I learned concrete doing upkeep for a property management company, patching walks, steps and slabs at rental houses, and I patched a lot of the same spots more than once. Most of what I fixed failed for reasons nobody could see on day one, like a base that was raked flat instead of dug out and packed, or a slab that sent water back toward the house. So I started First Choice South Whittier Concrete in 2013 to do the work the way I wished it had been done the first time.
We're based in South Whittier and work across the cities around it, on driveways, patios, sidewalks, steps, garage floors and foundations. We work for homeowners and for small property owners who've been burned before. I care that you know what you're paying for and why, and I'd rather explain something twice than have you guess. You'll find our services and the cities we cover on our home page, and if your city isn't listed, call and ask.
We're licensed and insured, and the promise we make is "Your satisfaction, guaranteed." Here's what that looks like on your job.
I walk you through each choice, like the finish, how thick the slab should be and whether the old concrete comes out, and what each one means for your cost and your upkeep later. If the base or the drainage needs more work than you expected, I'll show you why on site so you're not left reading a line item.
Years of fixing rental concrete showed me that most cracks and sinking start in the base, the packed ground the slab sits on, or in the days right after the pour. If the budget is tight, I'd rather you save on the finish than on the base, because a nice surface on loose dirt cracks anyway.
I come out myself to look at your job and write the estimate, and our own crew does the work. What we talked about in your driveway is what gets built, with no handoff to someone you've never met.
Most of the work that decides how your concrete holds up happens before the truck shows up, so here's the order we take it in.
Call (562) 358-3037 or use our contact form and tell us what's going on, whether it's cracks, a sinking slab, pooling water or a new patio. We reply within one business day.
I come out, check the ground, where the water runs and what's under the old slab if there is one, then write a free estimate with no obligation. That's when I explain what moves your price, like the size, tearing out old concrete, base work and the finish, and what the schedule depends on.
South Whittier is unincorporated county land, so permits here go through LA County Public Works, while an address inside one of the nearby cities may be handled by a different office. When your job calls for a permit, I'll help you find the office for your address, help with the paperwork and plan the work around the inspections.
Our crew digs out and packs the base, stays out of the midday heat that leaves a weak, dusty top, and cuts control joints, the planned grooves that give cracks a straight place to go, on time. Then the slab needs time to cure and gain strength before you walk on it, and longer before you drive on it, and we'll tell you when each is safe.
Call (562) 358-3037 or send the form, and I'll come look at your concrete, explain what it really needs and write the estimate, with no obligation.
If you've got a cracked driveway, a patio that holds water or just a question about a slab, give us a call or send a note.
Tell us about your project