Good decorative concrete contractors in Contra Costa County, including those serving Pleasant Hill, Concord, Martinez, Richmond and Brentwood and other areas, should give you a final invoice for services rendered once the work is complete.

It’s your right and responsibility to check over the work and make sure it meets the promises made in your contract and your expectations. Ask for clarification or more information if something seems to be other than was promised or agreed upon. This is also the time to learn about any regular maintenance, cleaning or care instructions.

Once you’ve agreed that the work is complete and the services rendered are as expected, ask for an invoice that includes the following:

• The decorative concrete contractor’s name, physical address and state license number.
• A complete list of all work performed.
• An itemized list of all materials used.
• The total cost for the decorative concrete companies services, including the itemized amount charged for labor.
• A written explanation of any warranties or guarantees provided by the product manufacturers and the Contra Costa County decorative concrete contractors.

Product guarantees and warranties on workmanship are your security when it comes to hiring a local decorative concrete contractor.

Not all companies serving homeowners in San Ramon, Danville, Brentwood, Martinez and Pleasant Hill and beyond guarantee their decorative concrete installations, but the best ones do. All licensed contractors are required to give clients a one-year warranty. However, companies that do good work are likely to back up that work. That means they’ll stand behind their materials, services and workmanship and put their promises in writing.

The following items should be included in any written guarantee document:

• The Contra Costa County decorative concrete contractor’s name, physical address and state license number.
• A description of what exactly the warranty covers. This should include whether the contractor will repair or replace any faulty materials or workmanship.
• Any exclusions must be explicitly stated.
• Your responsibility in the case of a problem and what you need to do in order to redeem the warranty.
• How long the warranty is valid, and whether it expires on a specific day or is prorated (meaning, the warranty coverage and amount owed for repair or replacement diminishes over time).
• If the warranty coverage is transferable to the new owner if you sell the home or commercial building in which the work was done.
• Any actions on your part that may invalidate the warranty, including maintenance and routine care of the decorative concrete surfaces.

Stamped Concrete / Concrete Stamping
Stamped concrete is an interior or exterior concrete surface that has been stamped, patterned, embossed or textured using a stamp or pattern that is pressed into the wet concrete to create a specific texture. This changes the usually flat nature of concrete so that it resembles wood, brick, natural stone like slate and flagstone, tile and other textures or patterns. Concrete stamping is a decorative concrete treatment often used to transform concrete on driveways, patios, walkways and sidewalks, decks and even flooring in homes, among other locations. It is popular for its durability, lack of cracks between patterned areas, and ease of maintenance

Concrete Stain / Concrete Staining Services
Concrete is a porous material, so it can be stained and colored. Concrete can be stained using acid or water based stains to change the color of the concrete. Acid staining for concrete doesn’t add pigment or dye to the concrete, but instead is a coating of water, mineral salts and muriatic acid that is applied to concrete. The chemical reaction creates an earth-toned stained appearance on the surface of the concrete. Acid staining creates a variegated appearance that is less constant than other types of concrete coloring or staining. Water based concrete stain, acrylic stains, polymer concrete stain and epoxy concrete stains can be applied as a coating to poured and hardened concrete to create a look that varies from opaque to translucent.

Concrete Resurfacing
Concrete surfaces (sidewalks, driveways, patios, pool patios, decks, slabs and more) that have become cracked, pitted, chipped, damaged, faded or otherwise damaged may be resurfaced. This includes filling all cracks and holes with a special concrete repair material and then covering the entire concrete surface with a concrete resurfacing material (usually made of polymer) to cover the imperfections and repaired areas. Resurfaced concrete can look like new concrete and may be a good way to save money instead of replacing concrete that is only slightly or aesthetically damaged. Resurfaced concrete can often be polished, overlayed, engraved, colored or stamped to appear like a new surface.

Colored Concrete
Colored concrete is created by adding concrete dyes to wet/freshly poured or hardened concrete. Colored concrete can come in any range of colors to complement homes and landscaping, and may be applied by Contra Costa County decorative concrete companies in Pleasant Hill, Martinez, Concord, Richmond, Brentwood, Danville, Antioch, Walnut Creek, Pittsburg and San Ramon and beyond to concrete surfaces inside or outside for a custom concrete look.

Concrete Polishing Services in Contra Costa County
The use of professional grinding machines equipped with diamond-covered sanding pads to polish concrete is a popular way to bring rough concrete to a smooth and even shiny finish. Polished concrete is popular on interior surfaces including floors, hallways and counter tops. Concrete polishing can also be done with concrete staining and coloring to create a customized surface that may not resemble concrete at all, or may look like a high-gloss seamless expanse of stone. Polished concrete is popularly used in commercial buildings, government buildings and other high-traffic buildings and areas.

Decorative Concrete Overlays
Concrete overlays are layers of acrylic paint resin, polymer or another material mixed with cement and sand to create a thin, smooth layer that adheres to the top of a concrete patio, floor, driveway or other surface. These overlays restore worn concrete surfaces, protect damaged or pitted concrete, make old concrete look like new, level settled concrete areas and allow for recoloring or redecorating existing concrete with stamped overlays or colored overlays. Specialty concrete overlays may have textures, colors, designs or other custom looks.

Engraved Concrete
Concrete contractors in Contra Costa County and throughout the Greater Bay Area can engrave concrete by using saws or specialty diamond-fitted grinder blades to cut lines, groves, patterns, and other custom designs into the surface of concrete. Homeowners can choose from patterns that make the concrete look like brick, cobblestone, flagstone, fieldstone or other types of natrual stone, or can choose a customized pattern or design.

Cracked Concrete Refinishing
Concrete that becomes cracked, flaky, pitted, stained or otherwise damaged can be refinished using cracked concrete refinishing techniques. These can include overlays or decorative refinishign that mask or cover damaged ares. Decorative concrete companies in Danville, Antioch, San Ramon, Walnut Creek and Pittsburg, Orinda, Knightsen, Alamo, Diablo, North Richmond, Walnut Heights, Hercules, El Sobrante and other areas of Contra Costa County can provide cracked and damaged concrete refinishing.

Decorative Exterior Concrete Services in Contra Costa County
Exterior concrete areas such as driveways, patios, pool decks, walkways, pathways and more can be treated with decorative concrete methods to achieve a custom look. Decorative concrete applications useful for transforming outdoor concrete surfaces include concrete stamping, acid staining, color staining, concrete dyeing, concrete polishing, decorative overlays, etching, concrete sanding, concrete coatings and more.

Decorative Interior Concrete
Interior concrete surfaces including floors, countertops, walls, sinks, indoor pool decks and more can be treated by decorative concrete companies to give a customized appearance that enhances interior decoration and personality. Interior concrete surfaces may be polished, sanded, dyed, stained, engraved, overlaid and stamped.

Decorative Concrete Repairs and Refinishing
Decorative concrete surfaces are long-lasting by nature. However, from time to time, they may need to be repaired or refinished. Homeowners may also choose to have them remodeled or changed to fit changes in decor or new styles. Colored concrete can often be recolored, stained or dyed. Stamped concrete and other types of decorative concrete can be restamped, overlaid, polished, engraved or coated to enhance, repair or completely change the look of the surface.

acid staining
Acid staining for concrete does not use dyes or pigments, but instead relies on a chemical reaction resulting water, mineral salts and muriatic acid to react to the existing minerals in the concrete to create earth-toned colors such as tan, brown, red and green on the concrete surface. Acid staining on decorative concrete leaves a variegated or marbleized appearance.

Also known as: acid stained concrete, acid stain technique, acid stain decorative concrete

antiquing
Antiquing concrete is a decorative approach to concrete modification that involves color layering to make concrete surfaces appear mottled and aged, as if they were old.

Also known as: antiqued concrete

broom finish
Broom finish is a specialty finish on decorative concrete that is created by pushing a broom across fresh concrete so that the broom bristles leave lines and patterns in the surface.

Also known as: broom finishing

color chips
Color chips are plastic and stone chips available in many sizes and colors. These chips are mixed with or pressed into concrete or freshly resurfaced concrete to produce a multicolored finish. Decorative concrete treated with this effect can look like terrazzo composite material.

Also known as: terrazzo concrete, color chip aggregate concrete

colored concrete
Colored concrete is created by adding concrete dyes to wet/freshly poured or hardened concrete. Colored concrete can come in any range of colors to complement homes and landscaping, and may be applied inside or outside for a custom concrete look.

Also known as: dyed concrete, color concrete, coloring concrete, concrete coloring

concrete polishing
The use of professional grinding machines equipped with diamond-covered sanding pads to polish concrete is a popular way to bring rough concrete to a smooth and even shiny finish. Polished concrete is popular on interior surfaces including floors, hallways and counter tops. Concrete polishing can also be done with concrete staining and coloring to create a customized surface that may not resemble concrete at all, or may look like a high-gloss seamless expanse of stone. Polished concrete is popularly used in commercial buildings, government buildings and other high-traffic buildings and areas.

Also known as: concrete polishing services, polished concrete

concrete resurfacing
Concrete surfaces (sidewalks, driveways, patios, pool patios, decks, slabs and more) that have become cracked, pitted, chipped, damaged, faded or otherwise damaged may be resurfaced. This includes filling all cracks and holes with a special concrete repair material and then covering the entire concrete surface with a concrete resurfacing material (usually made of polymer) to cover the imperfections and repaired areas. Resurfaced concrete can look like new concrete and may be a good way to save money instead of replacing concrete that is only slightly or aesthetically damaged. Resurfaced concrete can often be polished, overlaid, engraved, colored or stamped to appear like a new surface.

Also known as: concrete resurfacing services, resurfaced concrete, refinished concrete, decorative concrete repair

concrete stain
Concrete is a porous material, so it can be stained and colored. Concrete can be stained using acid or water based stains to change the color of the concrete. Acid staining for concrete doesn’t add pigment or dye to the concrete, but instead is a coating of water, mineral salts and muriatic acid that is applied to concrete. The chemical reaction creates an earth-toned stained appearance on the surface of the concrete. Acid staining creates a variegated appearance that is less constant than other types of concrete coloring or staining. Water based concrete stain, acrylic stains, polymer concrete stain and epoxy concrete stains can be applied as a coating to poured and hardened concrete to create a look that varies from opaque to translucent.

Also known as: concrete staining services, concrete stain, concrete color stain, colored concrete

cracked concrete refinishing
Concrete that becomes cracked, flaky, pitted, stained or otherwise damaged can be refinished using cracked concrete refinishing techniques. These can include overlays or decorative refinishing that mask or cover damaged ares.

Also known as: cracked concrete repair

decorative concrete overlays
Concrete overlays are layers of acrylic paint resin, polymer or another material mixed with cement and sand to create a thin, smooth layer that adheres to the top of a concrete patio, floor, driveway or other surface. These overlays restore worn concrete surfaces, protect damaged or pitted concrete, make old concrete look like new, level settled concrete areas and allow for recoloring or redecorating existing concrete with stamped overlays or colored overlays. Specialty concrete overlays may have textures, colors, designs or other custom looks.

Also known as: decorative overlay, overlaid concrete, stamped concrete overlays

decorative concrete repairs and refinishing
Decorative concrete surfaces are long-lasting by nature. However, from time to time, they may need to be repaired or refinished. Homeowners may also choose to have them remodeled or changed to fit changes in decor or new styles. Colored concrete can often be recolored, stained or dyed. Stamped concrete and other types of decorative concrete can be restamped, overlaid, polished, engraved or coated to enhance, repair or completely change the look of the surface.

Also known as: decorative concrete repair, damaged concrete refinishing

decorative exterior concrete applications
Exterior concrete areas such as driveways, patios, pool decks, walkways, pathways and more can be treated with decorative concrete methods to achieve a custom look. Decorative concrete applications useful for transforming outdoor concrete surfaces include concrete stamping, acid staining, color staining, concrete dyeing, concrete polishing, decorative overlays, etching, concrete sanding, concrete coatings and more.

Also known as: exterior decorative concrete, decorative concrete patios, decorative concrete driveways

decorative interior concrete
Interior concrete surfaces including floors, countertops, walls, sinks, indoor pool decks and more can be treated by decorative concrete companies to give a customized appearance that enhances interior decoration and personality. Interior concrete surfaces may be polished, sanded, dyed, stained, engraved, overlaid and stamped.

Also known as: concrete countertop effects, polished concrete, colored concrete, sanded concrete, engraved concrete, stamped concrete

dry-shake
Dry-shake is a color-hardneing mixture of colored pigments, cement, concrete aggregates and surface hardening material. This is applied (usually by shaking, hence the name “color-shake” or “dry-shake”) over stamped concrete, concrete overlays, and fresh concrete to create a multi-faceted, colorful, hardening surface to the concrete.

Also known as: concrete coloring

engraved concrete
Concrete contractors can engrave concrete by using saws or specialty diamond-fitted grinder blades to cut lines, groves, patterns, and other custom designs into the surface of concrete. Homeowners can choose from patterns that make the concrete look like brick, cobblestone, flagstone, fieldstone or other types of natural stone, or can choose a customized pattern or design.

Also known as: concrete engraving, concrete etching

exposed aggregate
Exposed aggregate is a decorative concrete surface created (or uncovered) by scrubbing, sand blasting, pressure washing or otherwise removing surface mortar from concrete. This exposes aggregate pieces in the concrete, creating a multi-colored surface that is unique and beautiful.

Also known as: aggregate concrete

marbleized concrete
Concrete surfaces that have been treated with specialty color layering, polishing and finishing techniques that give them a marble-like look are said to be marbleized.

Also known as: faux marble concrete

stamped concrete
Stamped concrete is an interior or exterior concrete surface that has been stamped, patterned, embossed or textured using a stamp or pattern that is pressed into the wet concrete to create a specific texture. This changes the usually flat nature of concrete so that it resembles wood, brick, natural stone like slate and flagstone, tile and other textures or patterns. Concrete stamping is a decorative concrete treatment often used to transform concrete on driveways, patios, walkways and sidewalks, decks and even flooring in homes, among other locations. It is popular for its durability, lack of cracks between patterned areas, and ease of maintenance.

Also known as:  concrete stamping, concrete stamping services

Q: Why choose Diamond Certified decorative concrete companies?
A: Diamond Certified helps you choose decorative concrete companies with confidence by offering a list of top rated local companies who have passed the country’s most in-depth rating process. Only decorative concrete companies rated Highest in Quality and Helpful Expertise® earn the prestigious Diamond Certified award. Most companies can’t pass the ratings. American Ratings Corporation also monitors every Diamond Certified company with ongoing research and ratings. And your purchase is backed by the Diamond Certified Performance Guarantee, so you’ll feel confident choosing a Diamond Certified decorative concrete companies.

Q: What types of decorative concrete applications are available?
A:  Good decorative concrete companies can provide many services to make your interior concrete and exterior concrete applications look like you want them to look. There many applications, decorative methods and staining methods they can use to accomplish this, to create the following:

• Stamped concrete
• Stained concrete
• Concrete resurfacing
• Colored concrete / concrete coloring
• Concrete polishing
• Decorative concrete overlays
• Engraved concrete
• Cracked concrete refinishing
• Decorative exterior concrete
• Decorative concrete repairs and refinishing

Q: How do I choose the pattern or color of my new decorative concrete?
A: There are so many choices when it comes to decorative concrete that it can be hard to choose the right one for your application. Most decorative concrete companies recommend taking into account your home’s style and that of the surrounding landscaping. If your home is brick, it is often smart to mimic the style and color in your stamped concrete. If you have stone floors in your home, carrying the same style into your walkway, patio or even driveway can unify your home’s interior and exterior. It’s also smart to pick a color and pattern scheme that complements your landscaping and home if you don’t want something that matches exactly. Your decorative concrete contractor should be able to guide you and give you samples and examples that will meet your needs and preferences, and help your home look its best.

Q: Why should I consider stamped concrete for my home or business?
A: Stamped concrete is a great alternative for homeowners or business owners who want an affordable, attractive concrete application. Stamped concrete is a relatively economical approach to driveways, patios, walkways, outdoor decks and even interior flooring. It usually costs less than pavers and natural stone, such as slate and travertine, and natural wood, and it holds up well over time. Stamped concrete is poured in on piece, unlike pavers and natural stone, so it also requires less maintenance because no weeds can grow through it, since it lacks cracks and spaces between real stone or wood. Customers also like the wide variety of choices available in terms of color options and patterns for decorative concrete.

Q: Is decorative concrete expensive?
A: That depends on your needs, preferences and the styles you choose. Decorative concrete can be expensive, as much of the cost depends on the going rate for labor and materials. Obviously, the larger and more intensive the job, the more expensive it will be. However, don’t confuse initial cost with value. Decorative concrete lasts longer and is lower maintenance than most other types of paving materials and concrete, and it can create more value and curb appeal for your home. This means it is more valuable and can actually save you money or even gain you money over time. Choosing a good decorative concrete contractor who does quality work and backs their services with warranties, even if their cost is higher than the cheapest bid you receive. Shopping for quality over low cost is smart when hiring any contractor, including decorative concrete contractors.

Q: What are popular colors and patterns available from decorative and stamped concrete contractors?
A: Decorative concrete can be stamped into almost innumerable patterns and cast in a rainbow of colors. This includes natural stone patterns that resemble slate, fieldstone, travertine and more. Brick patterns are common, as are seamless paver patterns. Many homeowners choose natural grays and earth tones for their concrete, but brick red is another very popular choice. Homeowners can find decorative concrete companies who will stain, dye and color concrete in any color imaginable to match their home’s exterior or interior color scheme, landscaping and other contrasting and complementary colors.

Q: How long will decorative concrete installations work?
A: When correctly installed and maintained, high-quality decorative concrete can last for decades. Decorative concrete that has color hardeners applied can be even more durable than other types o concrete, as can concrete that has been sealed. Talk with your decorative concrete contractor for an estimate on how long you can expect your job to last based on the application, materials, location and other factors specific to your job.

Q: Will colored concrete fade over time?
A: Weathering, traffic, dirt, and even salt and mineral deposits can fade decorative concrete over time. Sealing your concrete will help the color last longer, as will regular cleaning and maintenance recommended by your decorative concrete company. The good news is that faded concrete can often be restored by a simple cleaning and resealing, and concrete can be recolored.

Q: Can I recolor colored concrete if I don’t like the original color or change my décor over time?
A: Yes. It is possible to recolor decorative concrete. However, it should be noted that you can’t choose a lighter color to replace a darker color. The concrete may need to be treated, stripped, or sanded in order to get a new color to adhere. Likewise, your color choices may be somewhat limited or the color you choose may not exactly match the sample because of the underlying color. Your decorative concrete contractor should be able to walk you through the process or recoloring, restaining or redying your decorative concrete. They should also be able to help you understand your best color options and the likely final outcome of the color you choose.

Q: Does stamped concrete look like real stone?
A: Good stamped concrete companies can make stamped concrete look like real stone. High-quality stamping mats are molded from real stone materials, so they are molded around the actual material customers are trying to replicate. Decorative concrete companies that offer concrete coloring services should have experience and training in making colors look natural and varied, like real stone. This can include the use of integral colors and dyes, dry-shake coloring and surface-applied coloring.

Q: Can I install my own stamped concrete, colored concrete or decorative concrete?
A: That depends on your skill level, experience and training. Some very skilled do-it-yourselfers can have luck putting in decorative concrete themselves. However, it’s best to trust an expert with big jobs, or those that will impact your home’s value or curb appeal. The labor on decorative concrete projects and the expense can be prohibitive for homeowners to undertake themselves. Jobs can be complicated, with very limited amounts of time between steps and a very exacting process that is easy to do incorrectly. The tools and materials can be very expensive for a one-time job. For these reasons, it’s best to hire a good decorative concrete contractor who has the tools, training, expertise and skill to do the job right the first time. In addition, licensed and insured companies will stand behind their work, so any flaws or errors can be corrected and not cost the customer extra fees.