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 Sidewalk Building in Federal Way WA - level squares you won't trip on

A lifted or cracked square is a trip waiting to happen. We grind it down or pour new squares so the walk sits level.

Get an estimate(253) 652-2604
A broad concrete sidewalk of large square slabs leads to a residential street, with concrete steps in the foreground.

Should a raised sidewalk in Federal Way be ground down or replaced?

Concrete sidewalk building in Federal Way means grinding a raised edge flush or cutting out damaged squares and pouring new ones, so the walk beside your property is level and safe to walk on again.

Most calls start with a square that's heaved up at a joint, a crack that keeps spreading or a corner that's chipping away. At J&R Federal Way Concrete Construction we fix walks across Federal Way and the cities around it, from Burien and SeaTac to Tacoma, Auburn and Renton. The price moves with how many squares come out, whether grinding will do the job and whether the work reaches a ramp. The schedule turns on the city's permit wait and a pour day above freezing, because the city's permit terms don't allow placing concrete at or below freezing. My written estimate gives you the figure for your walk.

The state requires every construction contractor to be registered, bonded and insured, and the city's permit application asks for the contractor's Washington State license number and a Federal Way business license, so whoever pours your walk needs both. We're licensed and insured, and our work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.

  • A small lift gets the raised edge ground down, and a bigger one means new squares.
  • Under the city's permit terms, a cut or damaged square comes out whole, not just the corner.
  • If the work reaches a wheelchair ramp, the city's terms say the ramp gets rebuilt to ADA standards.

What happens after you call about a sidewalk in Federal Way?

I come out for the estimate myself, and I'm on site running the crew on pour day. Here's how a sidewalk job runs from your first call to cleanup, including the city's permit wait.

  1. Call or send a message

    Call (253) 652-2604 or use the form, and include your address, a few photos of the damaged squares and whether you want a repair or a new walk. We get back to you and set a time for me to come look.

  2. I measure the walk myself

    I check how far each square has lifted, count what has to come out, look for a ramp in the run and ask what you need the walk to do. You get a written estimate that lists what's in the price and what isn't.

  3. We file and set the date

    Before we schedule, we check which office covers your address, and for a sidewalk in Federal Way the city wants the right of way application at least two weeks before the start date. We handle that application and pick a pour day with you around the wait.

  4. We pour, finish and clean

    I'm on site running our crew from tear-out through the pour and the finish. We keep the street and your neighbors' walks clear as we go and clean up before we leave.

How we handle concrete sidewalk building, from the base up

I start by checking how far each square has lifted, because that decides between grinding the lip and pouring new squares, and for walks by the street we check with the city early so the work fits what they ask for. When squares come out, we saw-cut them clean, haul off the old concrete and dig out the subgrade, the dirt and gravel the walk sits on, then pack it firm instead of raking it level, since a loose base settles and takes the new concrete down with it. We set the forms so water runs off the walk instead of pooling, pour in the cooler part of the day so the top doesn't dry weak and dusty, and give it a broom finish, a brushed texture that keeps shoes from slipping when the walk is wet. Control joints, the grooves that give the concrete a planned place to crack, get cut on time, and then the walk cures, staying damp and off-limits while it gains strength. If the budget has to give somewhere, I'd rather trim the finish than the base, because nobody sees the base on pour day but everybody sees it when the squares start lifting again.

A bad walk is often one piece of a bigger fix. If the slab in your garage has cracked or sunk too, we can look at garage floor concrete on the same visit, and for a path through the yard where you'd like color or pattern, decorative concrete is the better fit than plain gray.

  • Grinding the raised edge

    This suits a walk where one square has lifted a little and the rest is sound. We take the lip down flush so nobody catches a toe, and you keep the concrete you have.

  • Replacing the damaged squares

    This suits a walk where a few squares have lifted too far, cracked through or sunk. We cut each one out whole and pour new squares that line up with their neighbors.

  • A new walk end to end

    This makes sense when most of the run is cracked, heaved or holding water. Pouring it all at once gets you one packed base, one finish and joints where we choose to put them.

Walks, driveways and other concrete flatwork up close

These photos show flatwork, the flat slabs like walks, drives and patios, the way the trade pours it. Look at the cut joints, the brushed surface and the clean edges, because that's where good prep shows.

  • A speckled concrete driveway leads to a stucco house and garage, with a dark SUV parked near the entrance.

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

  • A covered patio has a dark, irregular stamped-concrete floor beside brick walls, white columns, and a black railing.

  • Decorative gray stamped concrete patio with a broad landing and steps beside a brick house.

  • A pale concrete sidewalk and broad steps wind through a landscaped front yard between houses.

  • A broad light-gray exposed-aggregate concrete driveway with control joints leads to a brick house and open garage.

Get a written price for your sidewalk squares

We'll reply within one business day to set up a time that works for you. I'll come out for a free on-site estimate, and there's no obligation to go ahead with it.

(253) 652-2604

Questions Federal Way owners ask about sidewalk repair

Most sidewalk calls come down to the same few questions. Here are straight answers on grinding, permits, cost and doing it yourself, based on what the city asks for.

What is the best way to fix a raised sidewalk square?

If the lift is 2 inches or less, grinding the raised edge down is usually the fix, and the city says a lift over 2 inches needs the square replaced. Grinding keeps the concrete you have, but it won't help a square that's cracked through or still moving. I measure the lip on the estimate visit and tell you straight which one you need.

How do I know if my sidewalk counts as damaged in Federal Way?

The city counts a raise or drop in the sidewalk of more than half an inch as damage. Lay a straightedge across the joint and measure the gap, and if it's past half an inch, it's worth having someone look before it gets worse.

Do I need a permit to repair a sidewalk in Federal Way?

Yes, the City of Federal Way requires a right of way permit for any sidewalk repair and for work that changes structures in the right of way. Public Works staff in the Street Systems Division can help you decide early whether your job needs one, and the ROW permit desk at 253.835.2725 has the current terms. When the job needs a permit, we handle the application.

How much does a new concrete sidewalk cost in Federal Way?

Concrete sidewalk in the Seattle area usually costs about $8 to $11.50 per square foot, and that's the going rate in the market, not our price. Your total moves with how many whole squares come out, the tear-out and haul-off, and any ramp work. My written estimate lists what's in the price and what isn't.

Can I fix the sidewalk in front of my house myself in Federal Way?

Yes, at a single-family home you can, once you have a city permit and bond, carry insurance and follow the city's sidewalk repair rules. The city inspects the repair when you're done. If you'd rather skip the bond, the tear-out and the inspection, that's the work we do.

Will the City of Federal Way fix my sidewalk and bill me?

Yes, for repairs the city can schedule its on-call sidewalk contractor and send you the bill once the work is finished. The city says grouping several repairs together often lowers the cost. If you'd rather choose your own crew and pour day, call us at (253) 652-2604.

Concrete sidewalk building in Federal Way and nearby cities

The public right of way here usually runs 10 to 20 feet off the road, into what looks like your yard, and the city holds you responsible for keeping that walk safe. We do the same work in Kent and Auburn.

Other concrete work that often goes with a new walk

  • Garage floor concrete

    If your garage slab has cracked, sunk at the door or started shedding a dusty top, a new floor gives you a flat, sound surface to park on and work over.

    Explore service

  • Decorative concrete

    When plain gray isn't what you want for a front path or a patio, color, pattern and texture can make new concrete suit the house while still giving good footing.

    Explore service
(253) 652-2604Get an estimate