Decorative concrete in Thousand Oaks CA - a stone look you can afford to keep up
Tired of plain gray concrete around your house? We'll help you choose a stone or brick look you can afford to build and keep up.
What does decorative concrete involve, and what affects the price?
Decorative concrete is flatwork, the patios, walkways and other slabs that lie flat on the ground, colored and textured so it looks like slate, brick or natural stone. We build it for homeowners in Thousand Oaks and many of the cities around it who want that look on a concrete surface.
Most people who call us have a concrete patio or walk that works fine but looks tired, or they're planning a new one and want more than gray. The price moves with the size of the area, how busy a pattern and how many colors you pick, and whether your old slab is sound enough to cover or has to come out. Access matters too, because a tight backyard or a hillside lot can take more time, special equipment or carrying materials in by hand. The schedule turns on the prep, the curing wait and any permit the city needs, which we check before we schedule. The estimate is where you'll get your own figure for your yard.
How our crew builds decorative concrete
Decorative concrete work starts with what you already have. If your concrete is in good shape, I'll tell you whether an overlay makes sense before you pay for new work, and I'll help you weigh a busy pattern against the upkeep it will take. For a new slab, our crew digs out and packs the subgrade, the soil and gravel the slab rests on, because a base that's only raked level settles and takes your pattern down with it. We set the forms so water runs away from the house, and we pour early in the day, since midday heat can leave a weak, dusty top. If you want color all the way through, we use integral color, a pigment mixed into the concrete itself, so a chip won't show gray underneath. We stamp or texture the surface while it's still workable, cut control joints, shallow grooves that give the slab a planned place to crack, and then keep it curing, protected and damp while it hardens, before anyone uses it. If the budget gets tight, I'd rather you choose a simpler pattern than cut back on the base, because nobody sees the base on day one, but it decides how the finish holds up.
Decorative work often ties into other jobs. On a sloped yard, a concrete retaining wall can hold back the hillside so a new patio has level ground to sit on. If you'd like the same finished look indoors, concrete floor installation gives a room, studio or addition a solid floor we can color and finish.
Why Thousand Oaks homeowners call Prestige Thousand Oaks Concrete Company for decorative concrete
I come out and write the estimate
I come to your house to look at the slab and the yard and write the estimate myself, and our crew lead runs the work on site. You hear the plan, the pattern and the upkeep from the person who priced it, so you know what you're paying for before the forms go up.
Doing careful flatwork since 2013
I learned the trade working on concrete crews' jobs, and we opened in 2013 once I was licensed. We're best known for careful flatwork and for explaining each step before we start, which matters on decorative work because a pattern only looks as good as the slab under it.
Licensed and fully insured
In California, someone without a license can only take a job under $1,000 that needs no permit and has no employees on it. With us, you don't have to wonder which side of that line your project falls on, and an accident on your property during the job doesn't land on your homeowner's policy.
On a decorative job, the pattern gets the attention, but the base and the cure decide how long it keeps its looks. When you're ready, please tell us about your project or call (805) 413-5506, and I'll come out and take a look.
Get a free on-site estimate for your decorative concrete
We reply within one business day to set a time for me to come out. I'll look at the area, talk through patterns and upkeep with you, and write your estimate on site, free and with no pressure to book. Photos of the area, its rough size and any slope help me come prepared, and thank you for considering us.
Decorative concrete finishes and patterns
What homeowners ask about decorative concrete
How much does stamped decorative concrete cost in Thousand Oaks?
Stamped concrete in the Los Angeles area usually costs about $15 to $30 per square foot, according to one regional cost guide. Where your job lands in that range comes down to the pattern, the colors, the state of your existing slab and how easy your yard is to reach. I'll give you your own figure when I come out.
What is the best way to choose a decorative concrete pattern?
Choose the simplest design that still gives you the look you want, because cost and upkeep climb with every added color and border. A Los Angeles cost guide says a single pattern and color is easier to maintain and costs less, while intricate patterns, several colors, borders and custom inlays cost more and need frequent maintenance to keep their look. Mid-range styles that add a little more color or texture are a fair middle ground for a lot of yards.
How often does stamped concrete need to be resealed?
About every two to three years, according to the same Los Angeles cost guide, to protect the surface from sun and wear. Budget for that reseal from the start, since it's what protects the color and texture you paid for.
Can an overlay restyle my existing concrete patio?
Yes, if the slab underneath is solid. A decorative overlay is a cement-based mix laid over your existing concrete, so the surface takes on a new look while the old slab stays in place. If the old slab is cracked, sinking or pooling water, those problems usually come right back through the new finish, so new work is the better buy.
When do I need a grading permit in Thousand Oaks?
In Thousand Oaks, you need a grading permit before any earth is graded or moved on your lot, or brought in or hauled away, so a patio that means cutting into a slope or leveling the yard falls under it. If the natural slope is steeper than 25 percent, the Planning Commission or City Council also has to approve the grading. We check with the city or county office before we schedule, take care of the application and inspections when a permit is needed, and tell you early if the office asks for a soils report or engineered plans. For other permit questions, the city's Building Division takes calls at (805) 449-2320.
What causes new decorative concrete to crack or flake?
Poor curing is a common cause, especially of fine surface cracks and a top that flakes or wears away. Curing guidance written for highway pavement lists shrinkage cracking, a flaking surface and worn-away paste as damage from inadequate curing. Ask any contractor how they'll cure your slab, and I'll walk you through how we'll cure yours before we pour.
Related concrete work
- Concrete retaining walls
When your patio or walkway sits against a slope, a retaining wall holds the soil back so the slab below stays put and the yard gains usable flat space.
- Concrete floor installation
If you're finishing a room, shop or addition, a new interior concrete floor gives you a solid, even surface that can take color and a polished or sealed finish.