Decorative concrete in Berkeley CA - color and texture picked to suit your slab
Patio or walkway looking tired and gray? We check the slab first, then help you pick a color and texture that suits it.
How do I dress up a plain concrete patio or driveway?
Decorative concrete in Berkeley adds color, pattern or texture to a patio, walk or driveway, either with a new stamped pour or with a bonded cement-based overlay or an acid stain on the slab you already have, so the surface looks finished, often without tearing out what's there.
Most people who call about this have a slab that does its job but looks tired, like a gray patio, a stained walk or a driveway that doesn't suit the house, or they're pouring new and want more than plain gray. The first choice is whether to dress up what's there or start fresh, and I'd rather look at it with you than guess, because a stain or overlay can only work with the slab under it. If you're starting from bare ground, our stamped concrete page covers that pour in more detail.
The price moves with the size of the area, the finish you pick, how much prep an older slab needs and whether old sealer has to come off, plus the resealing you'll keep doing for as long as you have it. The schedule turns on that prep and on curing, the wait while new concrete gains enough strength to use, and the written estimate I give you after the visit spells out your own numbers so you can compare. The state licensing board files concrete work under more than one class, one for pouring and finishing slabs and one for coloring and restoring concrete, so ask any contractor you compare which work their license covers. We're licensed and fully insured.
- Stamped concrete for new patios, walkways and driveways, with color and pattern set into the pour.
- Cement-based overlays bonded over your existing slab to level it, restore it or change its look.
- Acid stain and sealing, including stripping off old sealer first so the stain can reach the concrete.
What happens when you call about decorative concrete in Berkeley?
I come out to every job myself, and our crew does the forming, pouring and finishing with me running it. Here's how a decorative job goes from your first call to the walk-through.
Call or send a request
Phone us at (510) 345-1330 or use the form, and we'll set up a time for me to come out. It helps to have the rough size of the area, the age of the slab and any past sealing in mind.
I look at the slab
I measure, check the slab's condition and look for old sealer, then walk you through which finishes make sense for it. Your written estimate lays out the prep, the finish, the sealer and the resealing you'd be signing up for, so you know what you're paying for before you decide.
We prep, pour and finish
Once you say yes, we take care of any permit steps, then our crew preps the ground or the old surface, forms, pours and finishes with me running the job. On an older slab, the cleaning and stripping usually take more of the time than the finish itself.
Walk the finished surface together
When it's done, I walk it with you and explain how to care for it. You'll know how to treat the new surface and when to plan the next reseal.
Examples of concrete patios, driveways and decorative finishes
These photos show the kind of concrete work this trade does, from plain driveways to colored and patterned patios. Tap any one to see it larger, and mention the ones you like when I come out.
Concrete pool deck with gray paving, lounge chairs, dining set, and a slide beside a swimming pool.
Concrete patio beneath a covered brick porch, with pale stone paving, a built-in counter, and two chairs.
Concrete basketball court with a hoop sits in a leafy residential backyard.
Gray stamped concrete steps with textured stone-like risers climb through landscaped garden beds to a front door.
Two-story stone-and-siding house with a white-railed porch and short concrete steps leading to the walkway.
Wide concrete patio with a low retaining wall and steps beside a dark brick house and sloping lawn.
Get a written estimate for your decorative concrete
Send the form or call (510) 345-1330 and we'll reply within one business day to set up a free visit. I come out, look at the slab and give you a written estimate, with no pressure to book.
(510) 345-1330Questions Berkeley homeowners ask about decorative concrete
These are the questions I hear most when someone wants color or pattern on their concrete. If yours isn't here, ask me when I come out to look at the slab.
How much does stamped concrete cost in Berkeley?
Stamped concrete installed in nearby San Francisco usually costs about $16 to $34 per square foot, which is the going rate there and not a quote from us. Where your job lands depends on the size, the pattern and colors, how much ground prep it needs and whether old concrete has to come out first. I'll put your own number in writing after I see the site.
How often does stamped concrete need to be resealed?
Stamped concrete typically needs resealing every 2 to 5 years, depending on how much traffic it gets, the weather it sees and the type and quality of the last sealer. A busy surface in harsh conditions may need it every year, so count resealing as a repeat cost when you compare finishes.
Is sealed stamped concrete slippery when it's wet?
It can be, because the stamped texture helps your footing but a coat of sealer can make the surface slick, especially when it's wet. That matters most on walks, steps and anywhere near a pool, so we talk through the finish and the sealer together before you pick either one.
What causes acid stain to look blotchy or uneven on concrete?
Acid stain gets its color from a chemical reaction with the cement in the slab, so a mix with less cement can react weakly or unevenly. Every slab is a little different, which is why the same stain comes out differently from one home to the next, and old sealer, which we strip first, blocks the reaction.
Do I need a city permit for concrete work near the sidewalk in Berkeley?
If the work affects a city sidewalk or street, yes, the city requires an engineering permit, which is separate from the building permit question. If you're adding or replacing a patio, walk or driveway, the city's stormwater rules also change with how much hard surface, the kind that keeps rain from soaking in, the project creates or replaces, so ask the city for the current limits and we'll plan around them.
How long after sealing stamped concrete can I walk or drive on it?
Sealing guides say to keep foot traffic off for at least 12 hours after the sealer goes on, and cars off for 48 to 72 hours. A brand-new pour also needs its full cure, so we'll go over the timing for your job and plan parking and access with you before we start.