Decorative concrete in Apopka, FL - a stone look on a base that's done right
Plain or worn gray slab? We'll tell you whether it can take a decorative overlay or needs a new stamped pour, then do it right.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
Should you resurface your slab or pour new stamped concrete?
Decorative concrete in Apopka, FL is either a new slab with a stone or brick pattern pressed in while it's still wet, or a thin overlay bonded over solid concrete you already have. The shape your current slab is in decides which one makes sense.
Most people who call us have a patio, walkway or driveway that's gone dull and stained, or they have a new pour coming up and want more than plain gray. If you already know you want a brand-new patterned slab, our stamped concrete services page goes deeper on that. The price moves with the size of the area, whether the old slab can stay or has to come out, the pattern and color you pick and how much ground prep it takes. The schedule turns mostly on tear-out, the permit question and the curing and drying time before sealing. I'll come look and give you an estimate that spells out what the price covers, so you know your own number before you decide anything.
How can you tell your slab is ready for a decorative finish, or past it?
Dull, stained gray surface
Your patio or walkway feels solid underfoot but looks tired, with stains and a worn broom finish, which is the rough texture that gives you grip. That's usually just surface wear, so it's often a good candidate for an overlay, and waiting mostly means more stains to cover.
Faded color on stamped concrete
If your stamped slab looks washed out or chalky, or water soaks in instead of beading up, the sealer has usually worn off. Leave it too long and the color keeps fading while the surface picks up stains a fresh coat won't hide.
Cracks, heaving or sinking spots
When a crack runs all the way through, or one section sits higher or lower than the next, the slab is moving. A decorative top won't hold on that, and the longer it shifts the more uneven it gets and the bigger the trip hazard.
How we handle decorative concrete, from the base up
Every job starts with me looking hard at the slab you have, because a thin overlay only makes sense on solid concrete that isn't moving. If yours is heaving or broken through, I'll tell you plainly that it needs to come out. For an overlay, we clean and prep the old surface so the topping can bond to it, lay the topping, give it the texture or pattern you picked and seal it. For a new stamped slab, we tear out the old concrete and dig out and pack the subgrade, which is the ground the slab sits on. We set rebar where the job calls for it, since that steel holds the pieces together if the slab ever cracks. Then we pour, press the pattern in while it's wet and cut control joints, which are the lines that give the concrete a planned place to crack instead of a random one. After that it needs time to cure, the slow hardening that sets its strength, before anyone uses it or seals it. If the budget gets tight, I'd rather you save on the finish than on the base. Nobody sees the base on day one, but a fancy pattern on dirt that settles just cracks in a fancier way.
Decorative work often sits next to other jobs. If your patio steps down a slope, a concrete retaining wall can hold the ground beside it. If you're after the same look inside the house or garage, that job starts with concrete floor installation so the finish has a sound slab to go on.
Overlay on your current slab
This suits a slab that's solid and just worn or plain, because you keep the concrete you have and skip the tear-out. It's only as good as what's under it, which is why I check that first.
New stamped concrete slab
This is the way to go when the old slab is moving or broken, or when there's no slab yet, because you get a new base and the pattern pressed in from the start. It costs more up front for the tear-out and prep, and that prep is what keeps the pattern looking right.
Get a free, on-site decorative concrete quote
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set up a visit. I'll look at your slab and give you a free, obligation-free quote that spells out what the price covers.
(407) 358-0192- Based in
- Apopka, FL 32712
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 6 AM–11 PM, Sat–Sun: 8 AM–9 PM
What happens after you call us about decorative concrete?
Here's how it goes from your first call to walking the finished patio or walkway together, and what you'll know at each step along the way.
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Call or send us a message
Call (407) 358-0192 or use the form, and we'll get back to you to set up a time to come out. Tell us what the slab is used for and what look you have in mind.
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I measure and ask questions
I look at the slab, measure and ask plenty of questions about how you use the space, then put together your estimate. It spells out what's in the price, like tear-out, prep, pattern, color and sealer, so you can see where the money goes.
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We sort permits and pour
Once you say go, we sort out the permit question for your address, prep the ground and pour the slab or lay the overlay. The concrete then needs its curing and sealing time before you use it, and I'll tell you what that looks like for your job.
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Walk the finished job together
We walk the finished surface with you and talk about how it'll look as it ages. You'll also hear when it's likely to need resealing, so it goes on your calendar instead of catching you by surprise.
Why Apopka homeowners call Custom Apopka Concrete for decorative work
On this job, the slab underneath matters more than the pattern on top, so that's the first thing I'll look at. Reach out on our contact page and we'll set up a time to come by.
I come out and look myself
I usually come out myself to look at your slab and talk through the options, and our own crew does the work. You hear about the base, the pattern and the upkeep from the person planning the job.
In business since 2021, flatwork first
We've been doing this since 2021, and we're best known for flatwork like driveways, patios and slabs where the ground prep gets real attention. That matters here because a pattern is only worth paying for if the slab under it stays put.
Licenses worth asking about
We're licensed and fully insured. Apopka asks contractors to submit a current state certified license or registration and an Orange County competency license for their type of work, so it's fair to ask any crew to show you theirs before you sign.
Decorative concrete, permits and nearby work around Apopka
Apopka's Building-Safety Department takes permit applications, and the city says a permit is required "before construction, enlargement, alteration or repair of any building structure or part thereof." That rule is written broadly, so whether your patio, walkway or overlay needs one is a question for the department at 407-703-1713 about your own project, and not something I'll guess at. Before we start, we check with the city or county building office that covers your address, and when a permit is needed we file it as the licensed contractor and keep you posted. If you're redoing a driveway that meets a County road, Orange County's Roads and Drainage Division handles residential driveway permits there.
Around Apopka we mostly see patios, walkways and driveways that were poured plain gray years ago, some still solid enough for an overlay and some that have heaved or broken through and need to come out first. We run into the same mix on jobs in Winter Garden and Mount Dora, so the first visit goes the same way, with me checking the slab before we talk patterns.
Questions about decorative concrete in Apopka
How much does stamped concrete cost around Apopka?
Stamped concrete in the Orlando area usually costs about $9 to $30 per square foot, and that's the going rate around here, not our price. It can often cost less than real stone or brick, so if that's the look you want, it's worth pricing both before you choose. Our estimate spells out what your price covers, and the work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
Can my old concrete patio be resurfaced instead of replaced?
It can if the slab is structurally sound, which means it's solid and a topping can bond to it. If it's heaving, settling or cracked all the way through, it needs to be torn out, so the slab you have decides between resurfacing and replacing.
How often does stamped concrete need to be resealed?
Stamped concrete should be resealed every two to three years. Plan for that repeat visit and its cost as part of owning the surface, the same way you'd plan to repaint a fence.
Who can apply for a building permit in Apopka?
A licensed contractor registered with the City of Apopka can apply, and so can the owner of a single-family home who does the work personally, as an owner/builder. Owner/builders bring proof of ownership, such as a warranty deed or tax bill, when they apply.
How do I get my yard ready for concrete sealing day?
Watch the forecast and plan around your sprinklers, because one sealer maker's guide says to keep the surface dry for 24 hours before sealing and at least twelve hours after. The same guide says to turn sprinklers off during sealing and for at least 24 hours after, so set your timer ahead of our visit. Other sealers state their own terms, and we'll go by the one on your job.
What is the best way to keep a sealed patio from getting slippery?
Ask about an anti-skid additive when you choose the sealer. One maker warns that its cured decorative concrete sealer may be slippery when wet and suggests considering one, which matters most on walkways and outdoor slabs people walk on after rain or watering.
Related concrete work that pairs with decorative slabs
When a stamped patio or walkway sits on a slope, a retaining wall keeps the ground beside it in place so it doesn't spill onto the new surface.
A worn or uneven indoor slab won't take a decorative finish well, so a new floor poured level and sound gives the color or pattern a good start.
Service areas for decorative concrete near Apopka
Custom Apopka Concrete is based in Apopka, Florida, and we do decorative concrete in the cities around it across the Orlando area, including Ocoee and Altamonte Springs. The 12 cities below each have their own page on our site, and they aren't the only places we work.
Send us a few photos of your slab
A few photos, the rough size and whether it's a patio, walkway or driveway usually tell me before I come out whether an overlay is worth talking about.
Apopka, FL