One of the fastest-growing cities, and what that leaves behind
Lincoln's population grew 282.1 percent between 2000 and 2010, making it the fastest-growing U.S. city over 10,000 people in that decade. The Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the median home at 2005. A median of 2005 means the typical Lincoln driveway is about two decades old. That is when builder-grade concrete starts to show settled joints, spalled surfaces, and cracks that run from corner to corner.
It also means a large number of yards were handed over bare. Backyards in newer subdivisions often have little beyond a builder slab, so the common request is first-time flatwork: a patio, a wider driveway, an RV or boat pad, or a pool deck.
A town built on clay
Gladding, McBean founded its operation in Lincoln in 1875 because of a local clay deposit, and the company's clay products are why the town became known for ceramics. That history is a reminder to ask about soil, but we have no soil report for Lincoln homes, so we will not claim your lot is clay. The county-level facts we do have are from Sacramento County, where clay and cemented hardpan are widespread, and Lincoln is in Placer County.
The sensible approach is to ask each contractor the same three questions: how they will prepare the subgrade, how thick and what base they propose, and how they space control joints. A common guideline is joints at 24 to 36 times the slab thickness, about 8 to 12 feet for a 4-inch slab. A 4-inch thickness is the usual minimum for residential passenger-vehicle driveways.
Placer County, and what to confirm before work
Lincoln is a city in Placer County. We did not research Lincoln's permit pages, so we will not state a local rule. The California Building Code baseline exempts driveways and sidewalks not more than 30 inches above adjacent grade (and not over a basement or story below) from a building permit, but code and setbacks still apply, and anything over 4 feet in a retaining wall is outside the exemption.
- For any curb, gutter, sidewalk or driveway apron work, check with the city's building department and public works before work starts.
- If your lot is in a homeowners' association, review its rules on driveway width, color and finish first.
- Ask the contractor to state in writing who arranges any permit.
Matching the job to a Lincoln home
| If your home... | Look at |
|---|---|
| Has a 20-year-old builder driveway with cracks | Concrete repair or driveway replacement |
| Has a bare backyard | Concrete patios or stamped concrete |
| Needs space for a trailer or shed | Concrete slabs |
| Has a slab with a worn, dull surface | Concrete resurfacing |
Typical national ranges, not Lincoln quotes: plain driveways about $6 to $12 per square foot installed, patios $5 to $18, slabs $4 to $12. See the concrete cost guide for what moves a price. Send a request through the contact form. It costs nothing, and a licensed contractor can visit to measure and quote. Verify the license at cslb.ca.gov before signing.
What a written quote should include
- Square footage, thickness, finish and the base material under the slab, listed separately from removal and hauling.
- Who pulls any permit, and the start and finish timing, with summer heat in mind for curing.
- The payment schedule. California caps a home improvement down payment at $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract, whichever is less, and you have three business days to cancel in most cases.
You contract with and pay the contractor directly. Sacramento Crest Concrete does not quote, take payment or warrant the work.
Main guide: concrete contractors in Sacramento.