Stamped & Decorative Concrete in Wellington, FL

Stamped and decorative concrete gives a slab the look of stone, slate, tile or brick without hundreds of separate pieces. While the concrete is still workable, we press textured mats into it, add color, and later seal it. In Wellington, where stucco homes with tile roofs line most streets, warm tan, coral and terracotta tones are common choices, and many homeowners pick decorative concrete over pavers because there are no sand joints to wash out in a storm or to host weeds and ants.

Where it works best

• Front entries and walks, framing the door with a pattern that matches the house
• Back patios and lanai extensions, often with a border in a second color
• Pool decks, using a textured pattern and a slip-resistant sealer
• Driveway borders and aprons, adding detail while keeping the main lanes plain

Full stamped driveways are possible, but sealed stamped surfaces are slicker in the rain than broom finish and the sealer wears in tire paths, so we usually suggest borders instead.

How the color goes in

Most stamped work uses two colors. The base color is integral: pigment is added at the batch plant, so the slab is colored all the way through and a chip does not show gray. Before stamping, a release agent is spread on the surface. It collects in the low spots and leaves them darker, which gives the two-tone look of natural stone. Sealer on top deepens the color and protects it from sun, pool water and stains.

Other decorative options

• Exposed aggregate: the surface paste is washed away to reveal the stone. It grips well and hides dirt.
• Stained concrete: color applied to a cured slab for a mottled, translucent look.
• Saw-cut patterns: a tile or diamond grid cut into plain concrete.
• Stamped overlays: a thin patterned topping over a sound, level slab, when tearing out is not necessary.

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Sun, rain and the sealer

South Florida is hard on decorative surfaces in a different way than the north. There is no frost, but strong sun fades sealers and some colors, and constant humidity grows mildew on shaded slabs. The sealer is the wearing layer, and once it is gone, stains soak in and the color looks flat. We pour stamped work on a compacted base, hide control joints in the pattern lines, and seal after the cure with a product suited to the location: grit added for pool decks and walks, and a breathable sealer where moisture comes up from below.

New pour or overlay

If your patio or deck is sound and level, a stamped overlay may be enough. HomeGuide's resurfacing guide lists stamped overlays at $7 to $15 a square foot for a single pattern and $15 to $20 for more complex designs. An overlay will not fix a slab that has sunk or cracked through; those cracks return in the new surface, and a new stamped slab is the better spend.

Choosing a look

At the estimate we bring pattern photos and color charts, and look at your roof tile, stucco and pavers or pool finish nearby. If your HOA has an approved color palette, bring it and we will match the options to it.