One pattern, one color
A basic stamped design with one pattern and one color costs less and is easier to keep up, though it may look less striking next to a busier layout.
Decorative concrete in Long Beach CA - a design that fits your budget and upkeep
Plain gray concrete that looks tired next to your house? We'll help you pick a color and pattern you can afford and keep up.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free on-site estimates.
- Replies within 1 business day.
What decorative concrete involves for your home
Decorative concrete in Long Beach is concrete given color and a pattern so your driveway, patio or walk looks planned instead of plain gray, and at Advantage Long Beach Concrete Company we settle the design with you before anything is poured.
Most calls I get are about a driveway, patio or walk that works fine but looks plain, or a new slab the owner wants to match the house. The price moves with the size of the area, how busy the pattern is, how many colors you want and whether we're pouring new or working with concrete already there. The schedule turns mostly on what the city's permit office says and on curing, the days fresh concrete needs to gain strength before it's sealed and used. I come out, look at the spot and write the estimate, so you'll have your own figure in writing with the work spelled out.
The owner writes your estimate
I come out to each job myself and write the estimate, and I'm usually on site for the pour, so the person who planned your design is there when it goes in.
We check the permit first
Before we price your job, we check with the city's permit office about what it calls for, and when a permit is needed, we handle the application and meet the inspector on site.
Licensed, insured and our own crew
We're fully licensed and insured, and our own crew does the work, so you know exactly who is on your property from the first visit to the final cleanup.
How we plan and pour decorative concrete
I start by walking the area with you, checking where the water runs so the finished slab falls away from your house, and settling a design that fits your budget and how much upkeep you want, since busier patterns and more colors ask for more care. Our crew then digs out and packs the subgrade, the soil the slab sits on, because a base that's only raked level settles with the dirt and takes your pattern down with it. We set the forms and the rebar, steel bars that strengthen the slab, and we pour early in the day so the top doesn't dry weak and dusty in the midday heat. Then we color, stamp and cut control joints, shallow cuts that give the concrete a planned place to crack, because I'd rather be straight with you that a decorative slab can still crack and work to keep those cracks small. If the budget gets tight, I'll suggest a simpler pattern before I'd ever thin out the base, because nobody sees the base on day one, but you live with it for years.
Decorative work often sits next to other concrete jobs. When a new patio or walk runs up against a slope, we build concrete retaining walls planned with the same look in mind, and if you'd like a finished surface indoors, that starts with our concrete floor installation.
Choosing a pattern and color that suits you
Borders, inlays and extra colors
Intricate patterns, several colors, borders and custom inlays cost more and need regular upkeep to hold their look, so I'd usually save them for the spot people see most.
Patterns that hide the joints
Patterns with roughly parallel grout lines can sometimes hide the control joints, while random patterns leave the joints showing however they're cut, so that's worth weighing if you want a cleaner look.
Color mixed into the concrete
With integral color, iron oxide pigment goes in while the concrete is being mixed, so the color runs through the concrete itself instead of sitting only on the surface.
Get a written decorative concrete estimate
Send us the form and we'll reply within one business day to set a time. I'll come out, look at the area and give you a free written estimate, with no obligation to book.
The rough size of the area
A rough length and width is plenty for the first call, because size is one of the main things that moves the price, and it helps me plan the visit.
New slab or existing concrete
Tell us whether we're starting from bare ground or there's concrete in place now, since tearing out, preparing and pouring each change what the job involves.
A design idea or photo
A picture of a pattern or color you like, even a rough one, gives us a starting point to talk through cost and upkeep when I come out.
Concrete finish and pattern examples
These example photos show colors, stamped patterns, borders and layouts you can point to when we talk through what fits your space.
Questions about decorative concrete in Long Beach
Here are plain answers about cost, permits, cracking, licensing and upkeep for decorative concrete jobs in Long Beach.
How much does stamped concrete cost near Long Beach?
Stamped concrete in Los Angeles usually costs about $15 to $30 per square foot. Where a job lands in that range depends on its size, how involved the design is and local contractor rates. That's the market's range, not our price, so I'll give you your own figure in a written estimate after I see the area.
Does a concrete driveway in Long Beach need a building permit?
A private driveway may not need one, since the city says private walkways, driveways and decks up to 30 inches above the ground beside them may be exempt. Lots in historic districts or coastal zones can have added requirements, and work in the street needs a permit from Long Beach Public Works. I check with the city's Development Permit Center before pricing your job.
Will decorative concrete crack?
Yes, decorative concrete can still crack, even when it's done well. Reinforcement won't prevent cracking, but the right amount keeps random cracks from opening wide, so they show less. Please ask me how much reinforcement your slab will get, and I'll explain it alongside the base and joints we're planning.
How often does stamped concrete need resealing?
One Los Angeles cost guide says every two to three years, with upkeep there aimed at protecting the surface from sun and wear. The first seal is its own step a few days after the pour, because one product maker's guide says stamped concrete should cure 72 hours or more before it's washed and sealed.
Does a decorative concrete contractor need a license in Long Beach?
Yes, a contractor pulling a building permit in Long Beach needs a valid California State Contractor's License and an active Long Beach Business License, and the state's concrete classification covers forming, pouring and finishing flatwork like driveways and patios. The state's small-job exemption for unlicensed workers stops at $1,000 and covers only work that needs no permit, done by someone with no employees.
Plan your decorative concrete with a call
Thank you for considering us, and since a pattern and color can take a few talks to settle, calling early leaves room to choose well.