Stamped concrete services in San Leandro CA - color and pattern over a solid base
Driveway or patio looking worn, plain or cracked? We pour stamped concrete in the color and pattern you choose, over ground prepped to hold it.
What goes into a stamped concrete driveway or patio, and what sets the price?
Stamped concrete is poured concrete that we color, press with rubber mats while it's still soft and then seal, so a driveway, patio or walkway in San Leandro looks like stone, brick, wood or tile and still has a solid slab underneath.
Most people call us because an old slab has gone cracked, uneven or just plain gray, and they want something that looks better than a fresh gray pour, maybe tied in with a new front walk from our concrete sidewalk building work. The price moves with the size of the area, how much old concrete has to come out, how much the ground needs before we can pour, and the design you pick, since one pattern in one color costs the least and several patterns with stain accents applied by hand cost more. The schedule mostly turns on whether a permit is needed and on getting a good day to pour. I measure and give you a written estimate that lays out your options and what each one means, so you see your own figure before anything starts.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- We respond within 1 business day.
Stamped concrete, walkways and garage floors
How we do stamped concrete
Stamped work starts with two choices, a color method and a pattern, so I bring samples and explain how each one wears and what upkeep comes with it. After that we give the base the same care as plain concrete, because color can't make up for poor ground. A stamped slab needs compacted ground under it, the right thickness for how you'll use it and steel reinforcement sized to the job, and all of that comes before any color goes on. It matters here because some San Leandro soils, Clear Lake clay especially, swell when they get wet and shrink as they dry, and that movement can heave and crack a slab. So we dig out and pack the subgrade, which is the soil the slab sits on, then set forms, pour, color, press the mats while the concrete is still soft and seal it when it's ready. We cut control joints, planned lines that give the slab a place to crack where you won't notice, into the pattern's grout lines, and you can ask me where they'll fall in the pattern you like. If the budget gets tight, I'll tell you to simplify the pattern before you cut back on the base, because the base is hidden on day one and it's the part that decides how the slab holds up.
Stamped concrete often sits right next to plain work. If the walk to your front door is cracked or heaved, our concrete sidewalk building can replace it at the same time so the edges meet cleanly. Inside, garage floor concrete usually gets a plain or broom finish, a light brushed texture for grip, because a garage floor takes tires, oil and tools better without a pattern to scrub.
Why San Leandro homeowners call Complete San Leandro Concrete for stamped work
I look at every job myself
I come out to measure and write every estimate, and I'm on site running the pour with our crew. The person who heard what you wanted is the one making sure it gets built that way.
Learned under people who explained
I framed houses for years, then learned concrete on a crew forming and finishing slabs before starting this business in 2023. The best people I worked under told me why, so I explain your options the same way.
Fully licensed and insured
We're fully licensed and insured, so you're not taking a chance on who's working at your house. Our work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
Based in San Leandro
We're based in San Leandro and work across the cities around it, mostly older driveways, patios and walks like the ones on your street. If you don't see your city on our site, call and ask.
On a stamped job, the ground under the slab matters more than the pattern on top. Get in touch with the size of the area, how you'll use it and a pattern idea, and I'll come take a look.
Get a written estimate for your stamped concrete
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set up a visit. I'll measure, show you samples and write up your options. The estimate is free, done at your property, with no obligation.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- We respond within 1 business day.
What happens after you call about stamped concrete in San Leandro?
Call or send the form
Call (510) 766-7334 or use the form, and we'll set up a time to come out. It helps to have the rough size of the area, how you'll use it and a pattern idea ready.
I visit and write it up
I look over the site, measure, ask how you'll use the space and show you color and pattern samples. Your written estimate explains each option and what it means for the price and the upkeep, so you can choose without guessing.
We check permits and prep
Once you choose, we check which city or county office covers your address, and if the job needs a permit we handle the application and set up the inspections with you. Then we dig out, pack the base and set the forms.
I run the pour and finish
I'm on site with our crew for the pour, the color, the stamping and the sealing. When it's done, I walk you through how to care for it so it keeps looking right.
Stamped concrete questions
How much does stamped concrete cost in San Leandro, California?
Stamped concrete in California usually costs about $15 to $30 per square foot. That's the statewide market range, not our price, and where your job lands depends on the size, the design and how much ground prep it needs. I'll measure and give you a written estimate for your own slab.
How do I choose between integral color and color hardener for a stamped driveway?
For a driveway, color hardener is usually the better pick, because it lays a rich color on top and builds a harder surface that stands up to tires. The catch is that the color lives in that top layer, so a deep chip shows gray underneath. Integral color runs all the way through, so a chip or saw cut shows the same color, and it's the simpler, more forgiving choice, but the tones aren't as deep or bright.
How often does stamped concrete need to be resealed?
One trade guide says every 2 to 3 years. That's an upkeep cost to plan on for as long as you keep the slab, so it belongs in your budget next to the install. I'll go over it with you when the job's done.
Do I need a permit for a stamped concrete driveway or sidewalk in San Leandro?
A flat driveway or sidewalk may not need a city building permit, but any work in the public right-of-way does need a permit. The city's permit list says driveways, sidewalks and platforms no more than 30 inches above the ground next to them, not on an accessible route and with no basement or story below, don't need a building permit. Work in the public right-of-way, such as where a driveway can meet the street, needs an encroachment permit from the city, and contractors on that work need a California State Business License and a City of San Leandro Business License on file. We check early which office covers your address and handle any permit your job needs.
What is the best way to seal stamped concrete?
Sealer goes on in two thin, even coats. A heavy flood coat might seem like extra protection, but it bubbles, turns white and leaves the slab slick when it's wet, which is the last thing you want on a path or a set of steps.
Do I need a licensed contractor for stamped concrete in California?
Yes, when the job is worth $1,000 or more, California requires a current, valid license from the Contractors State License Board. That figure counts labor and materials together, not just the labor.
Work that goes with stamped concrete
Concrete sidewalk building
A worn front walk often gets replaced alongside a new stamped patio, so the two slabs meet cleanly and the path from the street matches the yard.
Garage floor concrete
If the driveway outside is getting stamped, it's a good time to look at a cracked or pitted garage floor, which usually wants a plain, hard-wearing surface instead.