Stamped Concrete Contractor In Los Angeles

 Did you know that you can get the amazing look of pavers, brick, stone and even wood from concrete? That’s right! Believe it or not, concrete doesn’t have to be a boring grey slab. In fact, with a little imagination, you can use stamped concrete to mimic practically any design you want. 

What is stamped concrete in Los Angeles?

For a beautiful, one-of-a-kind look, stamped concrete is hard to beat. Stamped concrete is just like what it sounds -- concrete is poured and stamped to mimic the look of natural stone, brick or wood, at a fraction of the cost of the other materials. Pattern and color options are almost unlimited. 

Stamped concrete copies the look of stones, such as slate and flagstone, tile, brick or even wood. With the wide variety of pattern and color choices, it is an excellent choice for sprucing up your patio, porch, pool decks, driveways and any outdoor space. Pretty much any design you have seen with pavers, brick or natural stone can be replicated in concrete. 

Concrete also costs less and requires less maintenance than other materials, making it a popular choice to bring a high end look to your home, enhancing your outdoor spaces and adding value to your home.

How is stamped concrete installed in Los Angeles?

There are many steps involved in stamping concrete to create the amazing results. Because these steps must be completed carefully and quickly, this is by no means a DIY job. You want to make sure you hire an experienced professional to achieve uniform results across your entire slab before the concrete sets. What steps need to be taken?

• Planning: Your pattern must be pre-planned and drawn out, with tools and labor ready to go.

• Pouring: After the concrete is poured and allowed to set to the proper consistency, color hardeners and released agents will be applied.

• Stamping: The concrete is tested once more before the stamp patterns are applied. Because stamping maps are molded from the actual materials, they can be incredibly realistic with the right staining in place.

• Finish Work: Finally, all detailing and cutting contraction joints will finish out your project.

In general, stamping is done on newly poured concrete. HOwever, if you have existing concrete that’s in good condition, you can cover it with a stamped overlay, giving you the same look as newly poured stamped concrete.

Is stamped concrete right for me?

Thinking about installing stamped concrete? Consider the following:

Pros:

• It’s durable and long-lasting.

• It’s more affordable than natural stone, brick or pavers, or wood.

• Offers nearly endless pattern and color choices.

• Easy to maintain when sealed

• Enhances outdoor spaces and adds to your home value

• Slip resistant when treated with a non-skid additive

Cons:

• Needs periodic cleaning and resealing

• Repairs can be difficult

• Not very DIY friendly

• Can develop minor cracks

How much does stamped concrete cost in Los Angeles?

How much your new stamped concrete design will cost in Los Angeles may vary from project to project. Larger projects (like patios, porches or driveways) will cost more than smaller projects, such as walkways. In general, your project will cost more depending on the amount of planning, preparation and size of your job. Here’s a general breakdown of how much different options cost.

• Plain design

  •  $3 to $6 per square foot

  • Gray slab (no decorative finishes or colors)

  • Straight lines

• Simple design

  • $6 to $10 per square foot

  • One color method 

  • One decorative technique

• Custom design

  • $10 to $15 per square foot

  • Two or three colors

  • Contrasting border

• Elaborate design

  • $15+ per square foot

  • Borders

  • Sawcut designs

  • Hand-applied coloring techniques

Why should I choose stamped concrete in Los Angeles?

Stamped concrete can mimic the look and feet of pavers, natural stone, even a wooden deck at the fraction of the cost of the other materials and can be used not only on patios, but also driveways, walkways, porches, etc. Not only does stamped concrete look great, but over time, you will save money on maintenance and upkeep with your concrete patio.

What about the upfront costs? A wood deck can cost $15 to $35 per square foot, while a patio made from pavers costs an estimated $4 to $20 per square foot, depending on the size, shape, and complexity of the design. While this may seem about on par with a stamped concrete design, with these other materials, you are looking at years of annual maintenance and upkeep.

Concrete is much easier to maintain and far more durable than pavers or wood. Regular maintenance of cleaning and resealing stamped concrete should be done every 2 to 3 years on average. Stamped concrete can be easily cleaned with a hose or power washer and detergent. Compare that with pavers, which need to be weeded and wood decks that need to be regularly resanded and repainted.

Not only that, but concrete is an incredibly durable material. When poured correctly, stamped concrete is incredibly durable and highly resistant to cracking. Even if it does experience minor cracks, the cracks often blend in with the pattern and joint lines, making it hard to find. 

Can I just DIY stamped concrete in Los Angeles?

Because of all the elements that must be done quickly, we don’t recommend installing stamped concrete yourself. You only have one chance to get it right. You can’t finish it later if you run out of time. You can’t take it apart and re-do it. 

For all these reasons and more, we suggest this is a project you leave to the pros. So, call the pros at Concrete Decor Contractor at 1-818-722-8124 for your consultation today! Not only do we provided stamped concrete designs, but we can also work with you to repair your driveway apron or even install a new grass-strip driveway.