Concrete contractor in Tacoma, WA - slabs set on ground we've dug out and packed
Cornerstone Tacoma Concrete is a concrete contractor based in Tacoma. We pour driveways, patios, steps and sidewalks for homeowners, and footings, foundations and lots for builders and property owners across the city.
Get your Tacoma concrete estimate started
I walk the site, check where water runs and what's under the old slab.
Tacoma: older lots, mixed ground underneath
Most of what we pour in Tacoma replaces concrete that's been there a long time. The city has a lot of older houses on tight lots, with newer infill and commercial buildings mixed in, so we see driveways that have dropped toward the street, patios laid on whatever dirt was handy and front steps that have pulled away from the porch. Next door in Fircrest the calls are much the same, but Tacoma's hillsides and narrow backyards hand us more of the awkward jobs, where getting the concrete to the spot is half the work.
The ground underneath changes from one part of the city to the next. An older state hazard map says liquefaction, when wet soil loses its strength, usually happens in artificial fill and in loose, sandy, saturated soil, like low ground by the water, lakeshores and river valleys, and that soil moving like that can pull foundations and walls apart. The same map says it can't tell you what's under one lot, which takes a soil investigation by a qualified practitioner, so on foundation or footing work in low or filled ground I'll ask about that before we price anything. On flatwork, our word for driveways, patios and walks, it's the reason we dig out soft fill and pack a real base instead of raking dirt level.
Permits, licenses and price in Tacoma
Inside Tacoma city limits, permits go through the city's Planning and Development Services, which takes applications, tracks permits and books inspections online, so when a job needs one, the review and inspections set the start date more than the pour does. Before work starts we check which office covers your address and what it'll want to see, and when a permit's needed we handle the paperwork, or tell you what to bring if it's one you have to get yourself. You can check any contractor on two things. The state requires every construction contractor to register with Washington L&I and carry a bond and insurance, and the city requires businesses working inside its limits to be licensed with Tacoma. We're fully licensed and insured.
A lot of Tacoma's older neighborhoods have steep blocks, alleys and narrow side yards, so how close the truck can get changes the crew and equipment a job needs. That's one thing that moves your price, along with how much old concrete comes out, how much soft ground we replace with packed base, the size and thickness of the slab and the finish you pick, and the written estimate I leave you puts your own number on all of it. The schedule turns on the permit if there is one and on curing, the wait while fresh concrete gets strong enough to use, more than on the day we pour. We do the same work down in Federal Way and over in University Place, but Tacoma gives us more of the tight, sloped backyards.
Services in Tacoma, WA
Concrete driveway building
Older Tacoma driveways often sink because they sat on raked dirt. For concrete driveway building, we break out the old slab, dig to firm ground and pack a base.
Concrete patio construction
Tight backyards behind older houses often mean we can't get a truck near the patio. We pump or wheel the concrete in and slope the slab away from your house.
Concrete steps construction
Front steps on older houses often pull away from the porch as the ground settles. We tear them out, set footings and pour new steps on solid ground.
Concrete retaining walls
Many Tacoma yards are cut into a slope, and old walls tip when water builds up behind. We pour new walls with drainage behind so water has a way out.
Concrete footings
Additions and garages on filled or low ground need footings that suit what's really under them. We dig, set the steel and pour footings to your plan.
Foundation raising
Older Tacoma houses sometimes settle at one corner, which shows up as sticking doors and cracked slabs. We look at what moved and why before raising anything.
Get a written concrete estimate for your Tacoma property
Send the form or call, and we'll reply within one business day to set a time. I come out to your Tacoma property myself, look at the job and write the estimate, and it's free, in writing and comes with no obligation, 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 Tacoma owners can count on
We're based in Tacoma, WA, and handle 16 services across the 12 service areas on this site, plus other cities nearby. Every estimate is free and done in person.
- 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
Does every crew on my concrete job need a Tacoma business license?
Yes, the city says every subcontractor working at a Tacoma job site needs its own City of Tacoma license, not just the company you hired. Under state rules, only a general contractor can hire subcontractors, and a specialty contractor can work only in its registered specialty. If someone plans to bring in another outfit for part of your job, it's fair to ask whether they're licensed with the city too.
Which building code applies to a concrete project in Tacoma?
Tacoma uses the Washington State Building Code plus the city's own local changes, and for houses it uses the International Residential Code. The state has a newer code set to take effect in May 2027, and Tacoma makes its own changes separately, so the rules that apply go by when your permit is filed. The city's building code library shows what's in force, and we build to whatever applies at your address.
What does a new concrete driveway cost in Tacoma?
It comes down to your slab and your lot, and you get your own number in a written estimate after I've been out to see it. If the budget needs trimming, I'd go to a plain broom finish, the light texture that keeps tires and shoes from slipping, before I'd ever thin out the base. The base is buried on day one, but it's what decides whether the driveway settles, so that's the last place I'd save money.
What causes concrete driveways and patios in Tacoma to crack and sink?
Most of the sinking and cracking we tear out comes from a base that was raked level instead of dug out and packed, so the slab settled along with the dirt. Water running toward the house or under the slab makes it worse, and so do control joints, the shallow cuts that give concrete a straight place to crack, that were cut late or skipped. Concrete does crack, so I won't tell you yours never will, but we pack the base, slope the slab away from the house, cut the joints on time and add rebar, the steel that holds cracked pieces together, where the slab needs it.
How long does it take before I can use a new driveway in Tacoma?
The wait is set by curing, the time fresh concrete needs to gain strength, and you can walk on a new slab well before you can drive on it. Parking on it too soon is how a good pour gets marked up or cracked, so I'll tell you before we pour when you can walk on it and when you can drive on it. If your job needs a permit, the city's review and inspections come before any of that.
Is there help in Washington if a contractor causes me financial loss?
Yes, the state's Homeowner Recovery Program lets eligible consumers apply for payments for financial loss from a contractor's work, and it has taken applications since July 1, 2026. The state also requires contractors to hand you its disclosure notice to customers on any residential job of $1,000 or more, and on commercial jobs of $1,000 to $60,000. If you don't get one, ask for it before work starts.
Tell us about your Tacoma concrete job
Call (253) 354-0081 any day from 7 AM to 10 PM, or send the form with your permit questions.