Decorative concrete in Bothell WA - a finish that suits your house and holds up
Plain gray slab or a worn, flaking surface? We'll help you pick a new slab, a stain or an overlay that fits.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- We reply within 1 business day.
What are my options for decorative concrete in Bothell?
Decorative concrete in Bothell gives a driveway, patio or walk color and texture in one of three ways: a new decorative slab poured on site, a stain on the concrete you already have, or an overlay, a thin new layer bonded over it.
Most people who call me have a plain gray slab they're tired of looking at, or a decorative one that has faded and started to flake, so the first thing we settle is whether the old concrete is worth building on. The price moves with the size of the area, how detailed the pattern and color work is, and whether the old slab can stay or has to come out. If you're after a pressed pattern, our stamped concrete services page covers that in more detail. The schedule mostly turns on whether the job needs a permit and on curing, the wait while new concrete gains strength before you use it. The written estimate I bring you after the visit gives your own figure and spells out what's included.
How can you tell your slab needs a new decorative surface?
Flaking or peeling surface
If the top of the slab is coming off in thin flakes or patches, that's usually scaling, the surface wearing away while the concrete below is still solid. It tends to spread with water and salt over time, so the longer it goes, the bigger the area that needs work.
Faded or blotchy color
Color that has gone pale or patchy usually means the sealer has worn through and the surface is soaking up water and dirt. Left alone, the stains set deeper and an even refresh gets harder to get.
Cracks or sinking sections
Cracks that run through the slab or a section that has dropped usually point to the ground underneath, not the surface. A stain or overlay won't fix that, and waiting lets more water get under the slab, so this is often the point where a new decorative slab makes more sense.
How we handle decorative concrete, from the choice to the seal
We start by helping you choose between a new decorative slab, a stain or an overlay on the concrete you have, and I'll explain why one fits your slab better than the others. For a stain or overlay, we clean and repair the surface first, then apply the color or the new layer and seal it. For a new slab, we dig out the old concrete and soft soil, pack the subgrade, the ground the slab sits on, set forms and pour. Then we add the color and texture, cut control joints, shallow cuts that tell the slab where to crack so it doesn't pick its own place, and let it cure before sealing. If the budget is tight, I'll suggest a simpler pattern before I'll ever suggest less base work, because nobody sees the base on the day we pour, and it's the part that decides whether the finished surface stays flat.
Decorative work often sits next to other concrete. When a patio is cut into a slope, concrete retaining walls hold the soil back so the new surface isn't carrying the hill. A stained finish indoors starts with concrete floor installation done flat and sound enough to take the color evenly.
New decorative slab
This suits a slab that is cracked, sinking or badly worn, or a brand-new patio or driveway, because it lets us fix the base and build in color and texture from the start. It usually costs the most of the three, and it's the only one that solves problems underneath.
Stain on existing concrete
A stain suits a slab that is sound and fairly flat but plain or dull, since it adds color without changing the surface. It shows what's already there, so old patches and marks usually stay visible.
Overlay on existing concrete
An overlay suits concrete that is solid but rough or lightly worn, because it can cover surface wear and take a new texture. It still follows any movement in the slab below, so it needs a sound slab to start with.
Get a written estimate for your decorative concrete
We reply within one business day to set up a visit. The estimate is free and done at your property, it's written out with what's included and what isn't, and there's no pressure to book.
- Based in
- Bothell, WA 98011
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 8 AM–11 PM, Sat–Sun: 7 AM–11 PM
What happens when you call about decorative concrete in Bothell?
From your first call to the final walk-through, here's how a decorative concrete job runs with us, and what you'll have in hand at each step.
Call or send the form
Call (425) 384-1147 or send the form with a few details about your slab. We get back to you and set a time for me to come out.
I come out and look
I look at the slab and the ground around it, ask what the space needs to do, and talk through a new slab, a stain or an overlay. You get a written estimate that shows what's included and what isn't, so you know exactly what you're paying for.
We settle permits and dates
We sort out any permit questions and set a start date that works around them. You'll know before we begin whether anything needs the city's sign-off.
We pour, finish and walk it
Our own crew does the work, and when it's done we walk the finished surface with you. I'll go over curing and sealing before we leave, so you know when and how to start using it.
Why Bothell homeowners call C&S Bothell Concrete Contractors for decorative work
I write every estimate myself
I come out, look at the site and write the estimate myself, because I'd rather explain a choice clearly at the start than have you surprised later. You'll know what you're paying for before anything is poured.
Our own crew, led by me
Our own crew does the work, and I lead it on site instead of handing your patio to someone who never saw the estimate. The person who planned the base is there when it goes in.
In business since 2017
I learned concrete on flatwork and foundation crews before starting the company in 2017. We're known for driveways, patios, steps and slabs that get careful planning before any concrete goes in.
Licensed and insured, easy to check
We're licensed and insured. Washington requires every construction contractor to register with the state Department of Labor & Industries, and you can look up a contractor's active registration and any past violations there before you hire.
On decorative work, the slab under the color matters as much as the color, so please ask me about the base and the mix as well as the pattern. When you're ready, our contact page has the form and our number.
Decorative concrete, permits and drainage in Bothell
The permit question has to be settled before any work starts, and in Bothell it often comes up. The city says that, in general, new construction, remodels and repairs to existing structures or systems need a permit. It also requires a separate right-of-way permit for work in the public right-of-way, and that includes the driveway approach, the stretch where your driveway meets the street. Whether your particular decorative job needs a permit is the city's call, not mine, so I look at the permit side when I come out for the estimate. When one is needed, we can prepare and file it with the right city or county office and plan the start date around it.
The city's surface water rules also count driveways, patios, walkways and concrete paving as hard surfaces, ones that keep rainwater from soaking into the ground. So when a decorative patio or a wider driveway goes in, we work out where the water will run before we set the forms, and we plan the same way on jobs in Kirkland and Woodinville.
Questions about decorative concrete in Bothell
How much does decorative concrete cost in Bothell?
Stamped concrete in the Seattle area usually costs about $12 to $28 per square foot, and that's the going market rate for stamped work, not our own price. Where a job lands in that range depends on its size, how detailed the design is and local labor rates, so a large area with a busy pattern sits toward the top. Your written estimate spells out what's included and what isn't.
Is it cheaper to stain or overlay old concrete than to pour a new decorative slab?
Usually yes, as long as the old slab is sound, because you skip the tear-out and the base work. If the slab is cracked through or sinking, a finish over it won't hold back what's happening underneath, and I'll tell you that at the visit rather than sell you a coat that won't last.
How often does stamped concrete need resealing?
Stamped concrete should be resealed every two to three years. It's worth planning and budgeting for that as an ongoing part of owning it, the same way you'd plan to repaint a fence.
Can a worn concrete slab be repaired instead of replaced?
Light to moderate surface flaking can be repaired, but national concrete guidance says the repair material won't match the color and character of the original slab. If yours can be patched, I'll tell you up front that the patch won't match the old color, so you can decide whether that's fine or whether a finish over the whole area suits you better.
What makes decorative concrete last longer?
National guidance says surface flaking is less likely with good quality, dense concrete that has entrained air, tiny air pockets built into the mix, along with good installing and curing. That's why I'd ask every contractor you're comparing about the mix and how they pour and cure, not only about the pattern.
How do I care for new decorative concrete in its first winter?
The guidance for new concrete is to skip deicing chemicals the first winter and use them in moderate amounts after that. Using less deicer also lowers the chance of flaking over time, so a light hand with salt pays off for as long as you own the slab.
Related concrete work for decorative projects
Concrete retaining walls
If your new patio sits on a slope, a retaining wall holds the hill back so it isn't pushing on the slab, and it finishes the edge.
Concrete floor installation
Planning a stained floor for a basement, shop or living space? It starts with a new concrete floor poured flat and sound enough to take color evenly.
Service areas for decorative concrete near Bothell
C&S Bothell Concrete Contractors is based in Bothell, Washington, and we work across the cities around it, including Kirkland and Shoreline. The 12 areas below each have their own page, and if you're not sure we come out your way, please just ask.
Send photos of your slab for an estimate
A rough size, a few photos of the concrete you have and whether the work reaches the street let me arrive with the right questions.