Decorative concrete in Redondo Beach CA - a finish that holds to the slab under it
Plain gray patio or walk that looks worn? We prep the old surface or pour new, then give it the finish you chose.
Can I make my plain concrete look better?
Decorative concrete is flat concrete work like patios, walks and driveways finished with color, texture or a pattern instead of plain gray, and in Redondo Beach we do it on new pours and on old slabs that are sound enough to take a new surface.
Most people who call have a patio or walk that's worn, stained or just dull, and they want to know if it can be dressed up or has to come out. If the old slab is cracked through or sinking, a finish on top won't hold, so we'd talk about a new patio instead. The price mostly comes down to the size of the area, the finish you pick and how much work the old surface needs before anything goes on it. The schedule turns on that same prep, plus the wait for any new concrete to cure. When I come out, I walk the job, measure it and write down what's included. We're based in Redondo Beach and work across the South Bay and the cities around it.
How we do decorative concrete
On old concrete, I start by looking hard at the slab, because the old surface decides how well the new finish holds. We check for cracks, flaking spots and corners that have dropped, then clean the surface and grind it rough so the new layer has something to grab. When we can, we'll show you a sample so you see the color and texture before we commit to the whole area. On a new pour, we dig out and pack the subgrade, the soil and gravel the slab sits on, set rebar where the slab needs steel to hold it together, then pour, finish and cut control joints. Those are shallow cuts that give cracks a straight place to go. Concrete cracks, and I'd rather show you where the joints will put those cracks than promise you none. After that it cures, the wait while it gains strength before you use it. When budgets get tight, people want to cut the base and keep the fancy finish. I'll steer you the other way, because nobody sees the base on day one, but it decides whether that finish stays flat.
Decorative work often ties into other jobs. A sloped yard may need a concrete retaining wall before the patio below it can sit level, and the wall can be finished to go with it. Inside, concrete floor installation gives you a new slab that can take a stain or texture once it's ready.
Resurfacing the slab you have
This suits a slab that's solid underneath and only worn on top, because the new layer bonds to the old one. If the old slab is moving, the new surface moves with it, so I'll tell you straight if yours isn't a good candidate.
A new decorative pour
This suits a slab that's cracked through, sinking or needs a new shape, because we start over with a dug-out, packed base. It usually costs more than resurfacing, but the finish is built in from the first day.
Decorative concrete permits and jobs in Redondo Beach
Whether a decorative job needs a permit in Redondo Beach depends on the work, and the city makes that call. The city's Building Division issues permits for work on private property and does the inspections, at (310) 318-0636. Its Engineering Division handles permits for work in the public way, like a driveway apron or sidewalk, at (310) 318-0661. If your job needs a permit, we tell you up front, take care of the paperwork and check with the city before we start. State law requires a Dig Alert ID number before the city's permit to excavate is valid, which you get by calling 800-422-4133, so we take care of that before any digging. If your driveway meets a state highway, Caltrans requires an encroachment permit for that work too.
A lot of what I look at here is older patios and walks that have worn rough or settled at a corner, and the first thing I sort out is whether the slab can be resurfaced or should come out. We see the same kind of older slabs on jobs in Torrance and Hermosa Beach, and we handle them the same way.
Decorative concrete finishes up close
Why call us for decorative concrete
I look at it myself
I come out to see your concrete at the estimate, and I work alongside our crew when we do the job. The person who judged your old surface is the one watching it get prepped.
Learned on city sidewalks and curbs
I learned concrete on a city public works crew, pouring sidewalks, curbs and driveway aprons, and started this business in Redondo Beach in 2023. That work taught me to get the ground under a slab right before anything else.
Licensed and insured on every job
We're licensed and insured. That's what you want from anyone grinding, cutting or pouring concrete at your house.
On this kind of job, it all starts with the surface you have now. Call (424) 402-3940, email photos of your concrete, the rough size of the area and the finish you like to team@redondobeachconcretecompany.com, or request an estimate.
(424) 402-3940Get a free on-site estimate for your decorative concrete
We reply within one business day to set a time, then I come out, look at your concrete, measure it and write down what's included. The estimate is free and there's no obligation.
Decorative concrete questions from Redondo Beach
What decorative concrete finishes can I choose for a patio in Redondo Beach?
Common choices are exposed aggregate, where the stones in the mix show at the surface, textured finishes, geometric patterns and stains. You can stick with one or combine a few for a look of your own. I'll talk through which ones suit how you use the space and what's already there.
Can my old concrete patio be resurfaced instead of torn out?
Often yes, if the top is only lightly to moderately flaked and the slab underneath is solid. A bonded new surface is only as strong as the concrete below it, so a slab that's cracked through or sinking has to be dealt with first. I'll tell you which one you have when I look at it.
What causes a decorative overlay or stain to fail on old concrete?
Poor surface prep is the usual cause, because overlays, stains and coatings all depend on a properly prepared surface to bond. Dirt, old coatings and a slick top keep the new material from grabbing. When you compare contractors, ask each one how they'll prepare your old surface.
How much does decorative concrete cost near Redondo Beach?
Installed stamped concrete in the Los Angeles area usually runs about $15 to $30 per square foot. That's a guide for stamped work, and other finishes can land somewhere else. Your price depends on the size of the area, the finish and how much prep the old slab needs, and the estimate gives you a written list of what's included.
Does my concrete contractor need a California license?
Yes, the Contractors State License Board requires a license when the job needs a building permit, uses additional workers or costs $1,000 or more in labor and materials. Under California law, changes to a home improvement contract also have to be in writing, easy to understand and tell you about your right to cancel.
How do I get a concrete repair to match my existing slab color?
You can't count on a match, because repair material won't look the same as the original concrete. That's one reason people put a decorative finish over the whole area, so old and new read as one surface. If a patch would stand out, I'll tell you before we start.
Plan a decorative finish for your patio, walk or steps
Call (424) 402-3940 any day, into the late evening, and we'll set a time to look at your concrete.
