Decorative concrete in Orem, UT - color that holds up to how you use it
Plain gray patio or floor? We'll help you choose whether color goes into the pour or on top, and what that means for upkeep.
Where should the color go in decorative concrete?We help Orem homeowners decide
Decorative concrete is color added to a slab or floor, either mixed into the concrete itself or put on the surface as a layer. Folks usually call us about decorative concrete in Orem, UT, when they have a plain gray patio, a new pour coming up or a floor they're tired of looking at.
The first thing I ask is whether the slab is new or already down, because that settles the method. Color for a new pour gets picked before the truck shows up. An existing slab, new or old, can still take stain, dye or paint later, and I'll explain how each one wears and what upkeep you're signing up for.
Price moves with the slab's size, the color method, sealing and the base underneath. The base is the one thing I won't trim, since nobody sees it on day one and it's what keeps the slab from settling. The schedule turns on curing, the wait while new concrete hardens, and stain comes later as a second step. Your estimate shows what's included and what isn't.
You'll know what the color costs, how it'll wear and what upkeep it needs before any work starts, so call us at (385) 533-2723.
Decorative concrete methods we work with
The right method depends on whether your slab is new or already down, inside or out, and how much wear it takes, so we match the color to the job.
Integral color in the pour
The color is mixed into the concrete before it's placed, so there's no surface layer to lose, and a chip or saw cut won't leave a pale scar.
Dry-shake color hardener
A colored powder worked into the fresh surface gives brighter color and a harder top, but the color sits only in that top, so you're trading some wear for brightness.
Acid stain on cured concrete
Acid stain goes on a slab that's already down and gives mottled ambers, browns, tans, terra cottas and soft blue-greens, not one exact color you can match later.
Dyes for indoor floors
Most dyes aren't steady in sunlight, so they belong on interior floors, whether that's an existing basement slab or new concrete floor installation we pour for you.
Why Orem homeowners call Drivelinewhen the color has to last
Working with us means a plain bid, straight talk about what each choice will mean for you down the road, and real interest in the jobs that don't fit the usual mold.
The owner plans your job
I come out to look at the slab and plan the color with you, and our crew lead runs the work on site, so the person there knows the plan.
Building concrete since 2013
We've been in business since 2013, and before that I quoted jobs behind a supply yard counter and learned the work on a crew.
Licensed and insured
We're licensed and insured, so the crew working at your house, cutting near your walls and backing trucks up your driveway, is covered while they're there.
We find out why it failed
I want to know why your old slab cracked, sank or lost its color before we pour new, because a fix that skips the cause won't hold up.
Your satisfaction, guaranteed
That's our promise in plain words, and it starts with you knowing exactly what you're paying for before we pour or stain anything.
Price your colored patio or floorfrom Driveline in Orem
Send the slab's size, whether it's new or existing, and if it's indoors or out, and we'll reply within one business day. I'll come out and write a free estimate, with no pressure to book.
From call to finished slabhow we run a color job
You'll see the method, the steps and what's included in writing before the crew shows up, so you know what you're paying for and what comes when.
You call or send a message
Call (385) 533-2723 or use the form to tell us about the slab and the look you're after, and we'll set a time for me to come out.
I look and ask questions
I look at the slab or the ground, ask how you use the space, then write an estimate that shows what's included and what isn't.
We get the job ready
Once you're ready, we sort out anything the city needs, then prep the base for a new pour or clean an existing slab so the color takes.
Our crew lead runs the work
Our crew lead runs the pour or the color work on site. When a new slab is getting stain, the stain and sealer come on a later visit after it cures.
We walk it together
I walk the finished job with you, go over how the color will wear and what upkeep it needs, and answer anything that's still on your mind.
Questions we hear a lot
Can my existing patio or concrete floor be colored?
Yes, a slab that's already down, new or old, can still take color with stain, dye or paint. Those go on the surface rather than into the concrete, so I'll check the slab's condition and whether it's inside or out before recommending one.
How soon can new concrete be stained?
Guidance is to let new concrete cure about 28 days before staining, so a stained new slab is a two-step job with the pour first and the stain later. Stained concrete also has to be sealed, because an unsealed stain dulls, chalks and wears away, so we put sealing in the plan and the estimate from the start.
What does stamped concrete cost in Utah?
Stamped concrete in Utah usually costs about $13 to $27 per square foot, and that's a statewide figure for stamped work, not our price. Stained, dyed or painted floors price differently, so the way to get your own number is an estimate at your property.
Does a concrete fence in Orem need a building permit?
Yes, Orem issues building permits for fences that are masonry or concrete or include a retaining wall, which matters if you're pairing color with concrete retaining walls. The city's list names fences, not decorative concrete, so it doesn't settle whether a colored patio or floor needs one, and we check with the City of Orem before we schedule, handle the paperwork when a permit is called for and set up inspections with you. If you're doing the work yourself without a general contractor, the city's forms include an Owner-Builder Certification, and it isn't allowed on commercial work.
What causes decorative concrete to crack or sink?
Usually it's the ground under the slab or a base that was only raked level instead of dug out and packed. Statewide guidance for Utah warns that soils that swell, compress or collapse can damage pavement after it's built, bringing costly repairs and gaps people trip on. That's why I ask about the ground at the estimate, and we cut control joints, grooves that give the slab a chosen place to crack, while the concrete is still fresh.
How do I care for new colored concrete in winter?
Use clean sand for traction instead of deicing salts, which is what a Canadian concrete group advises for new or recently placed concrete. Its guidance puts sand in place of salts such as calcium, magnesium or sodium chloride, so keep a bucket of sand handy while the slab is new.
Decorative concrete around Orem
We're based in Orem and work in Provo, Lehi, Spanish Fork and the other cities around them. Pick your city below, or call (385) 533-2723 if yours isn't listed.
Book your decorative concrete estimate in Oremwith Driveline Orem Concrete
Color for a new pour gets chosen before the truck is booked, so call (385) 533-2723 or send the form early and we'll settle the method, the sealing and the budget while there's still time to change them.