Decorative concrete in Riverside CA - a finish that suits your slab and how you use it
Plain gray slab looking tired or stained? We help you pick a finish and color that fit how the slab gets used.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
Can you resurface it, or does it need a new slab?
It comes down to the concrete underneath, so I look hard at your existing slab first. If it's heaving or broken through, I'll tell you a new slab is the honest answer.
An overlay is enough when:
- The slab sits flat and solid
- Cracks are hairline and not moving
- The trouble is stains or wear
- The look is dated, not broken
- Water runs off the way it should
A new slab is better when:
- It's heaving or sinking
- Cracks run clean through
- Pieces rock or lift underfoot
- Water pools or runs toward the house
- The ground under it has washed out
How a decorative job goes with us
Call or send the form
Call (951) 631-9520 or use the form and tell us what you have in mind, from a new stamped patio to fresh color on an old slab.
A visit set up
I look at your slab
I come out myself, check the existing slab, the access and how water moves across your yard, and listen to what you'd like it to look like.
An honest read
Your written estimate
You get it in writing, with what's included and what isn't spelled out plainly, and we agree up front on who handles any permit steps.
A written estimate
Pour and finish day
Our lead finisher runs the crew and I'm on site for the pour, so the base, color, pattern and joints go in the way your estimate says.
A finished surface
Sealing and walkthrough
Once the concrete has cured, the days it needs to harden before it's ready, we seal it, clean up and walk the finished work with you.
A sealed, clean slab
What our decorative concrete work includes
Tear-out or surface prep
We break out and haul away a failed slab, or clean and prepare a sound one so an overlay can bond to it.
Base and slope
We dig out and pack the subgrade, the ground the slab sits on, and set the slope so water runs away from your house.
Thickness and steel
We size the slab and the rebar, the steel that holds it together if it cracks, to whether it's a patio or a driveway.
Color and pattern
We work in the color method you chose, then press the pattern or texture while the concrete is still fresh enough to take it.
Joints cut on time
We cut the control joints while the concrete is young and line them up with the pattern so they blend in.
Sealing and clean-up
After the cure we wash and seal the surface, then clear our forms and debris so your yard is ready to use.
What sets the price of decorative concrete?
The biggest question is whether we're working on your old slab or replacing it, because an overlay on sound concrete skips the tear-out, base work, forms and steel a new pour needs. After that, the finish moves the price, since a stamped pattern with an accent color takes more hands than one color with a simple texture. Access counts too, and a backyard we reach by wheelbarrow costs more to pour than a driveway by the street.
The schedule turns mostly on tear-out and the cure before sealing and use. Matching color on nearby concrete retaining walls or a new concrete floor installation indoors adds to the job. Your written estimate lists what's in and what isn't, so you can see where the money goes.
Why Riverside homeowners call us for decorative work
I learned concrete on a city public works crew, pouring sidewalks and curbs to a written spec with an inspector watching, and I started this business in Riverside in 2013 to bring that care to homes. The color is what you see, but the base, the joints and the drainage decide how it holds up. If a budget has to give, I'd rather simplify the pattern than skimp on the base.
I'll also be straight with you. If a different approach or a specialist would serve you better, I'll say so before you spend anything. When you're ready, call (951) 631-9520 or use the form, and I'll come look at your slab myself.
- I write your estimate myself
- I'm on site on pour day
- Satisfaction guaranteed
Get a written estimate for your decorative concrete
Tell us the slab's size, whether it's a patio or driveway, and send photos of any cracks. We reply within one business day, and I'll set up a free on-site estimate with no obligation.
(951) 631-9520Decorative concrete questions we hear
How much does a stamped concrete patio cost in Riverside, CA?
Pouring a stamped concrete patio in Riverside usually costs about $9 to $18 per square foot, which is the going rate in the area, not our quote. Where your job lands depends on the pattern, the color method, tear-out and access, and stamped concrete often comes in under real stone or brick. Call (951) 631-9520 and I'll measure and price yours on site.
What is the best way to color a decorative concrete driveway?
Color hardener is usually the better choice for a driveway, because it's worked into the top surface and gives richer color and a harder wear surface for traffic. The trade-off is that the color sits only in that top layer, so a deep chip shows gray, and an uneven application can leave it blotchy. Integral color runs all the way through, so chips and saw cuts match and it ages without pale scars, though its tones stay softer.
Can a worn concrete patio get an overlay instead of being torn out?
Yes, if the slab is structurally sound, because a decorative overlay needs solid concrete to bond to. On a sound slab that's just worn, stained or dated, an overlay costs a fraction of tearing out and pouring new, and you're back on it sooner. A slab that's heaving, settling or cracked clean through needs to come out.
How long does stamped concrete take to cure before it's sealed?
One product maker's guide says stamped concrete should cure for 72 hours or more before it's washed and sealed, so sealing comes days after the pour, not the same day. After that, one installation guide recommends resealing every 2 to 3 years, so plan on that as part of owning a decorative surface.
Do I need a permit for a decorative concrete driveway in Riverside?
If the driveway work reaches into a county road's public right-of-way, yes, the Riverside County Transportation Department issues an encroachment permit for it, and either the contractor or the owner can apply. For the rest of the job, we settle who applies for what at the estimate, and when it's us, we bring our license paperwork to the counter.
Does a decorative concrete contractor need a license in California?
Yes, unless the whole job is under $1,000, needs no permit and the person doing it employs no one on the project. A licensed landscaping contractor can also take the work when it's part of a landscape job that improves the grounds around your house. We're licensed and fully insured.
Decorative concrete around Riverside
We're based in Riverside and work in many of the cities around it, including Corona and Moreno Valley. Pick your city below, or call (951) 631-9520 if yours isn't listed.
Start your Riverside quote with Riverside Concrete Company
Send photos through our form or call (951) 631-9520, and I'll arrive knowing what to look at.