Decorative concrete in Davis CA - even color and joints where they show least
Color and pattern that look planned
Decorative concrete is plain concrete finished to look like more, with stain, mixed-in color or a stamped pattern. Most of our calls around Davis and the cities near it come from people whose gray patio or walk looks tired. I look at the slab first, because it decides what makes sense.
Why decorative concrete suits a Davis yard
Decorative concrete is flatwork, the flat slabs of patios and walks, finished with stain, mixed-in color, a stamped pattern or a mix of them. The same color work carries over to concrete retaining walls and an indoor concrete floor.
Price moves with size, any tear-out and how many colors and patterns you stack. Timing turns on demo, base work and curing, the wait while new concrete hardens before you use it. I'll give you your own number at the walk-through.
Best for
- Tired gray patios
- Plain walks and entries
- Sound slabs worth keeping
- New patio pours
One slab, no loose pieces
A stamped or colored slab gives you the look of stone or brick in one piece, so nothing shifts, sinks unevenly or grows weeds between pavers.
Fits the house
We pick color and pattern to go with your trim, steps and walls, so the patio looks planned with the house instead of added years later.
Joints that blend in
Control joints are the cuts that tell a slab where to crack, and we put them where they'll show least, in the pattern's lines when it allows.
Spend where it shows
You can stop at a stain or go all the way to a new stamped pour, so the look fits the slab you have and what you want to spend.
Decorative concrete starts with the base under it
- I do the walk-through myself, and I'd drop to a simpler pattern before skimping on the subgrade, the ground under the slab, because that's what keeps it flat.
- Our crew lead runs the work and I'm there for the pours, so the mix, finishing and curing stay the same across the job and color stays even.
- I ran another contractor's crews and walk-throughs for years before starting this outfit, and most problems started before the truck showed up. We're licensed and fully insured.
Ways to finish decorative concrete
I look at the slab you have first. If you want to keep it, we'll look at staining it, and if you want stamping or color mixed in, that means a new pour.
Stain on your slab
Suits a sound slab you'd rather keep, since stain goes on the concrete you already have with no tear-out.
Integral color
Color mixed into the concrete runs all the way through, and one maker calls it usually the most cost-effective way to color a new slab.
Stamped pattern
Pressed into fresh concrete to look like stone, slate, brick, tile or wood, so it comes with a new pour.
Color hardener
One maker says it gives a tougher, brighter top than integral color alone, so it suits a slab where color matters most.
Tell me about your slab
Send photos of your slab, its rough size and a finish you like. We reply within one business day, and I'll come out for a free, no-obligation estimate.
Decorative concrete questions around Davis
How much does a stamped concrete patio cost near Davis?
Around the Sacramento area, a stamped concrete patio usually runs about $9 to $18 per square foot, and that's the going market rate, not my quote. The pattern, the number of colors, any tear-out and whether it's reinforced push it up or down. I'll price yours at the walk-through, and the work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
Can my existing concrete patio be stained instead of replaced?
Usually, yes, if the slab is sound, because stain colors existing concrete as well as new. One maker's water-based stains come in more colors than acid stain and go on fast, but they need a protective sealer to hold their color. A heaved or badly broken slab is better torn out and poured new.
Will a new decorative concrete patio crack like my old one?
It can, because even with careful work some random cracking may still show up in a decorative slab. Rebar or wire mesh, the steel inside the slab, won't stop that, but the right amount keeps cracks from opening wide. Joints show more on random patterns, so ask me where they'll fall before you pick one.
What license should a concrete contractor in Davis have?
Look for the concrete contractor license from California's Contractors State License Board, which covers forming, pouring, placing and finishing flat concrete. The state allows unlicensed work only up to $1,000, and only when the job needs no permit and the worker employs nobody. We check with the city or county office for your address and handle any permit the job needs.
Do I need a written contract for a concrete patio in Davis?
Yes. California requires a home improvement contract to carry notices and disclosures that protect you, and any change has to be in writing, easy to understand and explain your right to cancel. I'd rather you know what you're paying for before you sign, so ask about anything that's unclear.
Other concrete work we do
Concrete retaining walls
When a patio sits on a slope, a wall holds the grade and can carry the same color.
Explore Concrete retaining wallsConcrete floor installation
Brings stain or integral color indoors, for a basement, studio or shop floor that matches the patio outside.
Explore Concrete floor installation