J&R Federal Way Concrete ConstructionJ&R Federal Way Concrete Construction(253) 652-2604
J&R Federal Way Concrete Construction
(253) 652-2604Get an estimate

Concrete Contractor in Des Moines, WA - Flatwork and Footings Set on Solid Ground

J&R Federal Way Concrete Construction is a concrete contractor working in Des Moines, WA. We pour driveways, patios, walks, steps and garage floors, and we build the footings, foundations and retaining walls that sloped lots depend on.

Get an estimate(253) 652-2604
A broad light-gray exposed-aggregate concrete driveway with control joints leads to a brick house and open garage.

How Des Moines houses and lots shape our concrete work

Des Moines runs along Puget Sound, and plenty of houses here sit on lots that climb up from the water. That means a driveway that tips toward the street, a backyard that steps down, or a garage that sits below the road. Like everywhere we work, most calls come from homeowners who want a driveway, patio, walk or steps redone, plus the odd small business owner who needs a lot or a slab. It's the same work we do in Burien and Edgewood.

On those lots, the job usually turns on water and ground. Rain runs downhill toward whatever's lowest, so before we talk about the finish, we work out where the water will go and what the slab will sit on.

Concrete work we take on for Des Moines homes

We bring our full list of work to Des Moines. That runs from flatwork, the slabs on the ground like driveways, patios and walks, to the footings, foundations and walls that hold up a house or a hill. Every job starts the same way. I come out, look at how your lot drains, check the ground the concrete will sit on and write the estimate myself. Then I run our crew on site through forming, pouring and finishing, so the person who planned the job is the one watching it go in.

  • Concrete driveway building

    Driveways here often climb from the street, and old ones crack where the base gave way. We dig out soft soil, pack a firm base and slope the new slab so water runs off.

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  • Concrete patio construction

    Backyard patios on sloped lots need water sent away from the house, not toward it. We set the grade before forming and cut control joints, so any crack follows a groove we picked.

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  • Stamped concrete services

    Plenty of homeowners want a patio or walk that looks like stone without loose pavers to reset. We stamp and color the concrete while it's fresh, then seal it against the wet months.

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  • Concrete sidewalk building

    Front walks heave from tree roots or sink where the ground stays wet. We tear out the bad panels, rebuild the base and pour a walk that sheds water instead of holding it.

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  • Garage floor concrete

    Garage floors in older houses crack, pit and hold puddles from wet tires all winter. We break out the old slab, pack the base and pour a new floor pitched toward the door.

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  • Decorative concrete

    Some entries and patios call for color, scoring or exposed stone instead of plain gray. We settle the look with you at the estimate, then build it on a properly packed base.

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  • Concrete retaining walls

    Sloped yards here often need a wall to hold back the hill and make flat ground. We set the footing, drain the back of the wall and reinforce it for the load.

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  • Concrete floor installation

    Basements, shops and additions need a flat interior floor that doesn't pull moisture up from the ground. We prepare the base, lay a vapor barrier and finish the slab smooth and level.

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  • Concrete pool decks

    Pool decks take wet feet, splashing and pool chemicals all summer, so slick or flaking concrete is a problem. We pour with a textured finish for grip and slope it away from the water.

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  • Concrete steps construction

    Steps on hillside lots take a beating from rain and get chipped or uneven over the years. We form each rise to match, pour on solid footing and finish the treads for grip.

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  • Slab foundation building

    New garages, shops and additions start with a slab that has to stay flat under the walls. We dig to firm ground, pack the base, place the steel and pour it level.

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  • Foundation installation

    Building on a slope means the foundation has to step with the ground and carry the house evenly. We excavate, form the walls and footings, reinforce them and pour to the plans.

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  • Concrete parking lot building

    Small businesses along the busier roads need a lot that handles traffic and doesn't pond in the rain. We grade for drainage, build a deep packed base and pour slabs sized for the load.

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  • Concrete footings

    Decks, walls and additions on sloped ground need footings that bear on firm soil. We dig down to it, set rebar so the concrete holds together under load and pour each footing to the plans.

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  • Foundation raising

    Houses where the ground settled or washed out can end up with sloping floors and cracked foundation walls. We raise the house, build new support underneath and set it back down level.

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  • Concrete cutting

    Adding a door, a drain line or a new walk often means cutting into an existing slab or wall. We saw clean, straight cuts so the concrete that stays isn't cracked or chipped.

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What good concrete work looks like up close

These photos show the kinds of concrete work homeowners here ask about, from driveways and stamped patios to forms and footings. Look at the edges, the joints and the finish, because that's where good prep shows.

  • Fresh concrete driveway leads to a brick house, bordered by grass and a curved red-brick walkway.

  • Tan stamped concrete patio and walkway beside a raised wooden deck, with brick walls and a play area beyond.

  • A modern home stands behind a driveway of large pale concrete panels separated by strips of grass.

Working in Des Moines: permits, licenses and what moves the price

Two things decide when a Des Moines job can start: the city's permit call and a contractor who's set up to work here. After that, the price and the schedule come down to your lot and your choices.

Permits, state registration and the city license

The city's Building Division issues building permits for construction inside Des Moines, so it's the office that decides whether your patio, wall or foundation needs one. Before we schedule, we check which office covers your address. When the job needs a permit, we handle the application and plan the start date around the wait. You can also reach the City of Des Moines yourself at 206-878-4595.

The city won't issue a building permit until the contractor on the application is registered with the state and holds a Des Moines business license, unless they're exempt. That makes those two things the quickest check on anyone you're thinking of hiring. Ask for both before you sign anything. The questions further down this page cover what each one involves and who requires it.

  • Building permits for Des Moines addresses come from the city's Building Division.
  • We plan your start date around the permit wait, not the other way.
  • Ask any contractor for their state registration and Des Moines business license.

What sets the price and the schedule

The price moves with the size and thickness of the slab, how much old concrete we break out and haul away, and how much digging the base needs before we pour. Slope matters here, because a lot that falls toward the house needs grading, drainage or a wall. A broom finish, the brushed texture that gives grip, costs less than stamping or color.

The schedule turns on the permit wait, the weather and curing, the time new concrete needs to gain strength before you walk or drive on it. Heavy rain on fresh concrete ruins the top, so we watch the forecast and move a pour rather than rush one. I come out, look at the job and write the estimate myself, so your number fits your lot.

  • Breaking out and hauling away an old slab adds to the price.
  • Stamping, color and exposed stone cost more than a plain broom finish.
  • You stay off fresh concrete until it cures, so plan around it.

Get a free on-site concrete estimate for your Des Moines property

Send the form or call (253) 652-2604, and we'll reply within one business day. Then I come out to your Des Moines property, look at the job myself and write a free estimate, with no obligation to go ahead.

(253) 652-2604

What we see on Des Moines lots, driveways and slopes

Most of the concrete trouble we get called about comes from water and ground, not the concrete itself. These are the conditions we look for at every estimate, and what each one means for your job.

  • Lots that slope toward the house

    On a sloped lot, rain off the hill heads for the lowest point, and too often that's the house or the garage. Before we form anything, we check where the water runs and set the slab to carry it away, because a patio that drains toward the foundation is an expensive fix.

  • Wet ground and a soft base

    Long wet stretches keep the ground soft, and a slab poured on dirt that was only raked level will settle with it. We dig out soft soil down to firm subgrade, the ground the slab rests on, then pack crushed rock in layers so the base stays put.

  • Old slabs that cracked in random places

    A lot of the driveways and walks we replace cracked all over because the joints were cut late or skipped. We cut ours while the concrete is still young, so if the slab does crack, it runs along a line we planned instead of across the middle.

  • Steep driveways that get slick

    Steep driveways get slippery when they're wet and covered in needles or moss. A broom finish gives tires and shoes something to hold, and we pitch the surface so water runs off it instead of sitting in the low spots all winter.

  • Steep slopes and the county map

    If your lot sits on a steep slope, King County's landslide map is worth a look before a wall or foundation goes in. The county says it shows potential areas, not the actual risk to any one property, and some projects may call for a study by a licensed geological engineer.

How we run a concrete job from estimate to cleanup

I started this business in Federal Way in 2017, after years on other crews. Here's how we work and the reasons behind it, so you know what you're getting before anyone breaks ground.

Prep comes first, even when you can't see it

On pour day, nobody looks at the base. They look at the surface. That's why the base is the first thing a tight budget cuts, and it's the wrong place to cut. A slab sitting on raked dirt can look fine for a year, then settle, crack and hold water. Concrete shows every shortcut sooner or later.

So on a tight budget, I'd rather pour a plain broom finish on a base that's dug out and packed right than stamp a pattern over a weak one. You can add a sealer or a stain later, but you can't fix the base without tearing out the slab. Call (253) 652-2604 and I'll come look at what yours needs.

  • The owner writes your estimate

    I come out to look at your job myself and write the estimate, then I'm on site running our crew through the forming, the pour and the finish. The person who measured your driveway is the one watching it go in.

  • Licensed and insured in Washington

    We're fully licensed and insured for the concrete work we do in Des Moines and the cities around Federal Way. Our work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee, and if you have a question about either one, ask at the estimate.

  • Footings and foundations, not just flatwork

    We're best known for flatwork that comes out true, and for the footings and foundations a lot of crews would rather pass on. On a sloped lot that matters, because the wall, the steps and the patio often depend on the work underneath.

  • A tidy site and a clean street

    We respect the neighbors and the street, so we keep the site tidy, keep mud off the road and clean up as we go. I'd rather tell you right away that something won't work than leave you to find out after we're gone.

Des Moines concrete questions we hear most

These are the questions Des Moines homeowners ask before a concrete job, about permits, licenses, slopes and cost. If yours isn't here, call and ask, and you'll get a straight answer.

Do I need a permit for a concrete patio or driveway in Des Moines, WA?

Ask the city's Building Division before the pour, because the city's permit list doesn't settle concrete patios or driveways either way. Its permit guidance says every deck needs a permit and that finish work such as painting, tiling and cabinets normally doesn't. If your job does need one, we take care of it as described above.

Does my concrete contractor have to register with the state in Washington?

Yes. Washington requires every construction contractor to register with the Department of Labor & Industries, and state law also requires them to be bonded and insured. The state's application calls for a surety bond or assigned savings of $15,000.00 for a specialty contractor and $30,000.00 for a general contractor, so ask any contractor for their registration before you sign.

Do contractors need a Des Moines business license?

Yes. The city requires anyone who wants to do business in Des Moines to get a city business license first, and that covers independent contractors as well as companies. Ask for it at the estimate, along with the state registration.

How much does a concrete driveway cost in Des Moines, WA?

It comes down to the size of the driveway, how much old concrete we haul out and how much the lot slopes, and I price yours at the estimate once I've seen it. You can keep the cost down with a simple shape, a broom finish and clear access for the truck. The one place I won't save you money is the base, for the reasons above.

What causes concrete to crack and sink on sloped lots in Des Moines?

Usually it's the ground underneath, not the concrete. Dirt that was raked level instead of dug out and packed settles over time, and on a slope, runoff that gets under the slab carries soil away with it. We deal with that through a packed base, drainage that sends water past the slab and joints cut on time.

How do I handle an emergency concrete repair in Des Moines before I can get a permit?

The city's guidance says emergency repairs or replacements can be done right away, and if the work would normally need a permit, the owner should get it on the next business day. An inspection then confirms the work meets code. Call us at (253) 652-2604 and we'll talk through what's safe to do first.

Service areas

We're based in Federal Way and work in Des Moines and the cities around it, including Burien, SeaTac, Kent, Auburn and Tacoma. If your city isn't listed below, call (253) 652-2604 and ask.

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