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 Tacoma, WA - Flatwork Built From the Base Up

J&R Federal Way Concrete Construction is a concrete contractor working in Tacoma, WA. We build driveways, patios, walks, steps, garage floors and foundations for Tacoma homeowners, and lots, walks and slabs for small businesses in the city.

Get an estimate(253) 652-2604
Wood-grain stamped concrete patio with a circular fire pit and block seating beside a brick garage.

Tacoma, the way we see it from the job site

We're a concrete contractor based in Federal Way, WA, and Tacoma is one of the cities around it we work in, along with Renton, Edgewood and plenty more. Like everywhere we go, most calls here come from homeowners with a driveway, walk or patio that has cracked, sunk or started holding water. Some come from small business owners who need a lot, a walk or a slab.

You'll find older houses on tight lots a few streets from newer builds, and each changes the job. On an older house the old slab usually has to come out first, and on any lot, what's under the new one decides how long it lasts.

Concrete services we bring to Tacoma homes and businesses

We bring all of our concrete work to Tacoma, from driveways, patios and walks to footings, foundations and parking lots for small businesses. Every job is planned from the ground up, so before anything gets priced we look at what the slab will sit on, how the yard slopes and where the water goes. We're best known for flatwork, the flat jobs like driveways, patios, walks and garage floors, and for the footings and foundations a lot of crews would rather pass on.

Concrete work from the forms to the finish

These photos show the kinds of concrete work we do, from formed and poured driveways to stamped patios and steps. Look for the base, the joints and the finish, because those are the parts to ask about at your estimate.

  • 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 covered poolside patio features a black metal pergola, warm wood panels, string lights, and concrete decking.

Working in Tacoma: permits, licenses and planning

Inside Tacoma city limits, the city's permit and license rules need checking before anyone digs. Here's how that plays out on your schedule and on your price.

Who issues permits and who's licensed

Inside Tacoma city limits, permits go through the city's Planning and Development Services, which takes applications online and schedules inspections. Before we schedule, I check which office covers your address, because one near the line with Fife may fall under that city instead. If your job needs a permit, we handle the application and set the start date around the wait.

Two things are worth asking any contractor for. Washington requires every construction contractor to register with L&I, the state labor and industries agency, and to carry a bond and insurance. Tacoma also requires businesses working in city limits to hold a City of Tacoma business license. Ask us for both at the estimate, and ask anyone else who bids.

  • Specialty contractors can work only in their registered specialty, without subcontractors.
  • On home jobs of $1,000 or more, you get the state's disclosure notice.
  • Commercial jobs from $1,000 to $60,000 get the same notice.

What moves your price and your schedule

Price comes down to what's under the slab and what goes on top. Size and thickness set how much concrete we order, and tearing out an old slab adds labor and hauling. Soft or wet ground under it means more digging and packed rock before we pour. A stamped or colored finish costs more than a broom finish, the light brushed texture that gives your feet some grip.

The schedule turns on two waits. If your job needs a permit, the review sets the earliest start date. After the pour comes curing, the stretch while the concrete gains strength, and a driveway needs longer before it carries a car than a patio needs before you walk on it. Your own figure comes from the estimate I write after looking at the job.

  • A driveway needs more thickness and steel than a walk or patio.
  • Fixing drainage, like regrading so water runs away, adds digging.
  • Steps, curves and borders add forming time over a plain rectangle.

Get a free on-site estimate for your Tacoma concrete job

Call (253) 652-2604 or send the form with a few lines about your Tacoma project, and ask about permits while you're at it. We reply within one business day to set a time, then I come out, look at the job myself and write your estimate. It's free, with no pressure and no obligation.

(253) 652-2604

What Tacoma houses and lots mean for your concrete

Every lot we look at has its own ground, slope and access. These are the things we watch for on houses and properties around Tacoma, and what they change about the job.

  • Water running toward the house

    A slab that falls toward the house sends rainwater right at your foundation and into the garage. Before we form anything, I look at where the water runs now, then set the new slab to carry it out to the yard or the street.

  • Fill and low, wet ground

    An older state hazard map says liquefaction, when soil loses its strength, typically happens in fill and in wet, loose sandy soil on low coastal ground, lakeshores and river valleys, and it can pull foundations apart. The map can't show what's under your lot, so knowing takes a soil investigation by a qualified professional.

  • Tight access on older lots

    On older lots with narrow driveways and close neighbors, getting forms, base rock and a concrete truck in takes planning. I work out the route at the estimate, so on pour day the concrete reaches the forms while it's still workable and the neighbors' cars stay clear.

  • Driveways poured for smaller cars

    Older driveways were often poured thin and narrow, for one smaller car, and they crack once a truck or a second car lives on them. We size the new one for what you park, with the thickness and steel to carry it.

  • Lots and slabs for small businesses

    Some of our calls come from small business owners who need a parking lot, a walk to the door or a slab for a shop. Those jobs get the same base work and drainage check as a driveway, planned around your business hours where we can.

How we run a concrete job from estimate to cleanup

These are the habits that decide how a slab turns out. They're the same on every job we take, in Tacoma and the other cities around Federal Way.

We put the money into the base first

The base is the dirt and rock the slab sits on, and nobody sees it once the concrete is down. That's why it's the first thing to get cut when a budget's tight, and why so many slabs settle and crack sooner or later. A slab poured on raked dirt sinks right along with the dirt.

So we dig out the soft material, bring in rock and pack it before we form. If the budget's tight, I'd rather drop a fancy finish than skimp underneath, because a plain broom finish on a good base usually outlasts a stamped pattern on a bad one. That's the call I'll make with you at the estimate.

  • I write your estimate myself

    I come out to your Tacoma property myself, look at the ground, the slope and the access, and write the estimate. Then I'm on site running our crew while we form, pour and finish, so the person who quoted the job is the one making sure it's built that way.

  • In business since 2017

    I grew up on a farm mixing concrete for fence posts and barn floors, spent years on other crews, and started this business in Federal Way in 2017. We're fully licensed and insured, and our work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.

  • Straight answers at the estimate

    I'd rather tell you right away that a plan won't work than let you find out after the pour. If your slope, your access or your budget doesn't fit the job, you'll hear it at the estimate, along with what would.

  • A tidy site and street

    We respect your neighbors and the street, so we keep forms, rock and tools in order and clean up as we go, not just at the end. When you're ready, call (253) 652-2604 or use the form to set up a visit.

Questions Tacoma homeowners ask about concrete work

These are the questions that come up before a concrete job in Tacoma, from licenses and codes to cracks and cost. If yours isn't here, ask when you call.

How much does a concrete driveway cost in Tacoma?

The price for your driveway comes from the estimate I write after seeing it, because the size, the old slab coming out and the base work it needs differ on every lot. A simple shape and a plain finish keep it down, and cutting the base to save money is the one choice I'll talk you out of. Send the form or call, and I'll come take a look.

Does every crew on my Tacoma concrete job need a city business license?

Yes, every subcontractor working at a Tacoma job site has to hold a City of Tacoma business license, not just the contractor you hired. Generally, any business working or soliciting work inside city limits has to be licensed with the city. If a crew shows up you didn't expect, it's fair to ask whether they hold one.

Which building code applies to a concrete project in Tacoma?

Work in Tacoma follows the Tacoma Building Code, which is the Washington State Building Code plus the city's own local amendments, and for houses the city uses the International Residential Code. The state's next set of codes is set to take effect May 3, 2027, and Tacoma adopts its own amendments to those separately. You can see what applies in the city's building code library, and we build to the code your permit falls under.

How do I get help if a contractor in Washington causes me financial loss?

You can apply to the state's Homeowner Recovery Program, which offers a path to recovery for consumers harmed by construction contractors. Since July 1, 2026, eligible consumers can apply for payments to cover financial loss from a contractor's work. Hiring a contractor who's registered with the state and licensed with the city is still the best place to start.

How long does it take before I can drive on a new concrete driveway in Tacoma?

You'll stay off a new driveway with your car well after you can walk on it, because curing has to give the slab enough strength to carry the weight. Foot traffic comes much sooner than a car. I'll go over the wait for your slab at the estimate, so you can plan where to park until then.

What causes a concrete patio to crack, and will my new one crack too?

Most cracks come from a base that settled, water working under the slab, or control joints that were cut late or skipped. Concrete shrinks as it cures, so we cut control joints, shallow grooves that give a crack a straight place to form, while the slab is still young, and we add rebar, steel bars that hold the pieces together if it does crack. No slab is crack-proof, but that usually keeps cracks where we chose instead of across the middle.

Service areas

Besides Tacoma, we work in Federal Way, Kent, Renton, Auburn, Burien, SeaTac, Des Moines, Fife, Edgewood, Lakeland North and Lakeland South, and plenty of places in between. If your address isn't listed, call or send the form and ask.

Ask about your location
(253) 652-2604Get an estimate