Plain gray concrete that looks tired? We add color, texture or a stamped pattern that suits the upkeep you're willing to do.
Decorative concrete in South Whittier is regular concrete finished to look like more than a gray slab, using color, stains, a stamped pattern, a textured surface, exposed stone, polishing or a sealer, alone or together, on a patio, walk, driveway or floor.
The price mostly comes down to how big the area is, how busy the design is and how easy it is to get a crew and materials to it, because a tight backyard or a hillside lot can mean extra time, special equipment or carrying everything in by hand. The schedule turns on that same access question, on whether your job needs a county permit, and on curing, the days the concrete needs to harden before you use it. Your estimate lays out what your own yard will cost and why.
The design you pick matters as much for upkeep as for price. A basic stamped pattern in one color costs less and is easier to keep looking good, while intricate patterns, several colors, borders and custom inlays cost more and need regular care to hold their look. Mid-range styles sit in between with some added color or texture, so it's worth asking which level a quote is for, and I'd rather you pick the one you'll actually keep up.
Here's who you'll deal with and what you'll know before anything gets poured.
I come out myself to see the slab, the yard and how we'd get in, then walk you through which finishes make sense and what each one means for cost and upkeep. You get a written estimate that spells out what you're paying for and why.
Decorative finishes take skills and products that plain concrete work doesn't, so it's fair to ask any installer what decorative jobs they've done, and I'm glad to talk through ours. We're licensed and insured. I've run this business since 2013.
If you hire us, our own crew does the work and I check in along the way instead of handing it off. When it's done, we walk the finished job together. Your satisfaction, guaranteed.
I start by looking at the slab you already have, because sometimes a decorative layer can go over it and save you the cost of tearing it out. Then we pick techniques that fit your budget and the upkeep you're willing to do. On a new slab, I'll put the money into the base before the finish, even though nobody sees it, because a pretty surface over dirt that was only raked level will settle right along with that dirt. So our crew digs out and packs the subgrade, the ground the slab sits on, sets the forms and adds rebar, the steel bars that hold the slab together if it cracks, before any color or pattern goes on.
Decorative work often ties into other jobs around the yard. If a raised patio or planter has to hold back soil, we build concrete retaining walls that can carry the same color or texture. Inside, a stained or polished finish only looks as good as the slab under it, which is what our concrete floor installation work covers.
Most concrete trouble starts under the slab or in the days right after the pour, so that's where our steps put the care.
Before we set forms, we look at how water moves across your yard so the new surface sheds it away from the house. A slab that tips toward your foundation leaves pooling water right where you don't want it.
For a new slab, that's the packed base we talked about above. For an overlay, we clean and repair the old surface so the new layer bonds to it instead of peeling.
We schedule pours for the cooler part of the day, because concrete placed in midday heat can dry too fast and leave a weak, dusty top that won't hold color or a pattern well. Then we stamp, texture or color it while the surface still takes it cleanly.
Control joints are shallow cuts that give the slab a planned place to crack, so a crack follows the line instead of running through your pattern. We let the concrete cure, tell you when it's ready to walk on and drive on, and seal it.
Tell us the rough size of the area, send a few photos of the yard and any slab that's there now, and say whether you're leaning toward a basic or a more detailed design. We reply within one business day to set a time for me to come out, and the on-site estimate is free with no obligation. If you'd rather talk it through, call (562) 358-3037.
(562) 358-3037Stamped concrete in the Los Angeles area usually costs about $15 to $30 per square foot, according to one cost guide. That's the going rate around LA for stamped work, not our price, and since it's figured by the square foot, your area's size and design level set where you land. Your estimate gives you the figure for your own yard.
One Los Angeles cost guide says stamped concrete here should be resealed every two to three years to protect it from sun and wear. Count that resealing as part of what the surface costs you over time, along with the extra care a busier design needs.
LA County Public Works' South Whittier District Office processes building permits here, and the county's permit list includes patios. When you apply, that office tells you whether a plan check is needed and what it takes to get approved. When a job calls for a permit, we help you find which office handles your address, help with the paperwork and plan the work around the inspections.
Sometimes, yes. A decorative overlay is a layer of cement-based material bonded to the concrete you already have, and it can dress up, level or restore the surface. It only holds up when the slab underneath is in decent shape, which is what I check in person.
Which permit office you deal with depends on your address. LA County Public Works issues permits for properties in unincorporated LA County, and another office may handle yours if it falls outside that, so confirm with the county before plans get far. The county also issues grading permits when a project changes the ground, like moving soil or creating a slope, and its Public Infrastructure team handles permits for digging or building in the public right-of-way along the street.
We're based in South Whittier and work across the cities around it, including Norwalk, Whittier and Downey. Plenty of houses here have a narrow side yard as the only way to the back, and we plan for that up front because it changes how materials get in. If you don't see your city listed, call and ask.
A quick look often tells you whether your old concrete is worth keeping before you pay anyone to break it up, so call (562) 358-3037 or send the form.
If you're not sure which finish suits your yard, call (562) 358-3037 and I'll talk it through with you.
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