ServicesConcrete Backyards
Concrete Backyards in Cerritos
We turn tired lawn, dirt and worn-out slabs into a backyard you can actually use. Before we suggest a layout, we walk the yard with you, check the soil and drainage, and tell you plainly what we found and what it means for the job.
A Whole Yard Planned as One Job
A concrete backyard is more than one patio. It usually covers most of the open space behind your home, tying together a seating area, paths to the gate, a spot for the grill and sometimes a pad for a shed or play set. Pouring it as one planned job means the slopes, joints and edges all work together instead of fighting each other.
The part you never see matters most. We look at how water moves across your yard today, whether the soil is soft or packed, where tree roots run and how close the new grade will sit to your door thresholds and weep screed. Many homes around here date from the 1960s and 1970s, so we also check old patios and footings that may be hiding under the grass.
We have been in business 15+ years and are licensed by the California State License Board (CSLB). After the walk-through you get a clear explanation of what your yard needs, including when a smaller area or a different finish would serve you better.
What Your Backyard Project Includes
- Site inspection and measurements
- We measure the space, check existing slopes with a level and note utilities, sprinkler lines and drains. You get photos and a plain summary of what we found.
- Removal and haul-off
- Grass, roots and any old concrete come out and leave the property. We dig to the depth the new base needs, not just enough to hide the problem.
- Grading and compacted base
- We set the grade so water drains away from your home and toward a safe outlet, then lay and compact a gravel base so the slab has even support.
- Forms and reinforcement
- Forms are set to the layout we agreed on, and we add rebar or wire mesh suited to the slab size and how it will be used.
- Pour, finish and control joints
- We place and finish the concrete in the texture you chose, from a simple broom finish to exposed aggregate. Control joints are cut at planned spacing so any shrinkage cracks follow straight lines.
- Cleanup
- Forms, washout and debris are removed, and the area around the new slab is left tidy.
Signs Your Backyard Is Ready for Concrete
Grass that never quite grows
Shady corners and high-traffic paths turn to bare dirt no matter how often you reseed. Concrete puts that space to work instead.
Mud after every rain
If winter storms leave puddles near your back door or tracked mud in the house, the yard likely needs new grading along with a hard surface.
An old slab that has had its day
Heaved sections, wide cracks and edges that drop away from the house often mean the base underneath has failed. In those cases, removing it and pouring new is the honest answer.
Water sitting against the house
When soil or an old patio slopes toward your walls, water collects where it can do damage. A new slab lets us correct the fall.
No room to gather
If you want a place for a table, a fire pit or kids' bikes and the yard just is not built for it, a planned layout fixes that.
How a Backyard Pour Comes Together
- 1
Walk the yard together
We meet you at your home, look at the soil, slope, access and anything buried, and listen to how you want to use the space. You hear our findings before any recommendation.
- 2
Layout and written estimate
We sketch the areas, finishes and joint lines and give you a written, line-item estimate. If the city needs a permit for your layout, we tell you and handle it.
- 3
Demo, grade and form
Removal, grading, base compaction and forming usually take a day or two, depending on size. We keep a clear path to your gate and protect walls, windows and plants near the work.
- 4
Pour day
Concrete arrives by truck, and by pump if the side yard is tight. The crew places, finishes and cuts joints the same day while the mix is workable.
- 5
Cure and walk-through
Light foot traffic is usually fine after a day or two, and furniture after about a week. We do a final walk with you and go over curing care.
What Shapes the Cost of a Concrete Backyard
Every backyard is priced from the walk-through, because what is under the surface often moves the number more than the size. Your written estimate shows each part on its own line so you can see where the money goes and adjust the plan if you want.
- Square footage and shape
- Larger areas cost more overall, while curves, steps in level and lots of corners add forming and finishing time.
- What comes out first
- Lawn is quicker to remove than an old slab. Thick concrete, buried footings and heavy roots add labor and haul-off.
- Grading and drainage
- A yard that needs a lot of soil moved or new drain lines takes more work before the pour.
- Access to the backyard
- A narrow side yard can mean pumping concrete over or around the house instead of chuting it straight from the truck.
- Finish and color
- A broom finish is the most economical. Exposed aggregate, integral color or a stamped pattern add material and finishing time.
Backyard Concrete Questions
Something not covered here? (562) 442-1399
Will my new concrete crack?
Concrete shrinks as it cures, so some hairline cracking is normal. We reduce it with a compacted base, reinforcement and control joints cut at planned spacing. Those joints give the slab a place to crack in a straight, tidy line instead of across the middle.
Can I mix finishes in one backyard?
Yes, and many people do. A broom finish around the edges with a stamped or exposed aggregate seating area is a common layout. Our Stamped Concrete page shows more about patterns and colors.
How long until we can use the yard?
Most families can walk on it after a day or two. We suggest waiting about a week for patio furniture and longer for anything heavy like a hot tub or shed. We give you specific timing for your slab at the final walk-through.
Do I need a permit?
Plain flatwork often does not, but changes to drainage, structures attached to the slab or certain setbacks can. We check what applies to your layout and pull the permit when one is required.
Is the work covered by a warranty?
Yes, our backyard concrete comes with a 1-year warranty. We explain what it covers when we go over your written estimate.
What happens to my sprinklers and yard drains?
We mark sprinkler lines, valves and drain pipes during the walk-through so nothing gets buried by surprise. Lines that run under the new slab can be rerouted or sleeved before the pour. We talk through those choices with you before any work starts.
Let's Look at Your Backyard Together
We serve Cerritos and nearby towns like Artesia, Norwalk and Cypress. Tell us what you want from the space, and we will set a time to walk the yard and share what we find.