Buildda Concrete Driveway Process
Concrete driveways in LA run $16-$36 per square foot installed. On the two driveway jobs on this page the crew was on site two days in Santa Monica and five days in Culver City, where a new drain line also went under the public sidewalk to the curb. The steps below show how we build one, with photos from the Santa Monica job.
Step-by-Step Timeline
On-Site Consultation
We assess your property, measure the driveway area, evaluate soil conditions, and discuss your design preferences - whether you want a simple gray finish, stamped concrete, or decorative options.
Outcome:
A clear understanding of your project scope and design vision.
Detailed Quote & Design Selection
Typically within 24-48 business hours, you'll receive an itemized estimate covering excavation, materials, labor, and finishing. We'll also present color and texture options to match your home's style.
Outcome:
A transparent, itemized cost breakdown.
Scheduling & Permits
Once you approve the estimate, we schedule the work. Whether the job needs a permit depends on your city: Culver City reviewed our driveway and drainage job there under a Site Improvement permit, and a city inspector came out before any work started. We file the application, and you pay the city fees directly.
Outcome:
A start date, with your city's rules checked before work begins.
Demolition & Base Preparation
Day one is demolition. In Santa Monica a skid steer broke out the old concrete strips and the crew hauled the broken concrete, soil and debris off the site; in Culver City, where only the city hauls construction debris, the old asphalt went into a city roll-off. Then the whole driveway area is dug out and graded for a compacted base of crushed aggregate.
Outcome:
A graded, compacted base that controls cracking.
Forms & Steel
The forms set the driveway's edges, and a steel grid goes down on the prepared base, the full length of the driveway. Each bar sits up on a small concrete block, so the steel ends up inside the slab instead of lying in the dirt under it.
Outcome:
Steel inside the slab, not under it.
Pouring & Finishing
Ready-mix concrete goes in as one slab: 4 inches thick and the full 70 feet in one morning on the Santa Monica job. The crew screeds it level, floats it smooth, and tools control joints at regular intervals so the slab can move without cracking across. The last pass is a broom finish for traction; a stamped or exposed aggregate finish is the other choice.
Outcome:
One continuous slab with clean control joints.
Curing
The fresh slab is taped off and left alone to cure; on our Culver City job, caution tape ran across the new driveway. We tell you when it is ready to walk on and when it is ready for the car.
Outcome:
A slab that cures undisturbed.
Final Walkthrough & Inspection
We walk the finished driveway with you and go over how to care for it. Where the city issued a permit, its inspector signs the work off: Culver City completed its inspections on our driveway job there and finaled the permit.
Outcome:
A finished driveway, and a closed permit where the city required one.
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This Process on Real Concrete Driveways Jobs
The steps above come from jobs we completed for LA homeowners. Here is what that work actually looked like.
Culver City Driveway and Curb Drain
Old asphalt out, a new concrete driveway in, and a drain run under a cut section of public sidewalk to the curb. Culver City permit, five days on site.
Culver City · Aug 2026
Santa Monica Concrete Driveway
Two old concrete strips out and one 10 by 70 foot concrete slab in, with a steel grid and a broom finish. Two days on site in Santa Monica.
Santa Monica · Sep 2026
Photos in this section show actual Buildda projects.
Customer Reviews
What Our Clients Say
Hear from homeowners who trusted us with their home projects.
“I recently had pavers installed on my driveway by Buildda, and the results are fantastic! They were professional, detail oriented, and completed the project on time. I highly recommend this company and will definitely be using them again in the future!”
Marcos F.
Culver City
“I used Buildda to install new pavers in my backyard, and the transformation is fantastic. The team communicated clearly from the start, and the job stayed on schedule with no surprises. The pavers are beautifully laid and have really upgraded the look of my outdoor space. I'm very pleased with the attention to detail Buildda showed, and I'd recommend them without hesitation.”
Sarah C.
Playa Del Rey
*Individual results may vary. Reviews reflect personal experiences.
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Content reviewed by Shiran Levy, Licensed General Contractor (CA #1131088)
Last updated: November 2026