Richmond Concrete Experts takes on concrete work in Berkeley, from driveway and sidewalk replacement on the flats to steps and retaining walls in the Berkeley Hills. Berkeley is about six miles from our Richmond base, just past Albany.
Two Kinds of Berkeley Ground
Most of Berkeley sits on a rolling sedimentary plain that rises gently from the bay to the base of the Berkeley Hills. East of the Hayward Fault, which runs along the base of the hills, the ground climbs quickly toward Grizzly Peak at 1,754 feet. Creeks like Codornices, Schoolhouse, and Strawberry run from the hills to the bay, mostly in culverts once they reach the flats.
On the flats: Work is mostly driveway and approach replacement, sidewalk panels lifted by street trees, garage slabs, patios, and slabs or foundations for backyard cottages.
In the hills: Expect steep driveways, long flights of concrete steps, and retaining walls, with drainage planned around winter storms and soils that can creep downslope.
Built for Berkeley's Rain
Berkeley averages about 25 inches of rain a year, most of it in winter, with February the wettest month. Heavy storm years bring a lot of water at once. Concrete here fails mostly from water and moving soil: a slab without a good base, a wall without drainage, a patio sloped toward the house. We plan the base, the slope, and the drainage before anything else.
ADU Foundations and Slabs
Backyard cottages and garage conversions are common in Berkeley's older neighborhoods, and each one needs a foundation built to approved plans. We pour slab-on-grade and perimeter foundations and the walks that connect them to the main house. See foundations & ADU slabs.
Berkeley Permits
Berkeley is in Alameda County and runs its own permit and inspection process. Work in the public right-of-way, structural walls, and foundations all need city approval. We confirm the requirements and schedule inspections as part of the job.
Request a Free Estimate
Call (510) 621-6126 or send the form, and we'll set up a visit to measure and talk through your Berkeley project.