Concrete Overlays in Covington, WA

Concrete overlays in Covington: what to know

King County’s parcel data puts about a fifth of Covington’s homes in the 1960s and another fifth in the 2000s, so the city holds two generations of slabs. An overlay judges them by one test: is the concrete underneath stable, and is the surface the only thing wrong? A corner that sank over wet ground or old trench backfill will carry its movement through a new surface.

An overlay also adds height at the garage door and where it meets the walk. On qualifying lots with a recorded critical area or buffer, Covington’s critical areas code exempts ordinary repair and in-kind replacement of existing patios, walkways, and driveways, provided the footprint does not move closer. Resurfacing leaves the footprint alone.

Permits and rules in Covington

An overlay on your own lot leaves the footprint and grade where they are. The apron is the open question. Covington requires a right-of-way use permit to change or replace a concrete apron, and the code does not say how it treats a surface coat. The sidewalk is public right-of-way too. We look up the Community Development position on your apron and walk before we quote.

Rules change and vary by parcel, so we confirm the current requirements with the city before we start.

How we approach it

Sound the slab for hollow spots over old trenches and fill
Hold the buildup thin and feather it at garage doors and walk joins
Contain slurry and wash water so none reaches a storm drain or ditch
Leave the apron and sidewalk out unless the city’s permit covers them

For the full process, see our Concrete Overlays page.

Building in the cold months? See our guide to winter concrete pours.

Our concrete overlays work, serving Covington

Examples of our work. We build concrete overlays in Covington and the cities around it. See all of our work

Questions from Covington homeowners

Can a 1990s Covington driveway be resurfaced instead of replaced?

Often, if it is flat and its cracks have stopped moving. Dense till can hold perched water through the wet months, so we look for low corners and settled patches first. Those sections are repaired or replaced before any overlay goes on.

Does resurfacing my driveway count toward Covington’s 2,000 square foot drainage review?

The code counts impervious surface that is added or replaced, and a thin surface coat is not clearly either one. Review also applies only when a city permit is in play. We ask Community Development how it reads your project and tell you before work starts.

Can you overlay the sidewalk in front of my Covington house?

Only with the city’s say-so. The sidewalk is public right-of-way, and the code puts repair of a worn-out walk on the abutting owner at Public Works’ direction. A coating will not fix a lifted or broken panel, and right-of-way work needs a permit.