Decorative concrete in Arlington VA - the right color for a new pour or an old slab
Tired of a plain gray slab, or planning a new pour? We'll match the color method to your slab and how you use it.
Should I color a new concrete slab or stain the one I have?
Decorative concrete in Arlington, VA gives a slab color, either mixed into fresh concrete at the pour or added later with stain, dye or paint on a slab you already have, so the first thing we settle is whether you're starting new or working with what's there.
If you're planning a new patio or walk, the color gets settled before the pour, and integral color runs through the full depth of the concrete, so it can't wear off. If you already have a slab, stain colors only the top surface and only looks as good as the prep under it. The price moves with the size of the area, the method you pick, the slab's condition and how much tear-out or surface prep it needs, while the schedule turns on whether we're pouring new and whether your job needs a permit, which we apply for when it does. I'll give you your own figure in a written estimate once I've seen the slab.
Why homeowners pick us for decorative concrete
I come out to every job myself, and I'd rather spend a few extra minutes explaining your options than leave you guessing about what you're paying for.
I look at every job
I come out to see every job myself, and our crew does the forming, pouring and finishing, usually with me on site.
In business since 2021
I learned the trade on flatwork crews in Northern Virginia, pouring patios, walks and driveways, before starting this business.
Fully licensed and insured
We're fully licensed and insured, and I'm glad to answer questions about either before you sign anything.
The why behind each choice
I'll explain why one color method suits your slab better than another, and I'm happy to go over it twice.
A guarantee in plain words
Our decorative concrete work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee, and your estimate lists exactly what's included.
Decorative concrete options we'll talk through
The right choice starts with whether we're pouring new or coloring a slab you have, then how much wear the surface sees and whether it's inside or out.
Talk to us about decorative concrete
Call or send the form with your slab's rough size, its condition and whether it's new or existing, and I'll come take a look.
Why homeowners trust Mainstay Arlington Concrete Construction with decorative concrete
In a kitchen, the whole night rides on the prep you did before service, and colored concrete is no different. I check the base, the slope and where water runs first, because color on a slab that's settling or holding water won't look good for long. If your patio sits below a slope, a concrete retaining wall may need to come first.
On a new pour, our crew digs out and packs the subgrade, the ground the slab sits on, so it doesn't settle with loose dirt, and we cut control joints, shallow grooves that give the concrete a planned place to crack instead of across your color. On an old slab, the work is cleaning and prepping the surface, then sealing it.
Decorative concrete questions from Arlington homeowners
How much does stamped concrete cost in Arlington, VA?
Stamped concrete in the Washington, D.C. area usually costs about $12 to $25 per square foot, and that's the market's range, not a quote. Published prices like that often leave out site preparation, which varies from job to job, so ask whether a quote covers it. Stain and overlay prices depend on your slab, and our written estimate spells out what's included.
Can I stain or resurface my existing concrete patio?
Yes, if the slab is sound. Stain works on old concrete, and an overlay can bond to an old slab that isn't moving. If yours is heaving, settling or cracked through, I'll tell you a topping won't fix it, and the real fix is tearing it out and pouring new.
Do I need a permit for a decorative concrete patio in Arlington?
Arlington County requires a land disturbance and stormwater permit for work that disturbs 2,500 square feet of land or more, and separate projects within two years count together toward that line. For a smaller job, we check with the office your address falls under rather than guess, and if a permit is needed, we handle the application and tell you what's required before work starts. The county is also running a study that will recommend limits on how much hard surface a single lot can have, so if you're adding new paving, ask whether any limit has been adopted.
How often does decorative concrete need to be sealed?
Stained concrete has to be sealed, because without it the color dulls, chalks and wears away, and stamped concrete should be resealed about every two to three years. For outdoor slabs that go through freeze-thaw cycles and deicers, one sealer maker names penetrating sealers, which soak into the surface, as the preferred choice. Plan on resealing as part of owning a decorative slab.
How long does new concrete need to cure before it can be stained?
New concrete should cure about 28 days before it's stained, so on a new slab the stain comes weeks after the pour. Curing is the time fresh concrete needs to harden and dry out before anything goes on top. If your slab goes in during October or November, one concrete trade group advises going light on deicers until it's a year old and using sand for traction, since it may not get 30 days of drying before deicers go down.
How do I check a concrete contractor's license in Virginia?
Virginia's Board for Contractors licenses businesses that build, repair or improve property owned by others, and each license has a class that sets the dollar value of jobs allowed and a specialty that sets the type of work. A Class C contractor, for example, can take single projects over $1,000 but under $30,000, or no more than $250,000 of work in any twelve-month period. Ask which class a contractor holds and compare it with your job's price.
What happens when you call about decorative concrete in Arlington?
We plan the job around your slab and how you'll use it, whether that means coloring a new pour or giving the one you have a new look.
You get in touch
Call (571) 760-4256 or send a message through the form, and tell us a little about the slab and the look you're after.
I walk the site
I come out myself to look at the ground, the slope and where water goes, and ask how you'll use the space.
Your written estimate
You get a written estimate that names the color method and spells out what's included, like whether removing old concrete is part of the price.
We do the work
Once you say go, we handle any permit steps and prep, color and finish the slab, then leave you plain care notes for the first weeks and first winter.
Decorative concrete in Arlington and nearby cities
We're based in Arlington, VA and do decorative concrete across the cities around it, including Alexandria and Falls Church. Pick your area below or call, and we'll check which office covers your address.
Ask for your Arlington decorative concrete estimate
Call (571) 760-4256 or use the form early, since color for a new slab has to be chosen before we pour.