Decorative concrete in Lewiston ID - a new look on a slab that can hold it
Plain gray concrete that looks tired? We check the slab first, then add color, pattern and a sealer that suits how you use it.
Have your slab checked before picking a pattern
Call (208) 848-5044 or use the form, and keep photos of any cracks or settling handy so I know what to look at more closely when I come out.
Should I resurface my old concrete or replace it?
Decorative concrete in Lewiston gives a plain slab a new look, either with tinted concrete in a fresh pour or with a stamped overlay, a thin patterned layer laid over the concrete you already have. The sealer on top matters as much as the color, because it decides how easy the surface is to clean and how slick it gets.
Most people who call me have a patio, walk or slab that's still solid but looks tired, or one that's cracked and starting to sink. Which one you've got moves the price more than anything, because resurfacing and replacing are two different jobs, and after that it's the size of the area and how much patching it needs. The schedule turns on the weather around pour day, whether the city wants a permit, and curing, the time the concrete needs to harden before you use it. You'll get your own figure in a written estimate once I've seen the slab.
Why Lewiston homeowners call us for decorative concrete
The owner checks your slab
I come out to look at your concrete and write the estimate, then run the crew when we form, pour and finish. So nothing I saw gets lost between the estimate and pour day.
In business since 2017
I learned concrete on my own place in Lewiston and other crews' sites, then went out on my own in 2017. We're best known for flatwork like patios and walks, and decorative work is flatwork with a finish on top.
Licensed, insured, permits checked first
We're licensed and insured, and before any work we ask the city or county office over your property and tell you its answer. If you need a permit, we handle the application and inspections.
On decorative work the finish can only be as good as the slab under it, so the first step is letting me see yours. Send us a message or call (208) 848-5044 to set up a visit.
How we handle decorative concrete, start to finish
Before we talk patterns, I check whether your existing slab is sound enough to resurface, and if it's badly cracked or settled, I'll tell you plainly that replacing it is the better choice. When it's sound, we clean it, patch the small cracks and chips, lay the overlay and stamp the pattern while it's still soft enough to take it. When it needs replacing, we dig out the old slab, pack the subgrade, the dirt and gravel the new slab sits on, and pour tinted concrete, then cut control joints, shallow grooves that give cracks a planned place to go. The base is the part nobody sees and the first thing people want to trim from the budget, and I'd rather trim the pattern than the base, because a nice finish on a soft base cracks right along with it. The sealer goes on last, once the surface is ready for it.
Decorative work often sits next to other concrete. If a new patio backs up to a slope, concrete retaining walls can hold the yard back in a matching color and finish, and for an indoor space, concrete floor installation gives you a new slab to finish the same way.
Stamped overlay on your slab
Suits a patio, walk or slab that's solid but plain or stained, since it adds pattern and texture without a tear-out. It only makes sense when the concrete underneath can hold it.
New tinted concrete
Suits a slab that's too cracked, flaking or sunken to resurface, because you start over with color mixed into the concrete itself. It costs more than an overlay, but you get a new base along with the new look.
Film-forming sealer
Coats the surface, so it suits a patio under a grill or a busy entry where easy cleaning matters most. The trade-off is resealing more often.
Penetrating sealer
Soaks into the concrete and lasts longer between reseals, so it suits people who'd rather not reseal often. For spots that get wet, ask us about a non-slip additive, since how slick a surface gets depends mostly on the sealer.
How do you know if your slab is a good fit for decorative concrete?
Plain, stained gray surface
The slab is level and solid but dull, stained or worn. That's usually the best case for an overlay, and waiting mostly lets stains set deeper and small chips spread.
Thin cracks across the top
Hairline cracks that haven't opened up or shifted are usually surface trouble, not a failing slab. Water works into them over time, though, and they widen the longer they're left.
A flaking, chipping surface
When the top flakes off in patches, which we call spalling, the slab may be too far gone to hold an overlay. It keeps spreading once it starts, and a bigger patch means fewer choices.
One side sinking or tilting
A slab that's dropped, tilted or holds puddles has a base problem underneath, and no overlay fixes that. Left alone, it settles further and can send water toward your house.
What happens when you call about decorative concrete in Lewiston?
Call and set up a visit
Call (208) 848-5044 or send a message, and I'll come check the slab and hear what you want. My written estimate spells out the prep, the mix and the joint layout.
Settle permits, then pour
Once the permit question is settled, we pick a pour date with the weather in mind. I'm on site running the crew through forming, pouring and stamping.
Finish, cure and seal
I stay with the job through finishing and curing so the surface hardens right. Once it's ready, the sealer goes on and your new surface is done.
Decorative concrete questions we hear
Here's what people in Lewiston usually ask before choosing an overlay or a new pour. If your slab doesn't fit neatly into any of these, call and ask about yours.
Can my old concrete patio get a stamped overlay?
Yes, if the concrete is still in reasonably good shape, because an overlay is only as solid as the slab it's bonded to. Large cracks, a lot of flaking or serious settling usually point to replacement instead. You'll know which way your slab leans after the site visit.
How long does a stamped concrete overlay last?
A properly applied stamped overlay should last 10 to 20 years or more. Most of that rides on the prep and the application, so who puts it down matters as much as the pattern you pick, and keeping it sealed helps it look right longer.
Do I need a permit in Lewiston for sidewalk or curb work?
Yes, the City of Lewiston requires a Right-of-Way Permit for all sidewalk and curb and gutter work, and a building permit to build or alter a structure the code covers. For anything else, the city's building staff will talk a project through by phone, email or at the office and decide whether it needs a permit or a plan review. If you'd like to ask them yourself before we start, that's a good call.
How do I know when to reseal decorative concrete?
Reseal when the surface stops shedding water and stains or the color starts looking faded, not on a set number of years. To check, pour a little water on it. If it beads up, the sealer's still working, and if it soaks in fast and darkens the spot, it's time to reseal.
How much does decorative concrete cost in Lewiston?
There's no honest single number, because an overlay on a sound slab and a tear-out with a new tinted pour are very different jobs. Past that, a detailed pattern, more than one color and the sealer you pick all move it up or down, and the written estimate puts your own number on it. Idaho also requires a general contractor to give you a disclosure statement before you sign a contract over $2,000 for work on your home.
What causes new colored concrete to look blotchy?
New tinted concrete usually looks uneven and a little darker than its final color until it's fully cured. One color maker advises giving it 28 days for the final cure before you judge the color, so try not to worry about it in the first few weeks.
Get a written estimate for your slab
Tell us where the slab is, how much area you want covered and whether it has cracks or settling. We reply within one business day, then I come out for a free on-site estimate, with no obligation to book.
Decorative concrete finishes
Work that often goes with it
Concrete retaining walls
If a new patio sits against a slope, a retaining wall holds the soil back so it doesn't wash onto your finished surface or push against the slab.
Learn moreConcrete floor installation
For a basement, shop or garage-style room, a new interior slab gives you a level, solid floor that can take color and sealer like your outdoor concrete.
Learn more