Sidewalks, Walkways & Flatwork
We pour smooth, level concrete paths that guide visitors safely to your door and make your property look put together.
Types of Flatwork We Install
Flatwork is just the industry term for any horizontal concrete surface. Sidewalks, walkways, pathways around your yard, the area in front of your garage door, all of these count as flatwork. Each type serves a different purpose and needs to be built the right way to last.
What Makes Each Type Different
Public sidewalks along the street need to meet city codes for slope, width, and accessibility. These typically run 4 to 5 inches thick and include control joints every few feet to manage cracking. Your city might require permits for this work, which we handle for you.
Private walkways on your property can be more flexible. You might want a curved path through your garden, a straight shot from your driveway to your front door, or a wide entrance that makes your home feel welcoming. We help you design something that fits your yard and matches your home in San Luis Obispo.
Other flatwork includes the concrete pad outside your garage, paths between buildings, or the area around your pool equipment. These get built to handle their specific use, whether that means extra thickness for vehicle weight or textured finishes for wet areas.
Design Options That Add Style
Plain gray concrete works fine and costs less than fancier options. But if you want your walkways to stand out, we offer several ways to make them look custom without blowing your budget.
Popular Finish Choices
- Broom Finish: The standard choice. We drag a stiff broom across the wet concrete to create texture that prevents slipping when it rains.
- Exposed Aggregate: We wash away the top layer to reveal the stones in the mix. This gives you natural color variation and excellent grip in all weather.
- Colored Concrete: We add pigment to the mix or apply color hardener to the surface. This lets you match your house trim or create contrast with your landscaping.
- Stamped Patterns: For a premium look, we can stamp your concrete to look like brick, stone, or tile. Check out our stamped concrete services for more details.
You can also add borders in a different color, score lines to break up large areas, or curve your walkways instead of keeping them straight. We show you photos of previous work so you can see exactly how each option looks in real life.
Why Proper Installation Matters
The biggest difference between sidewalks that last 20 years versus those that crack and settle in just 3 or 4 comes down to preparation. Your concrete is only as good as what sits underneath it.
How We Build Long-Lasting Flatwork
We start by excavating to the right depth and checking the grade. Your walkway needs to slope slightly away from buildings so water runs off instead of pooling. Most people do not notice a proper slope, but water always finds it.
Next comes the base. We use crushed rock that compacts tight and drains water through instead of letting it sit. This prevents the freeze-thaw problems that crack sidewalks in other parts of the country and handles our California soil movement. We compact it in layers, not all at once, so it stays stable.
Then we pour your concrete at the right thickness for its use. Standard walkways get 4 inches. Areas that might see an occasional vehicle get 5 or 6 inches. We also add fiber reinforcement or wire mesh depending on your situation. After pouring, we cure everything properly, which is crucial for strength but easy to skip. Our walkways hold up because we do not cut corners on the parts you cannot see.