Concrete Contractor in Federal Way - Driveways and Patios Built for Sloped Lots
Cornerstone Tacoma Concrete is a concrete contractor pouring driveways, patios, steps and retaining walls for homes and businesses in Federal Way, WA, including the sloped lots and tight backyards other crews would rather pass on.
Book an estimate for your Federal Way slab
I walk the lot with you and check the slope, the access and the old slab.
Federal Way: hillside lots and suburban driveways
Most of our Federal Way calls come from established neighborhoods of split-levels, ramblers and two-story homes, many on cul-de-sacs where the driveway climbs from the street and the backyard drops off behind the house. Along the main roads it's apartments, shops and commercial lots, so we get calls for parking areas and front walks as often as for patios out back. We're often in Fife the same week, and the difference shows once you climb the hill, because Federal Way's lots slope a lot more than the flat ground below.
Many of the original driveways and patios here have been down for decades, and when they crack or sink, the cause is usually under the slab, not in it. Between the slopes, the low spots near creeks and wetlands and roof water with nowhere to go, how water runs across your lot shapes the job more than its size does.
Working in Federal Way: permits, contractor checks and what moves the price
The City of Federal Way's Building Division issues permits here, and the city says its permits cover virtually every improvement on a residential or commercial lot. So before work starts I check which rules apply to your address and what the Building Division will want to see, because when a permit is needed, the city's review sets the start date more than our calendar does. When a job calls for a permit we handle the paperwork, and if it's one you have to get as the owner, we tell you what to bring. We're fully licensed and insured, and it's worth asking any contractor you're weighing whether they hold a Federal Way city endorsement, the city license every business working inside city limits needs, which in turn requires an active Washington state business license.
Price comes down to what's under the old slab and how hard the site is to reach. Tear-out, how deep we dig before we hit firm ground, how much base we pack back in, the slope, rebar, the steel inside that keeps cracks from spreading apart, and the finish all move the number, and pumping concrete down to a backyard below the street adds to it. The schedule turns on any permit, a dry enough day to pour and curing, the days the concrete needs to harden before it takes weight. Your own figure comes in a written estimate you can take your time with, and we do the same work up in Kent and over in Auburn, with the same look at the ground before anyone talks numbers.
Services in Federal Way, WA
Concrete driveway building
Sloped Federal Way driveways often send water toward the garage or the house. We dig out and pack a new base and set the slope so water runs away instead.
Concrete patio construction
Backyards here often drop away from the house, so fill has to be packed in layers. Our concrete patio construction starts there and slopes the slab away from your foundation.
Concrete retaining walls
Sloped yards here often need a wall to hold a level spot. We pour concrete walls on solid footings with drainage behind them, so water pressure doesn't push them out.
Concrete steps construction
Split-level entries here mean plenty of front steps, and older ones settle away from the house. We pour new steps with even rises on a packed base.
Concrete parking lot building
Apartments and businesses along Federal Way's main roads take heavy traffic on their lots. We pour thicker slabs over a deeper packed base where trucks and cars turn all day.
Concrete footings
Additions, garages and sheds on sloping ground here need footings set to firm soil, not loose fill. We dig to solid ground and pour footings the structure can rest on.
Get a written estimate for your Federal Way project
We reply within one business day to set a time, and I come out to Federal Way myself to look at the job. The estimate is free and done on site with no pressure and no obligation, and you get it in writing so you can take your time with it.
- Phone
- (253) 354-0081
- Location
- Tacoma, WA 98402
- Hours
- Mon–Sun: 7 AM–10 PM
- Credentials
- Fully licensed and insured.
What Federal Way owners can count on
We're based in Tacoma, WA, and cover 16 services across 12 service areas on this site, plus other cities nearby. Every job starts with a free in-person estimate.
- Based in
- WA
- Tacoma
- Services
- 16
- Service areas
- 12
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- Replies within 1 business day.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to replace a concrete driveway in Federal Way?
Driveways and sidewalks are on the city's list of residential permit exemptions, but that isn't the whole answer. Any work in a critical area, such as a wetland, a stream, a landslide hazard area or the buffer around one, needs a permit, and the city notes that separate permits may still be required for exempt items. We check where your lot sits before we plan the pour, so nothing catches you halfway through.
Does a concrete retaining wall need a permit in Federal Way?
A wall no more than four feet tall, measured from the bottom of its footing to the top of the wall, is exempt unless it supports a surcharge, extra weight like a driveway, a parked car or a slope pressing on it from above. Taller walls, or walls holding back that kind of load, need a permit, and since the four feet includes the buried footing, a wall that looks short above ground may not be. I measure it out with you at the estimate.
When can I apply for a building permit in Federal Way?
The Building Division takes applications and issues permits from 9 am to 4 pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and the Permit Center is closed on Wednesdays. If you're not sure your project needs one, the city says to call the Permit Center at 253.835.2607. Plan around those days if you're picking up a permit yourself.
How long does new concrete need to cure before I can drive on it?
You can usually walk on a new slab well before you can drive on it, because concrete keeps gaining strength for weeks after the pour and car weight on a young driveway can crack it. How fast it gets there depends on the mix and the weather, so I give you the walk-on and drive-on days for your job when we pour. If losing the driveway is a problem, ask at the estimate about pouring it in sections.
How much does a concrete driveway cost in Federal Way?
There's no fair number until I've seen the lot, because size, tear-out and what's under your old slab move the price more than anything. Steep driveways, soft ground that has to be dug out and replaced, pump access and a decorative finish over a plain broom finish, the brushed texture that gives tires and shoes grip, all push it up, while a flat, easy-to-reach site with a sound base keeps it down. Your written estimate spells out what your job costs and what it covers.
What causes a concrete driveway or patio to crack and sink?
Most cracking and sinking starts under the slab, with a base that was raked level instead of dug out and packed, or water running toward the house and softening the subgrade, the ground the slab sits on. Pouring in midday heat can leave a weak, dusty top, and control joints, the grooves cut so the slab cracks along a line we chose, get skipped or cut too late. If the budget gets tight, I'd put the money into the base before the finish, because nobody sees the base on day one but it decides whether the new slab ends up like the old one.
Talk to us about your Federal Way pour
Call (253) 354-0081 any day from 7 AM to 10 PM, or use the form and we'll set a time to come look.