Stamped concrete gives you a stone look; decorative concrete gives you a custom architectural finish. Integral color, acid stain, exposed aggregate, salt finish, and broom variants — each one is a different way to take a standard concrete pour and turn it into something that looks deliberate, designed, and expensive.
Pigment mixed directly into the concrete before pouring. The color goes all the way through the slab, so chips or wear never expose unfinished gray underneath. The most durable color method available — color won't fade, wear off, or peel because it's the concrete itself.
Best for: Driveways, large patios, walkways where a single uniform color is wanted.
A chemical reactive stain applied to cured concrete. The acid reacts with minerals in the concrete to produce mottled, marbled color — never two slabs alike. Looks like leather, weathered stone, or aged metal depending on the color used. Most premium decorative concrete finish.
Best for: Indoor floors, covered patios, accent areas. Outdoor use requires more frequent sealing.
The cement paste at the surface is washed away during finishing to expose the decorative stone (the aggregate) underneath. Looks like a high-end pebble finish, with natural color and texture from the actual stones. Excellent traction even wet — popular for pool decks and sloped driveways.
Best for: Pool decks, sloped surfaces, modern architectural homes.
Rock salt scattered across the wet concrete surface, then washed away after the slab sets — leaves a textured, slightly pitted finish that catches light. Subtle but distinctive. Common on pool decks and patios.
Best for: Pool decks, patios in shaded areas.
The standard residential finish, executed with intention — fine broom, swirl broom, fan-broom patterns. Even a broom finish is a design choice, and we treat it as one.
Many of our most-loved projects combine multiple decorative techniques. Examples we've done recently:
Decorative concrete maintenance is centered on sealing. All decorative surfaces — integral color, acid stain, exposed aggregate, salt finish, stamped — are sealed on completion and need re-sealing every 3–5 years depending on sun exposure, traffic, and freeze-thaw cycles. We provide the care schedule in writing at project hand-off.
Color longevity: integral color is the most durable (color is in the slab, doesn't wear), followed by acid stain (chemical reaction is permanent but surface sealer protects it), then surface-applied dyes or paints (which we don't pour because they fade unevenly).
Decorative concrete across the St. Charles County area: St. Charles, O'Fallon, St. Peters, Wentzville, Lake St. Louis, Cottleville, Dardenne Prairie, Weldon Spring, and Defiance.
Integral color is permanent — the pigment is mixed throughout the slab, so even surface wear doesn't expose unfinished concrete. Acid stain is a chemical reaction and is also permanent. Surface dyes and paints (which we don't use) do fade unevenly and need re-application. We only pour color methods that last.
Sometimes. Acid stain works on properly-cured, properly-sealed (or unsealed) concrete. Existing slabs that have been painted, heavily oiled, or have surface contamination won't take stain evenly. We assess existing slab condition during the estimate.
Exposed aggregate or salt finish — both provide excellent wet-traction. Stamped concrete with a textured pattern is also a good choice. Smooth-trowel and broom finishes are slick when wet and shouldn't be used on pool surrounds.
