Concrete Contractor in San Rafael - Driveways and Patios Built on a Solid Base

Alliance Novato Concrete is a concrete contractor based in Novato, CA. In San Rafael we build and replace driveways, patios, walks, steps and slabs, starting with the base, the steel and where the water runs.

Request an estimate (628) 209-1066

A curved stamped concrete patio with irregular gray stone patterns surrounds a circular fire pit beside a house.

Why San Rafael homeowners redo their driveways and patios

Most calls start with something you can see: a driveway cracked through, a patio sunk at one corner, a walk that holds water after it rains. Usually the cause is underneath, either a base that was raked level instead of dug out and packed, or a slab that falls toward the house.

What moves the price is the size, how much old concrete has to come out, how much digging and base the ground needs, the steel inside it and the finish you pick. The schedule turns on whether the job needs a permit and on curing, the wait while the concrete gains strength before you walk or drive on it. You get your own number when I come out.

If the budget's tight, the base is where people want to cut, because nobody sees it on day one. I won't. A concrete patio or driveway is only as good as what it sits on, so I'd rather trim the finish than the base.

Concrete work we do in San Rafael

How a San Rafael job runs

Call or send a message
Call (628) 209-1066 or use the form and tell us what you're seeing, whether that's cracks, sinking, chipping or water pooling on the slab.
I come out myself
I come out, look over the slab and the ground around it, ask how you'll use it and give you the estimate.
We prep, pour and walk it
Once you say go, we handle the paperwork, dig out and pack the ground, pour and clean up, then walk the finished job with you.

What I check before pouring in San Rafael

San Rafael requires a business license from anyone doing business inside city limits, even when their office sits outside them, and that covers us, since we're based in Novato. The city calls the license a tax, not proof that anyone is qualified, so judge a contractor by how they talk about the base, the steel and where the water goes.

Before I price anything, I look at where the water runs, because a slab that falls toward the house sends rain right back at it. Where a yard slopes, I check how the new slab meets the ground around it so the water has somewhere to go. It's the same way we work in Petaluma, San Anselmo and Larkspur. Ask for an estimate and I'll walk your job with you.

Request an estimate

Tell us about your San Rafael project

Tell us what's cracking, sinking or holding water and roughly how big it is. We reply within one business day, then I come out for a free, no-obligation estimate.

A stamped concrete patio with large stone-like patterns surrounds wicker seating beneath a covered porch.

The concrete work San Rafael homeowners ask for

New driveways and full driveway replacement
Patios sloped to carry water off the house
Front walks and steps rebuilt even and solid
Broom finish for grip where a drive slopes
Low retaining walls along a drive or yard
Cutting out cracked or sunken sections

Where else we pour concrete

Why San Rafael homeowners call Alliance Novato Concrete

I come out to look at every job and give the estimate myself, and I'm on site with our crew while the work gets done. That means quick, straight answers, including a plain no when more concrete isn't the fix.

We're licensed and insured, and I care most about what you can't see once it's down, the base, the steel and where the water runs. If a wall or footing needs an engineer, I'll say so and bring one in. Call (628) 209-1066 or use the form.

Questions about concrete in San Rafael

Which office issues permits for concrete work in San Rafael?

The city's Building Safety Division issues building permits for work that builds, alters, repairs or tears down a building, and new applications now go through the city's online OpenGov system. For a driveway or patio, that division is where to ask, and when a permit is needed we do the paperwork and put in writing who's pulling it.

Do I need a permit for a concrete retaining wall in San Rafael?

Under the city's older permit handout, a retaining wall 4 feet or less, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, is exempt from a building permit unless it carries a surcharge, extra weight like a driveway or slope pressing from above. If your wall is taller or holds back a load like that, I'll bring in an engineer before we pour.

Does San Rafael require a permit for a small shed on a concrete slab?

The city's older handout exempts a one-story detached shed or playhouse of 120 square feet or less that has no plumbing, electrical or heating. The Planning Division, Fire Prevention Bureau or Public Works can still set conditions on work that needs no building permit, so we check with the city before we pour the pad.

How long does a building permit stay valid in San Rafael?

Building permits the city issued after January 1, 2023 stay valid for 2 years. If the work isn't signed off at final inspection before then, the city charges a renewal fee, so we plan the pour and the inspections around that window.

Will my new concrete driveway crack like the old one did?

Concrete usually cracks somewhere, so we cut control joints, shallow grooves that give it a straight line to crack along instead of a random one. What keeps a crack from spreading or sinking is a dug-out, packed base and rebar, the steel inside that holds the pieces together, which is why I won't skimp on either.