Decorative concrete in Sheridan WY - a new look on a slab that can carry it
Tired, plain or cracked concrete around the house? We check what's underneath first, then give it a pattern and color that holds up.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- We respond within 1 business day.
Should I overlay my old concrete or replace it?
Decorative concrete gives a plain or worn slab a new pattern, color and texture, and in Sheridan we do it one of two ways: a stamped overlay over sound existing concrete, or a new slab poured and finished on site. A good overlay also adds strength to the surface, so a sound slab ends up tougher than it started.
Most people who call us have a patio, walk or slab that's still in one piece but looks tired, or one that's cracked and they're hoping a new surface will hide it. The price turns mostly on whether the old concrete can be covered or has to come out, because tearing out and pouring new costs more, and after that on the size, how much patching the old slab needs and how many colors and patterns you want. The schedule depends on the weather and on curing, the days concrete needs to harden before you can use it, so your written estimate lays out both for your slab.
How we do decorative concrete, from the slab up
Before we talk patterns and colors, I check whether the old slab is sound enough to cover or needs to come out. If it can stay, we clean it, repair it and get the surface ready, then lay out the pattern so the old control joints, the cuts that decide where a slab cracks, and any cracks that are still moving carry up through the overlay. Skip that and the cracking underneath tears the new topping. If the slab can't stay, we dig out, pack a firm subgrade, which is the ground the slab sits on, set forms and pour new. Then come the pattern, the color and the sealer. Most of our time goes into prep because that's what makes a decorative finish last, and it's also the first thing people want to trim when the budget's tight. I'd rather you pick a simpler pattern than cut corners on what's underneath.
Decorative work often sits next to other concrete. When a patio steps down a slope, concrete retaining walls can hold the grade and give the new surface a clean edge. Indoors, a colored finish starts with good concrete floor installation, and we can plan both on the same visit.
Stamped overlay on your slab
This suits a patio, walk or slab that's level and mostly whole, because the overlay bonds to what's already there and skips the tear-out. You get a new pattern and color with far less digging and hauling.
New decorative slab
This suits concrete that's badly cracked, sunken or chipped, or a spot that never had a slab, because a new pour fixes the base along with the look. It also lets us pick the mix, including entrained air, the tiny bubbles that give freezing water room, which is worth asking about before a Sheridan winter.
What Sheridan winters mean for decorative concrete
Sheridan is plant hardiness zone 4, a rating of how cold the winters get, and that cold works on a decorative surface year after year. The most common winter damage is scaling, where the top layer flakes away, and it's tied to de-icing salt, so how you treat the slab in January has a lot to do with how long the finish looks right. With freeze-thaw this hard, the overlay and the sealer both need to be suited to it. I'll tell you which sealer we'd use and how it handles freezing, and we plan for resealing from the start instead of leaving it to chance.
On jobs here we see plenty of older patios and walks that have cracked or settled, and those usually need to come out before any pattern goes on. We work in Sheridan and the cities around it, and before work starts we check with the City of Sheridan Building Division and take care of the permit when one is needed.
Why people around Sheridan call us for decorative work
I look at every slab myself
I come out to every estimate, and I'm on site with our crew when the work gets done. The person who judged your old slab is the one watching the pour, so nothing gets lost between the visit and the finish.
Learned on Sheridan concrete crews
I spent every summer through school on concrete crews around Sheridan, working up from a shovel to finishing, and started this business in 2023. I like the jobs with a catch, and an old slab under a new finish is often one of them.
Licensed and insured for this work
We're licensed and insured, and you're welcome to ask about it at the estimate. If you'd like to see what the city asks of contractors, its building department posts a licensing packet on its contractor FAQ page.
If you're not sure your slab can take a new finish, the first step is letting me look at it. Send us the details or call (307) 218-3106.
Request a quoteGet a free on-site estimate for your decorative concrete
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set a time for me to come out. The estimate is free and done on site, and there's no pressure to book.
What happens after you call about decorative concrete in Sheridan
Call or send the form
Reach us at (307) 218-3106 or through the form, and we'll find a time for me to come look. Tell us roughly where the concrete is and what you have in mind.
Walk the slab together
I look at the site, ask how you use the space, tell you whether your slab can be covered or should come out, and go through patterns, colors and sealers. You get a written estimate that spells out the prep, the finish and the price, so you can see where the money goes before you decide.
Prep, pour and walk-through
Once you say go, we prep the ground or the old surface, set forms, pour and finish with me on site. Then we walk the finished job with you and go over care for the first season.
Frequently asked questions
How much does decorative concrete cost in Sheridan, WY?
It depends on your slab, so the only number worth trusting is the one in your written estimate after I've seen it. The biggest swing is whether the old concrete can be overlaid or has to come out, and after that the size, the repair work and how many colors and patterns you choose. Call (307) 218-3106 to set up a visit.
Can my old patio be overlaid with stamped concrete?
Usually yes, if the concrete is in reasonably good shape. Large cracks, chipped or flaking spots called spalling, or serious settling can mean it has to come out, because an overlay can't fix what's wrong underneath, and that's why I check the slab before we talk about looks.
How long does a stamped concrete overlay last?
A properly applied stamped overlay should last 10 to 20 years or more, and surface prep and proper mixing decide most of that. Resealing every 2 to 5 years, depending on foot traffic and how much sun and weather it gets, keeps the look and protects it from moisture.
How do I protect decorative concrete from de-icing salt in winter?
Go easy on deicer, since salt is tied to the winter flaking that wears down a finish, and a Michigan concrete trade group advises against calcium- or magnesium-based deicers on concrete. The same group says rock salt can be used in moderation and that new concrete should get as little deicer as possible until it's a year old. It also notes that concrete poured in October or November may not get the more than 40 days of drying it needs before deicers go down, so we talk timing if you're thinking about a late-fall pour.
Will the color in stamped concrete fade?
Integral color, which is mixed right into the concrete, runs all the way through and won't wear away. Some dyes aren't recommended outdoors because they can fade in direct sun, so we match the color method to where your slab sits.
Is stamped concrete slippery when it's wet?
It can be, and how slippery depends mostly on the sealer. If the slab sits by a door, a downspout or a hot tub, ask us about a non-slip additive at the estimate.
Other concrete work that often goes with it
Concrete retaining walls
If your new patio sits on a slope or against a raised bed, a retaining wall holds the ground back and gives the decorative edge something solid to finish against.
Concrete floor installation
When you want a colored or patterned look indoors, it starts with a flat, well-placed floor slab, whether that's a basement, a shop or a new addition.
Sheridan, WY
Get your slab checked before you pick colors
Call (307) 218-3106 or send the form with your slab's rough size and photos of any cracks or settling, so I can tell you early whether an overlay is likely to work.