Questions that did not fit on the other pages.
How long does a concrete driveway last?
A concrete driveway on a good base commonly lasts 25 to 30 years or more. Many in Hazel Dell and central Vancouver are twice that age, though worn. What shortens the life here is water under the slab, tree roots and deicing salt, not traffic.
Can I pour it myself or should I hire someone?
You can pour a small pad or a short path yourself with patience and a helper. Hire someone for a driveway or a large patio. A truckload of concrete gives you about an hour or two to place and finish it, and mistakes are permanent. Our weather adds a risk, since a shower at the wrong moment spoils a surface a beginner cannot rescue.
Can I build a small shed pad with bags from the store?
Yes. A small shed pad is a sensible bag job. Dig out the topsoil, compact a few inches of crushed rock, set level forms and mix every bag to the same wetness. Above a few dozen bags the mixing becomes the hard part, and a small ready-mix or trailer load makes more sense. Check with the city or county on shed size and placement rules before you build.
I poured my own walkway and it cracked and sank. Should I redo it or hire someone?
Find out why it failed before you redo it. A walk that cracked and sank almost always sat on soft, uncompacted or wet soil. If you are willing to dig deeper, add a rock base and compact it, a second try can work. If the area is wet or on a slope, hiring someone is likely cheaper than a third attempt.
How do I get oil stains out?
To get oil stains out, soak up fresh oil with cat litter or an absorbent, then scrub with a concrete degreaser and a stiff brush and rinse. Old stains need a poultice product that draws oil up as it dries. Expect them to fade, not vanish. Keep the rinse water out of the storm drain, which leads to local creeks and the river.
Can an old concrete floor be stained?
Yes, an old floor can be stained if it is bare and clean. Glue, paint and old sealer must come off first. Stain is translucent, so patches and cracks stay visible as part of the look. Test for moisture before you start, because damp slabs are common here and will lift a sealer. Try a sample in a corner.
A customer tripped on the concrete outside my business. Am I liable?
You may be liable, and it turns on the facts, so call your insurer and a lawyer. In general, whoever owns or controls a walking surface is expected to keep it reasonably safe and fix hazards they know about. In the City of Vancouver the abutting owner is responsible for sidewalk repair under Municipal Code 11.30. Photograph the spot, report the fall and repair the hazard. This is general information, not legal advice.
Can sections be replaced while my business stays open?
Yes. We replace walks and parking areas in sections so that the business stays open and customers always have a marked, safe way in. We plan around your busy hours and deliveries, and we tell you how many days each section is closed to feet and to vehicles.
Can you pour a basketball pad or sport court?
Yes. A basketball pad needs a flat slab with a slight fall so rain runs off, a light broom or fine finish for grip, and joints placed away from the key playing lines. No national price is published for sport courts, so we quote after seeing the site. In the City of Vancouver a large new pad counts toward the hard surface on your lot, and its drainage must stay on site.
How do I clean moss and algae off concrete safely?
Sweep or scrape off the thick growth, then wash with a cleaner sold for outdoor concrete and rinse well. A pressure washer works on a wide fan tip held back from the surface. A narrow tip held close cuts lines into the concrete. Clean in early autumn so the slab goes into the wet season with good grip.
The real number for your property comes from a free visit with a tape measure. Call (360) 995-1179 or text us a photo of the area.