Decorative concrete in Los Angeles CA - a finish that suits the slab underneath
Driveway or patio looking plain, faded or worn? We stamp new pours or recolor and resurface sound slabs to give it a fresh look.
Stamp a new pour or refresh the slab you have?
Decorative concrete in Los Angeles gives plain gray concrete a new look, either by pressing a stone or brick pattern into a fresh pour, coloring a sound slab with stain or dye, or laying a decorative overlay over worn concrete.
Most people who call us have a patio, walk or driveway that still works but looks tired, or they're about to pour new and want more than plain gray. What moves the price is how big the area is, how involved the design gets with patterns, colors and borders, and whether the old slab needs repair or tearing out first. The schedule turns on that same choice, because coloring a sound slab goes quicker than a new pour that has to sit and cure, gaining strength before anyone uses it. We're based in Los Angeles and work across the city and many of the cities around it, and the estimate I do at your place is where you get a number for your own slab. If you already know you want a pattern, our stamped concrete page goes further into that.
How we handle decorative concrete, step by step
I start by looking closely at the slab you've got, checking for cracks, sinking, chipping and where the water runs, because that tells me whether stain, an overlay or a new pour makes sense. If it's cracked, I tell you up front that cracks can come back through a topping even after they're repaired, so you choose knowing that. For stain or an overlay, we clean and prep the surface so the color or topping bonds, then apply it and seal it once it's ready. For a new stamped pour, we dig out and pack the subgrade, which is the ground the slab sits on, and set the forms so water runs away from the house. We lay rebar, the steel that holds the slab together, and pour in the cooler part of the day, because concrete placed in midday heat can end up with a weak, dusty top. Then we cut control joints, shallow grooves that give the concrete a straight line to crack along instead of a random one. The pattern is what you'll look at every day, but the base is what keeps it flat, so if the budget gets tight I'd rather simplify the design than cut corners underneath.
Decorative work often sits next to other jobs. A patio on a slope may need concrete retaining walls to hold the ground back before we pour, and an indoor stained finish usually goes on as part of concrete floor installation, so the color is planned before the slab goes in.
Stamped new pour
This suits you if there's no slab yet or the old one is too cracked or settled to save. Pressing a pattern into fresh concrete gets you a stone or brick look, often for less than the real thing.
Stain or dye on a sound slab
This suits a slab with a clean surface and no real flaws, because the color soaks into the concrete instead of covering it. Patches and cracks still show through, which is why the slab has to be in good shape.
Decorative overlay
This suits a slab that's worn and drab but still solid and flat, since a thin topping gives it a whole new surface. A cracked slab underneath carries the risk I mentioned above.
What changes decorative concrete jobs in Los Angeles
If a decorative driveway runs out to the sidewalk and curb, that stretch is public right of way, and the city reviews the building permit application to decide whether extra permits are needed for driveway, curb, gutter or sidewalk work there. So whether your job needs one isn't settled until the plans are looked at, and when a permit is needed we figure out which office covers your address and handle the application and inspections for you. The city also makes owners keep the sidewalk, driveway approach and curb in front of their lot safe for people walking over them and in line with the Americans with Disabilities Act, so we talk through any pattern or color at the street before we touch that strip.
On hillside lots and backyards you can only reach through a side yard, the job can take extra time, special equipment or carrying materials in by hand, and that shows up in both the price and the schedule. We look at the way in during the estimate so it's part of the plan from the start, and we run into the same tight access on jobs in Glendale and Pasadena.
Stamped, stained and overlaid finishes
Why call us for decorative concrete
The owner leads your crew
I come out to look at your slab and give the estimate, and I lead the crew that does the work. What we talked about at the curb is what happens on pour day.
Learned the trade from my dad
I started out hauling and mixing for my dad, worked my way up to finishing, and started this business in 2013, so we've been at it 13 years. That's a lot of time spent seeing which slabs hold their finish and which ones crack, and why.
Licensed and insured in California
California's state licensing board counts forming, pouring and finishing flat concrete as concrete contractor work, and we're fully licensed and insured to do it. Ask about it at the estimate before you sign anything.
If you're torn between a stamp and an overlay, your slab will tell us more than any photo, so set up an estimate or call (213) 329-1820 and I'll come take a look.
(213) 329-1820Get a price on your decorative concrete job
We reply within one business day to set a time, then I come out, look at your slab and give you a free estimate on site with no obligation. Have the rough size, the slab's condition and the finish you're after handy, and we'll work out which option fits.
Decorative concrete questions from Los Angeles
How much does stamped concrete cost in Los Angeles?
Stamped concrete in Los Angeles usually costs about $15 to $30 per square foot. That's the going range around the city for stamping, and where a job lands depends on its size, how complex the design is and local contractor rates. Stain or an overlay on an existing slab prices differently, and your own number comes from the estimate.
How do I update an old concrete patio without tearing it out?
Usually you can, as long as the slab underneath is solid. Stain and overlays both go over existing concrete, and which one fits depends on how good the surface is now. If it's sinking or badly cracked, a new pour is usually the honest answer, and I'll tell you that at the estimate.
How often does stamped concrete need resealing in Los Angeles?
Angi puts it at every two to three years in Los Angeles, with upkeep focused on protecting the surface from sun and wear. Sealer is what keeps the color from fading and the top from wearing down, and areas that take a lot of foot or car traffic tend to show it first.
How long does stamped concrete need to cure before it's sealed?
One maker's fact sheet says stamped concrete should cure for 72 hours or more before it's washed and sealed. Curing is the stretch where the concrete gains strength, and the products used on your job may set their own wait, which I'll go over with you before we start.
Are intricate stamped patterns and borders worth the extra cost?
They can be, since detailed patterns, several colors, borders and custom inlays can add curb appeal and resale value. The trade-off is that they cost more and need frequent upkeep to keep their look. A simpler pattern is easier to live with if you don't want to spend weekends on it.
What should a home improvement contract include in California?
California requires home improvement contracts to include certain notices and disclosures that protect you as the owner. Any change to the work has to be put in writing, in language that's easy to understand, and has to tell you about your right to cancel. Read it through before you sign and ask about anything that isn't clear.
Plan your decorative patio, driveway or walkway with us
We're open seven days a week into the evening, so call (213) 329-1820 or send the form whenever it suits you.
