Decorative concrete in Garden City KS - color and pattern on a slab that's sound
Plain gray slab, or an old patio you're tired of looking at? We add stamped pattern and color to a slab built to hold it.
Decorative concrete in Garden City usually means stamped work. We color the concrete, press rubber mats into it while it's still soft so it looks like stone, brick, wood or tile, then seal the surface. Folks call us when a patio or walk looks worn out, or when they want a driveway with more to it than plain gray.
Most trouble starts underneath or with water, so before we talk patterns or color, I check whether your old slab is sound enough to take a topping. If it isn't, I'll tell you it needs replacing. Price moves with the size, the color method, the pattern and whether old concrete comes out first. The schedule turns on the permit and on curing, the wait while concrete hardens enough to use, and your estimate spells out the work.
What our decorative concrete work covers
- I look at it myself. I come out to look at your slab myself, and our crew does the pour and stamping with me on site, so the person who quoted it is there.
- Base and water first. On a new pour we dig out and pack the subgrade, what the slab sits on, and check where water runs so the slab sheds it away from your house.
- Joints worked into the pattern. We cut control joints, grooves that give shrinking concrete a planned place to crack, on time and along pattern lines so they blend in.
- Licensed and insured. We're fully licensed and insured, and I'll show you the papers if you'd like to see them. Every job is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
- Building it since 2013. I learned concrete patching walks, steps and slabs at rentals, then started this business in 2013 so I could build work that didn't need patching the next spring.
Problems we see on decorative slabs
| Problem | What it looks like | Usual fix |
|---|---|---|
| Base gave way | What it looks like: The slab has dropped or tipped where the dirt underneath settled | Usual fix: Tear out, dig out and pack the base, repour |
| Water toward the house | What it looks like: Puddles sit on the patio or run back toward your foundation | Usual fix: Replace with the slab sloped away from the house |
| Cracks in random spots | What it looks like: Cracks running across the pattern where no joint was cut | Usual fix: New slab with joints placed before it can crack |
| Weak, dusty top | What it looks like: Surface chalks, flakes or chips, often from a pour in midday heat | Usual fix: Overlay if the slab's sound, otherwise replace it |
Topping your slab or pouring new
- Overlay a sound slab. Suits a slab that's still flat and solid, since a topping has to bond to it, and you keep concrete that still has life in it.
- New slab, integral color. Pigment runs the full depth, so a chip or saw cut shows the same color and it ages without pale scars, though it won't reach the boldest tones.
- New slab, color hardener. One field guide calls it the common pick for driveways because it forms a harder skin, but deep damage shows gray, so ask how evenly it goes on.
How your decorative job runs
- You call, I come out. You call, and I come out to look at the slab and ask how you use it and what look you're after.
- Estimate and permit. Your estimate spells out the work, and we settle the permit and utility locates with you first, since whoever applies is responsible for locating buried lines.
- Pour, stamp and cure. We pour, stamp and cure it, then come back once it can be walked on without marking to rinse off mat release and cutting dust.
- Walk it together. Once it's sealed, we walk it with you and go over how to care for it, so you know what keeps the color looking right.
Keeping your decorative slab sound over time
What keeps a decorative slab sound is mostly work you never see, the packed base and water running away from your house. If the budget's tight, I'd rather you pick a simpler pattern than skimp on the base, since the best finish still cracks when the ground under it moves.
We're based in Garden City and work in the cities around it, for homeowners, landlords and small business owners. If your patio needs a concrete retaining wall beside it, or you want color on an indoor slab through concrete floor installation, we can plan both together. When you're ready, ask for an estimate and I'll come take a look.
Tell us about your slab
Send the slab's size, its condition, how you use it and the colors you like. We reply within one business day, then I'll come out to look.
(620) 315-5440- Free on-site estimate
- No obligation
- The work spelled out
Questions about decorative concrete
How much does stamped concrete cost in Garden City?
Installing stamped concrete across the US usually costs about $26 to $31 per square foot, and that's a national figure for installation, not our price. Your own number depends on your slab and the finish you pick, and the estimate spells out what's in it.
Can my old concrete patio get a decorative overlay instead of being replaced?
It can if the slab is structurally sound, because a topping has to bond to the concrete under it. A slab that's heaving, settling or cracked clear through needs tear-out, so plan for a new slab instead of an overlay.
Do I need a permit for a stamped driveway or patio in Garden City?
Garden City's concrete permit covers driveways, patios and sidewalks, and the city's building inspections office approves construction in Garden City, Holcomb and Finney County. We'll pull the permit or help you apply yourself. A stamped finish on a public sidewalk starts with the city's Public Works Department, since decorative concrete there needs its approval.
Does a concrete contractor need a license in Garden City?
Yes, any handyman or contractor you hire needs a City of Garden City license, though you can hire a laborer without one. The license calls for a certificate of insurance listing the city, with at least $500,000 in general liability, so ask to see it.
How often does stamped concrete need to be resealed?
One field guide advises resealing stamped concrete every 2 to 3 years, so plan for it as part of owning a stamped surface. The same guide says to seal in two thin, even coats, since a heavy flood coat bubbles, turns white and gets slick when wet.