you with the parts that fall to you as the owner.
The price mostly comes down to what's under and around the slab: how much old concrete comes out, how much digging and packing the ground needs, how steep the lot is, how close the truck can get and the finish you choose. The schedule depends on the permit, the weather on pour day and curing, which is the wait while fresh concrete hardens before it can take your weight or your car. Up toward Alum Rock Park, Penitencia Creek Road has temporary metered lights while the city repairs storm damage, so we plan the concrete truck's trip around them. I write your figure myself after I walk the property. We're based in Saratoga, and we do the same work in the cities around it.
Services in Alum Rock, CA
Concrete driveway building
Older Alum Rock driveways often sink because they were poured on loose dirt. We tear out the old slab and pack the subgrade, the ground it sits on, before we pour.
Concrete patio construction
Back patios at older Alum Rock houses often tilt toward the walls. We set the new slab to fall away from the house, so water runs off into the yard.
Concrete retaining walls
Sloped foothill lots often need a wall beside a driveway or patio. We set ours on solid footings with drainage behind, so water doesn't build up against the wall.
Concrete steps construction
Front steps at older Alum Rock houses are often chipped and uneven. We pour new ones with even rises and a broom finish, a brushed texture that gives your feet some grip.
Foundation installation
An addition on an older Alum Rock lot starts with a new foundation dug into firm ground. Our crew handles the foundation installation and sets rebar, the steel bars that help keep cracks tight.
Concrete sidewalk building
Sidewalks on older blocks get lifted and cracked over the years. We cut out the bad panels and pour new ones level with the rest of the walk.
Get a free on-site estimate for your Alum Rock project
We reply within one business day to set a time, and I come out to your Alum Rock property myself to look at the job and write the estimate. It's free, it's done on site and there's no pressure to book.
- Phone
- (669) 310-0413
- Location
- Saratoga, CA 95070
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 8 AM–10 PM, Sat–Sun: 7 AM–9 PM
- Credentials
- Fully licensed and insured.
What Alum Rock homeowners can count on
We're based in Saratoga, CA, and we offer 16 concrete services across the 12 service areas on this site, Alum Rock among them. Estimates are free and done at your property.
- Based in
- CA
- Saratoga
- Services
- 16
- Service areas
- 12
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- Replies within 1 business day.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to replace a concrete driveway in Alum Rock?
There's no flat price, because tear-out, ground prep, slope and finish change from lot to lot. I give you your number in a written estimate after I've walked your property. If the budget's tight, the base is the last place I'd cut. It's buried on day one, but a fancy finish over loose dirt sinks and cracks just like the old slab did.
How long does it take before I can drive on a new concrete driveway?
You'll be walking on it well before you can drive on it, because concrete keeps gaining strength for days after the pour. I'll give you both dates before we start. We also keep pours out of the midday heat, since concrete that dries too fast ends up with a weak, dusty top.
What causes a concrete driveway to crack and sink?
Sinking usually comes from a base that was raked level instead of dug out and packed, so the slab settles as the dirt does. Cracks end up in random places when control joints are cut late or skipped. Those are the grooves we cut on purpose to give cracks a straight place to go. Some cracking over time is normal for any slab, and I'd rather tell you that now than have it surprise you later.
Do I need a permit to replace my driveway in Alum Rock?
Yes, if your house is in San José, because the city's permit rules say repairs and replacements of driveways and sidewalks need a permit. The city takes questions about grading or about work in the public right-of-way, the strip along the street, at PWGeneralinfo@sanjoseca.gov. I'll tell you at the estimate what your job needs.
Do I need a planning permit for concrete work on a historic house in Alum Rock Village?
Often, yes. San José's code enforcement guidance says planning permits are required for most changes to historical properties, and they're typically needed for exterior work beyond cosmetic, including walls and stairways. If your house might count as historic, tell me when you call, so we can find out what the city wants before we plan the design.
Does a small concrete job in San José need a licensed contractor?
Usually, yes. The state licensing board raised the limit for minor work done without a license from $500 to $1,000. That exemption only applies when the job needs no permit and the person doing it hires no workers. Most concrete work takes a crew, so ask to see a state license before you sign anything.
Send us your Alum Rock project address
With the address and a line about the job, I can check what the city wants before I come out.