Stamped concrete services in Berkeley CA - the look of stone, brick or slate
Got a cracked, plain gray patio or walk? We pour it new, then color and press it with a pattern that reads like stone.
Is stamped concrete a good fit for my patio, walk or driveway?
Our stamped concrete services in Berkeley, CA give you a new patio, walk or driveway that we color and press with a texture while the concrete is still soft, so it looks like slate, brick or natural stone.
Most calls start with an old patio or front walk that's cracked, sunk in spots or holding puddles, from someone who wants more than plain gray this time. Stamping happens during the pour, so it means a new slab and the old one usually comes out first, whether it's a patio, a front walk or a new concrete driveway.
The price moves with the size of the area, how much old concrete has to come out, the pattern, how many colors it takes and which sealer you pick. The schedule mostly turns on dry, mild weather for the pour and the sealer, on whether a permit applies, and on curing, the wait while the slab gains strength before you walk or drive on it. The written estimate from my visit spells out the work and the price for your job.
- Patterns that mimic slate, brick or natural stone, pressed into the slab while it's still soft.
- Digging out and packing the ground first, because a pattern can't hide a slab that settles.
- Breaking out and hauling off the old patio or walk, if there's one in the way.
What happens after you call about stamped concrete?
Here's how a stamped concrete job runs with us, from your first call to the walk-through at the end. I'm the one you'll see at the estimate, and I run the crew on the pour.
Call or send a request
Call (510) 345-1330 or send a request through the form on this page. We get back to you and set a time for me to come out to your house.
I measure and walk you through
I come out myself, measure the area, check the ground and where the water runs, and go over patterns, colors and sealers with you. You get a written estimate that lays out the work and the price, so you can compare it with other bids before you decide anything.
We prep, pour and stamp
Once you say yes, we take care of any permit steps, then prep the ground, set the forms and pour. Our crew colors, stamps and finishes the surface while it's still soft, with me running the job.
We walk the finished work
After the slab has cured and the sealer is on, I walk it with you and explain how to care for it. I'll also tell you when it's ready for foot traffic and when it's ready for a car.
Patios, walks and driveways in poured and stamped concrete
These photos show the kinds of patterns and finishes concrete can take, from a plain broom finish swept in for grip to stone and brick looks. Use them to point at what you like when I come out.
Stamped concrete patio with a curved stone seating wall, fire pit, dining table and Adirondack chairs in a wooded yard.
Stamped concrete patio with broad gray pavers and tiered steps beside a brick house.
Concrete pool deck with gray paving, lounge chairs, dining set, and a slide beside a swimming pool.
Concrete basketball court with a hoop sits in a leafy residential backyard.
Concrete steps and landing in a covered patio, finished in pale stone-colored surfaces.
Textured concrete pool deck borders bright blue water, with metal handrails, lounge chairs, and a slide.
Get a written estimate for your stamped concrete
Send the rough size, the surface and the look you're after, and we'll reply within one business day to set up my visit. The estimate is free, done at your property and in writing, with no pressure to book.
(510) 345-1330Questions Berkeley homeowners ask about stamped concrete
These are the questions I hear most when someone in Berkeley is pricing a stamped patio, walk or driveway. If yours isn't here, ask me when I come out to look at the job.
How much does stamped concrete cost in Berkeley?
For planning, installed stamped concrete across the bay in San Francisco usually costs about $16 to $34 per square foot. Where your job lands in that range depends on your size, pattern and prep work, so your Berkeley number comes from the written estimate after I measure.
Does a new stamped driveway in Berkeley need a building permit?
A driveway is on the city's list of work exempt from a building permit when it sits low to the ground beside it as the list spells out, isn't over a basement or room below, and isn't part of an accessible route, the path kept clear for wheelchair access. The city says you should assume anything off that list needs a permit from the Permit Service Center, so a stamped patio is a question for that office, and a zoning permit can still apply even when a building permit doesn't. We look up the office for your address before we price the job, and when a permit applies we handle the application and set up the inspections with you.
How do I know when stamped concrete needs resealing?
Reseal when the surface tells you to, not on a set schedule, because resealing is the most common upkeep stamped concrete needs and trade guidance says to do it as needed. The signs are water and stains soaking in instead of sitting on top, and the color losing its depth. Too much sealer, or a coat put on too soon, can leave the surface looking worse, so ask whoever does it how much goes on and when.
What causes cracks in stamped concrete, and will mine crack?
No one can keep concrete from cracking entirely, but well-planned joints control where cracks go and keep them small. That's why the base and the joint layout I described above get so much of my attention, since a crack that runs along a joint line mostly disappears into the pattern.
Does a concrete contractor need a license in California?
Yes, the state requires a license from the California Contractors State License Board for any project that totals $1,000 or more in labor and materials. We're licensed and fully insured, so ask the same of any contractor you're comparing.
Do Berkeley stormwater rules apply to a stamped patio or driveway?
They can, because Berkeley counts patios, walkways and driveways as impervious surface, meaning cover that keeps rain from soaking into the ground. The city's stormwater requirements change with how much of that surface you create or replace, so we size that up at the estimate and make it part of the plan.
Stamped concrete in Berkeley and the permits it may need
Work that touches a Berkeley sidewalk or street needs an engineering permit from the Permit Service Center, so we check that before pricing a stamped walk or apron. We check the same way in Oakland, Albany and the cities below.