Stamped & Decorative Concrete
Beautiful custom concrete surfaces that combine the look of high-end materials with concrete's durability.
Make Concrete Look Like Anything
Plain gray concrete works fine, but decorative concrete turns ordinary surfaces into something special. Stamped and decorative concrete lets you get the high-end look of natural stone, brick, or tile without the high cost and maintenance those materials require. You can create patterns and textures that match your home's style while keeping all the benefits that make concrete the best choice for driveways, patios, and walkways.
We've installed decorative concrete throughout Bell Gardens in every style you can imagine. Flagstone patterns for a natural look. Herringbone brick for traditional charm. Wood plank designs for a modern farmhouse feel. The options go way beyond basic stamping too. Color, texture, borders, and custom scoring all combine to create unique surfaces that reflect your personal taste.
What makes decorative concrete so practical is that you're still getting a solid concrete surface underneath all that beauty. It lasts just as long as plain concrete. It handles weather and traffic the same way. But instead of looking industrial, your driveway or patio in Bell Gardens becomes a design feature that adds serious curb appeal to your property.
Popular Decorative Concrete Options
Let's walk through the main ways we can transform concrete from basic to beautiful. Each technique creates a different look and feel.
Stamped Concrete Patterns
Stamping involves pressing texture mats into fresh concrete to create the appearance of other materials. We pour and level your concrete just like a standard installation, but before it fully hardens, we press special stamps into the surface. These stamps are molded from real stone, brick, or wood to capture authentic texture and joint lines. The result looks remarkably like the real thing but costs a fraction of the price.
Popular stamped patterns include random flagstone for a natural look, ashlar slate that mimics cut stone, cobblestone for old-world charm, and wood plank designs that look like decking. We can stamp entire surfaces or create borders and accents. Many homeowners choose a stamped pattern for their patio and coordinate it with their plain or lightly textured driveway for a unified look.
Concrete Coloring
Color transforms concrete from boring to bold. We use two main coloring methods. Integral color gets mixed into the concrete before we pour it. The color goes all the way through, so scratches and wear won't reveal gray concrete underneath. We can create earth tones like tan and terra cotta, grays ranging from light to charcoal, or even reds and browns that mimic natural clay.
The other method is surface coloring with dry shake hardeners or stains applied after the pour. These techniques create richer, more varied colors and can produce mottled or aged effects. Acid stains react chemically with the concrete to create unique, natural-looking color variations. Water-based stains offer more color choices and give you consistent, predictable results. We often combine stamping with color to make the patterns look even more realistic.
Exposed Aggregate
Instead of hiding what's in the concrete, exposed aggregate celebrates it. We use concrete mixes with beautiful decorative stones, then wash away the surface layer to reveal the aggregate underneath. The result is a natural, textured surface with visual depth. You can choose from different stone types and sizes to match your aesthetic. River rock creates a smooth, organic look. Crushed granite adds sparkle. Mixed aggregates give you varied colors and textures in one surface.
Exposed aggregate works great for pool decks because the texture provides excellent traction even when wet. It also hides dirt and wear better than smooth concrete, making it ideal for high-traffic areas like driveways and walkways.
Scoring and Saw Cuts
Sometimes the simplest decorative treatment makes the biggest impact. We can cut patterns into your concrete with a saw after it cures. Straight lines create a tile effect. Diagonal patterns add visual interest. Curved cuts can mimic natural stone shapes. These cuts also serve a practical purpose as control joints that guide where cracks form. We often combine scoring with staining, using different colors in each section to emphasize the pattern.
Design Ideas and Inspiration
Not sure what style fits your home? Here are some combinations that work well in Bell Gardens neighborhoods.
- •Mediterranean style: Stamped slate or flagstone in warm tan or terra cotta tones creates an Old World feel that complements Spanish and Mediterranean homes common in Southern California.
- •Modern minimalist: Smooth concrete with subtle scoring in geometric patterns and light gray staining gives you clean, contemporary lines perfect for modern architecture.
- •Traditional charm: Stamped brick patterns in red or brown tones work beautifully with craftsman and traditional ranch homes. Add a soldier course border for extra detail.
- •Natural organic: Random flagstone stamping with multiple earth tone colors mimics natural stone patios and pathways. Perfect for homes with lots of landscaping.
- •Coastal casual: Light gray or buff colored concrete with exposed aggregate in white or cream stones creates a beachy, relaxed vibe.
We're happy to bring samples and photos to your property so you can see how different options look next to your home's existing colors and materials. Lighting matters too. The same concrete can look different in full sun versus shade, so we'll review your site conditions as we plan your design.