Decorative Concrete in Solon OH - a finish and sealer chosen for Ohio winters
Plain gray concrete that looks tired, or a patio that's lost its color? We add color and texture, then seal it to keep that look.
What does decorative concrete add to a plain slab?
Decorative concrete in Solon, OH is a regular slab given color, texture or a pressed pattern and then sealed, so your patio, walk or driveway looks like stone or brick and takes everyday wear. Most of it gets poured between spring and fall, because winter isn't the time to pour.
Most people call us because the concrete they have is plain, faded or worn, and they want something that looks finished. The price moves with the size of the area, how much base work the ground needs, the pattern, how many colors you want and the sealer. The schedule turns on the season, the city's permit review for a driveway or walk, and the weather on pour day. When I come out, I measure and write down what's included so you see your own figure before you decide, and if a plain concrete patio suits your yard better, I'll tell you.
How we do decorative concrete, from the base up
We start under the surface. We dig out and pack the subgrade, the soil and stone the slab sits on, and check where the water will run so the slab falls away from your house, because a nice pattern on a soft base settles and cracks with the dirt. Then we set forms, pour in the cooler part of the day so the top doesn't dry weak and dusty, and work in the color and the texture or stamp while the concrete is still wet. We cut control joints, planned grooves that give the slab a place to crack along a line we chose, and let it cure, which means keeping it damp and even while it gains strength. The sealer matters as much as the color, so I tell you which one we'd use and when it goes on. If the budget is tight, I'd rather simplify the pattern than thin the base, because nobody sees the base on day one but everyone sees what it does by the third winter.
Decorative work often sits beside other concrete. A colored patio on a sloped yard may need a concrete retaining wall to hold the grade, and we can finish the wall to go with the patio. Stain and polish work indoors too, so a basement or shop can get the same kind of color through our concrete floor installation work.
Stamped patterns for patios and walks
We press a pattern into the wet surface so it reads as stone, brick or slate, then add color. It suits a patio or front walk where looks come first, since the lines of the pattern hide the joints that control cracking.
Exposed stone or colored broom finish
Exposed aggregate shows the small stones in the mix, and a broom finish is a brushed texture that gives your shoes grip. Both suit driveways, steps and pool edges where slipping worries you more than a pattern does.
Decorative concrete in Solon and the season it has to fit
The rule that shapes decorative work in Solon is the calendar. Under the city's driveway and sidewalk permit rules, no concrete goes in between November 1 and April 15, and a pour also waits when the air is below 33 degrees or the ground under the slab is frozen. The city checks every measurement on a permit application, and work starts only after that check is done and the permit is issued, so for a spring driveway or walk I like to settle the design over the winter and get the paperwork in early. For decorative work the city's driveway and sidewalk rules don't name, I ask the city's building department before we start instead of guessing.
Ohio is hard on outdoor concrete. Constant moisture, freeze-thaw swings and road salt leave the top layer prone to scaling, where it flakes off in patches, and we see the same wear on jobs in Twinsburg and Aurora. That's why we don't skimp on the base or the sealer, and why I go over first-winter care with you before we leave.
Decorative finishes up close
Why call us for decorative concrete
I write every estimate myself
I come out, measure and list what's in the price, including the base work a lot of bids leave out and add back later. Our crew does the forming, pouring and finishing, with me or our foreman running the job, so what I sold you is what gets built.
Forming and finishing since 2013
I learned forming and finishing on a crew before I started this business in 2013. That's why I can tell you plainly what a pattern or an extra color costs you in money, time and trouble.
Licensed and insured for this work
We're licensed and insured. That matters when a crew, a mixer truck and several tons of concrete are on your property.
Pours timed for Solon's season
We book decorative pours for the months the city allows concrete and hold off when it's too cold, instead of rushing a slab in. A pour pushed through bad weather is usually the one that flakes first.
On decorative work, the base and the sealer decide how it looks a few winters from now more than the pattern does. Tell us about your project and I'll come out to measure and talk it through.
(440) 560-8533Get a written estimate for your decorative concrete
We get back to you within one business day to set a time, then I come out, measure and leave you a written estimate that lists what's included. The estimate at your property is free, and there's no obligation. It helps to tell us the size of the area, what's there now and the finish you like.
Decorative concrete questions from Solon homeowners
How much does a stamped concrete patio cost?
Installing a stamped concrete patio usually costs about $24 to $29 per square foot across the US. That's a national estimate, not a Solon price. Your own figure depends on your yard, so I'll measure and put it in writing.
Do I need a permit for a new driveway in Solon?
Yes. The City of Solon issues permits to build, add to or replace a driveway or sidewalk. When your job needs one, we file it and schedule the inspections. Rules differ from city to city, so on jobs outside Solon we check with that building department first.
Can I salt my new concrete in its first winter?
Not in the first year. Ohio Concrete advises sand or kitty litter for traction in place of deicing salts, especially for concrete placed after September. After a year, it considers calcium chloride and rock salt acceptable when used as the maker directs. Keep a bag of sand by the door that first winter.
How often does stamped concrete need resealing?
Reseal it when it needs it, which is when it stops shedding stains or the color looks flat, not on a fixed date. Resealing every year just to keep a high gloss can cause problems of its own. I'd rather you watch the surface, and I'll show you what to look for before we leave.
What is the best way to seal stamped concrete?
Most stamped concrete gets a film-forming sealer, which sits on top and brings out the color. Most penetrating sealers leave the color as it is and need fully cured concrete, so if you want richer color, film-forming is the usual pick. Ask when the sealer goes on and how heavily, because too much or too early can spoil the look.
How long does new decorative concrete take to cure?
Ohio Concrete advises curing new concrete for at least 7 days, and longer in cooler weather, then 30 days of air drying. Plan around both before you load up the patio. We'll tell you when the slab is ready for foot traffic and when it's ready for a car.
Plan decorative concrete and the base under it
Solon's driveway and walk pours stop for winter, so call (440) 560-8533 now to settle the finish and permit before spring.
