Concrete contractor in Arlington, VA - driveways, patios and steps that drain right
Mainstay Arlington Concrete Construction is a concrete contractor based in Arlington, VA. We build driveways, patios, walks, steps, slabs and footings for homeowners and small property owners across Arlington, starting with the base and the drainage.
Concrete driveways, patios and steps in Arlington
We're based in Arlington, and most of the houses we work on here are older brick colonials, Cape Cods, ranches and bungalows on tight lots, with townhouses and newer infill homes mixed in. Driveways tend to be short and narrow, plenty run steep up from the street, and a lot of front walks and steps have been settling for decades. The older streets in Alexandria and Falls Church look a lot like this, and we work there too.
The houses and the ground here move the price and the schedule as much as the size of the job does, so your written estimate spells out your own figure and what it includes. On a tight lot there's little room for a truck, so we plan how the concrete reaches the forms well before pour day. Much of the ground here is clay that holds water, which is why we dig out the soft dirt and pack the subgrade, the soil the slab sits on, until it's firm, and check which way the water runs so the new slab sheds it away from your house.
Concrete work we do in Arlington
Concrete driveway building
Short, steep driveways off narrow streets are common here, so we dig out to firm ground, pack the base and slope the slab to drain toward the street.
Concrete patio construction
Backyards here are often small and shaded by big trees. We fit the patio to the space, keep it falling away from the house and plan around roots.
Stamped concrete services
On older brick homes, a stamped pattern can echo the brick or stone, so a new patio or walk looks like it belongs.
Concrete sidewalk building
Front walks that have heaved over tree roots or sunk into the yard are a common call. We replace them level, brushed rough for grip when it's wet.
Garage floor concrete
Older detached garages here often have cracked, sunken floors. We break out the old slab, rebuild the base and pour a new floor sloped toward the door.
Decorative concrete
Colored concrete, exposed stone and borders let a front walk or patio suit the house instead of fighting it, which matters on streets where houses sit close together.
Concrete retaining walls
Plenty of Arlington yards step down a hill. We build walls that hold the slope back, with drainage behind them so water doesn't push them over.
Concrete floor installation
Older Arlington basements often have thin, patched floors. We pour new interior floors flat over a packed base, so finished flooring goes down without dips.
Concrete pool decks
In a tight backyard the deck sits near the house, so we slope it to shed water away from both and use a finish that grips barefoot.
Concrete steps construction
Front steps on older houses here have sunk or pulled away from the porch. We rebuild them on solid footings, every step the same height.
Slab foundation building
For additions, garages and sheds on Arlington's small lots, we build the slab on a dug-out, packed base with steel inside, so the building above stays put.
Foundation installation
When you add on to an older house, the new foundation has to tie in cleanly to the old one, so we check both before we dig.
Concrete parking lot building
Small property owners call us about worn lots behind shops and apartment buildings. We plan drainage first so water reaches the drains instead of pooling.
Concrete footings
Porches, decks and garden walls on older Arlington lots need footings dug past the soft topsoil, so the weight sits on firm ground and stays put.
Foundation raising
When a slab or corner of an older house here has settled, we find out why first, usually water or a soft base, before lifting it.
Concrete cutting
On tight lots where a full tear-out isn't practical, we cut clean openings for doors, drains or utility lines and saw out damaged sections without wrecking the rest.
Let's talk about your concrete job
Call (571) 760-4256 or ask for an estimate online, and I'll come out to look at the job with you.
Why Arlington homeowners call us
I started this business in Arlington in 2021 after learning the trade on driveway and patio crews around Northern Virginia. You can count on careful prep and a clear explanation of what you're paying for.
I see every job myself
I come out to every site myself, and I'm usually there while our crew forms, pours and finishes.
The base comes first
Like prep before a dinner rush, the base decides how the job holds up, so we'd trim the finish before the base.
Early pours in summer heat
On hot days we pour early, because midday heat dries the top too fast and leaves it dusty and weak.
Know what's in the price
Your written estimate says what's included, like hauling off the old concrete, so nothing surprises you later.
Fully licensed and insured
We're fully licensed and insured, and every job is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
Arlington concrete questions we hear
Do I need a permit for a concrete driveway or patio in Arlington, VA?
Some concrete work here needs a county permit, so we check your job with Arlington County before anything starts. The county issues residential building permits through Permit Arlington for work like additions, new buildings, exterior alterations and pools, and disturbing 2,500 square feet of ground or more needs a separate land disturbance permit. If your job needs a permit, we handle the application and tell you what's needed before work starts.
Does a concrete contractor need a license to work in Arlington?
Yes. Virginia's Board for Contractors licenses businesses that build, repair or improve on property someone else owns, and Arlington County says contractors must also register with the county and likely need a county business license for a project here. Each state license is tied to a type of work, so it's fair to ask any contractor whether theirs covers the job you're hiring for.
How much does concrete work cost in Arlington, VA?
Your cost comes down to how big the job is, what's under the slab and what goes on top, and I put your own figure in a written estimate after I see the site. In Arlington the big local factors are tight lots where the concrete has to be pumped or wheeled in, breaking out and hauling away old concrete, and steep or wet yards that need extra base work or a wall. A plain broom finish, the lightly brushed texture that grips underfoot, costs less than stamped or colored concrete, and the base is the last place I'd cut.
How long does a new concrete driveway take before I can drive on it?
Usually about a week before you drive on it and a day or two before you walk on it, and cool weather can stretch both. That wait is curing, the slab slowly hardening as it holds its moisture, and rushing it leaves the surface weaker. How long you're without the driveway overall also turns on tear-out, base work, weather and any permit, and we'll talk through what that means for your house when I come out.
What causes concrete driveways and patios to crack and sink in Arlington?
Most cracking and sinking starts underneath, with a base that was only raked level or water running under the slab, which is why we spend our time on the base and the drainage. We pour the slab thick enough for its job, usually about 4 inches for a patio and more for a driveway, with rebar, steel bars that help hold it together. Then we cut control joints, shallow grooves that give the concrete a straight place to crack, so the cracks that do come land where we chose instead of across the middle.
What building code does Arlington County use for home concrete work?
For houses, Arlington County lists the Virginia Residential Code, part of Virginia's statewide building code, and the county's building inspectors enforce it. It covers building work on homes, so footings, slabs and foundations for an addition fall under it, and we plan those jobs around it from the first visit.
Don't see your city? Call us
If your city has a page here, it shows what we do there. If it doesn't, call (571) 760-4256, because we work in plenty of places without one.
Get an estimate for your Arlington concrete
Call (571) 760-4256 or use the form, and bring your questions, because I'd rather spend a few extra minutes explaining than leave you guessing.