Concrete contractor in Reston, VA - driveways and patios that shed water
Mainstay Arlington Concrete Construction is a concrete contractor based in Arlington that builds driveways, patios, walks, steps and slabs for homes in Reston, from townhouse rows to single-family houses on wooded lots.
Concrete work on Reston's homes and lots
Reston is a short drive out from our base in Arlington, past West Falls Church and McLean, and most of what I'm called out for here is homeowner work: driveways, patios, front steps and walks.
Houses here run from townhouse rows that share walks and parking to single-family homes on wooded lots, and plenty of the driveways and patios have been down for a few decades. On those lots I usually find tree roots under the old slab, ground that slopes toward the house and shade that keeps the surface damp, so the real work happens below the concrete: digging out to firm subgrade, the soil the slab sits on, packing a base over it and setting the slope so water runs away from your foundation. How much of that your lot needs, along with the size of the job and whether old concrete has to come out, is most of what moves the price, while the weather and any permit set the schedule, and I write it all up for you at the estimate.
What we build for Reston homes
Concrete driveway building
Older Reston driveways often crack where roots and soft fill have worked under them, so we dig out to firm ground and pack a base before we pour.
Concrete patio construction
Lots of Reston backyards slope toward the house, so we set the patio's slope to carry rain out to the yard instead of against your foundation.
Stamped concrete services
Stamped concrete gives a patio or entry walk the look of stone or brick, which sits nicely beside the trees on many Reston lots.
Concrete sidewalk building
Tree roots lift and tip a lot of front walks here, so we replace the heaved sections with an even walk that drains off to the side.
Garage floor concrete
When a Reston garage floor is pitted from winter road salt carried in on tires, we break out the worn slab and pour a new one.
Decorative concrete
Colored, stained and exposed-aggregate finishes for entries, walks and patios, picked to sit well with the brick, siding and wood on Reston houses.
Concrete retaining walls
On sloped Reston lots, a concrete wall holds back the hill and gives you flat yard, and we drain behind it so water doesn't build up.
Concrete floor installation
For Reston basements and utility rooms where the old floor has cracked or settled, we pour a new level slab over a packed base.
Concrete pool decks
Reston summers are hot and humid, so we finish pool decks with a texture that gives bare feet some grip when the deck is wet.
Concrete steps construction
Freeze and thaw is hard on Reston's front steps, so we rebuild them with even risers and rebar, the steel inside that keeps a crack from opening up.
Slab foundation building
A detached garage or workshop starts with a slab, and on Reston's wooded lots that means clearing roots and packing the base before any forms go in.
Foundation installation
Additions and new outbuildings in Reston need a foundation set on firm ground below where the soil freezes, and we form and pour it to the plans.
Concrete parking lot building
When a small parking area around Reston holds water after every rain, we regrade it and pour a slab that sends runoff to the drains.
Concrete footings
Every deck or porch on a Reston lot sits on footings, concrete pads that carry its weight to firm soil, and we dig and pour them.
Foundation raising
Runoff on sloped lots can wash soil from under a porch or slab, so we fix where the water goes before we lift it back up.
Concrete cutting
We saw-cut basement doorways, drain trenches and damaged sections in Reston slabs cleanly, so the concrete around the cut stays sound.
Talk to us about your concrete
Call (571) 760-4256 or ask for an estimate, and I'll come out and look at the job with you.
Why Reston homeowners hire us
I learned in restaurant kitchens that the night depends on the prep, and concrete is the same, so most of our care goes into the parts you won't see once the slab is down.
I see every job myself
I come out to every estimate myself, and I'm usually on site while our crew forms, pours and finishes.
A dug-out, packed base
We dig to firm ground and pack the base rather than raking dirt level, so the slab isn't sitting on loose fill.
Water sent away from your house
On sloped lots like many here, we check where the water runs and pitch the slab away from your foundation.
Joints cut where we choose
We cut control joints early, grooves that give the concrete a planned place to crack instead of a random one.
Licensed, insured and guaranteed
We're fully licensed and insured, and every job is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
Questions we hear in Reston
How much does a concrete driveway cost in Reston, VA?
The price of a Reston driveway comes mostly from its size, how much old concrete we break out and haul away, and how much digging and base work the ground under it needs. A broom finish, a light brushed texture that gives tires and shoes grip, costs the least, while stamped or colored finishes add to it. If the budget's tight, I'd drop the fancy finish before I'd cut the base, because nobody sees the base on day one but it decides whether the driveway settles. At the estimate I write up what's included, so you know whether removal is part of the price.
How do I find out if my concrete job needs a permit in Reston?
Ask Fairfax County Land Development Services, which issues building permits for Reston, because the type of permit depends on the scope of the work. Its list of new detached structures that need a building permit includes a detached garage and a shed over 256 square feet, so a slab for one is part of a permitted job, but the list doesn't name driveways or patios, and the county also issues land disturbance permits depending on the work. If your job needs one, we handle the application with the county and tell you what's needed before work starts.
Can I pull my own building permit in Fairfax County?
Yes, the county lets property owners get permits in their own name, but it strongly recommends having a properly licensed contractor pull them as the responsible party. That way the county can better help get defective work put right. Once a permit is issued, the county requires inspections and has to be told when the work reaches each stage that needs one.
Who licenses concrete contractors working in Reston, VA?
The state Board for Contractors licenses businesses that build, repair or improve property owned by someone else, and the license class sets how large a contract they can take while the classification sets the type of work. The county adds its own layer, so a home improvement contractor with a Class C state license also needs a county license from the same office that issues permits, and every business in the county registers for its business license tax. Ask to see our license and insurance when I come out.
Does a retaining wall or pool deck at Lake Anne in Reston need extra review?
It can, because the county's draft guidelines for the Lake Anne Village Center Historic Overlay District say retaining walls over three feet, swimming pools and decks there need review by the county's review board and permit approval. Driveways there need no review by that board. If your house is in the district, tell me at the estimate so we plan for the review before we set a start date.
What causes concrete driveways and patios to crack or sink in Reston?
Most cracking and sinking starts under the slab, where a base that was raked level instead of dug out and packed settles, or where water and roots move the soil around. Fairfax County counts flooding among its most common hazards, especially in low-lying areas, near water and where it has flooded before, so getting water off and away from the slab matters as much as the concrete itself. We also avoid pouring in midday heat, which leaves a weak, dusty top, and keep you off the slab while it cures, the wait while it hardens, so you'll be walking on it well before you drive on it.
Other cities, or one not listed
If you're outside Reston, look for your city below, and if it isn't there, call anyway, since we work in plenty of cities around Arlington.
Get a concrete estimate in Reston
We take calls seven days a week, so call (571) 760-4256 or use the form whenever you've got a minute to tell us about the job.