Decorative concrete in Juneau AK - a stone or brick look on a solid base
Should I overlay or replace my slab for decorative concrete in Juneau?
Juneau Concrete does decorative concrete in Juneau, and the first thing I check is the slab you already have. If it's sound, a stamped overlay can give it the look of stone, brick, slate or wood without tearing it out. If it's badly cracked or has sunk, I'll tell you a new pour makes more sense.
You've got a plain gray patio, walk or driveway, and you're tired of looking at it. Stamping presses a pattern into fresh concrete, and an overlay is a thin new layer that carries one over an old slab. Price and schedule turn mostly on which of those your slab can take, how much area there is and the weather, and your written estimate covers all three.
What I care about most is the part you won't see, the ground under the slab and the packed base over it. That's also the first thing people want to trim from a budget. We don't trim it, because a pretty pattern on a soft base is just a nicer-looking crack. I'd rather spend your money down there.
Decorative work often rides along with other jobs. A stamped patio on a slope may need concrete retaining walls to hold the ground beside it, and a colored inside slab starts with concrete floor installation. Either way, our own crew does the work, I'm on site for the pour, and it's satisfaction guaranteed.
What goes into it
- Checking the old slab for cracks and sinking
- Digging out and packing a firm base
- Grading so water runs away from the house
- Protecting the pour from cold
- Stamping the pattern while it's still workable
- Cutting control joints where cracks should go
What to weigh before booking decorative concrete
What moves the price
An overlay on a sound slab usually costs less than a tear out and new pour, and after that it's size, base work and how many colors and patterns you pick.
What sets the schedule
The weather, mostly, because new concrete has to be kept from freezing and given time to cure, the wait while it hardens before you walk or drive on it.
Grip on wet days
On a stamped overlay, how slippery it gets when wet depends largely on the sealer, so ask us about a non-slip additive for steps and other wet spots.
Decorative concrete questions from Juneau
Can you stamp my existing patio or driveway in Juneau?
Often, yes, as long as the concrete is in reasonably good condition. Large cracks or a slab that has settled badly can mean replacement instead, because an overlay only follows what's underneath it. Before any overlay work goes ahead, we check that the old surface is solid.
How much does decorative concrete cost in Juneau?
You'll get your price in a written estimate after I look at the job in person, since I won't guess at a slab I haven't seen. The estimate says plainly what's in it, from tear out and base work to pattern and color, so you can compare it line for line.
Can concrete be poured in cold weather in Juneau?
Yes, when it's properly made, placed and protected. National concrete guidance counts it as cold weather when the air drops, or is expected to drop, below 40°F while new concrete still needs protecting, and the protection has to increase as it gets colder. Ask any crew how they'll adjust on colder days, and we'll walk you through our plan before the pour.
How long does new concrete need protection from freezing?
The first 48 hours matter most, because a single freeze can damage new concrete until it gains a certain strength, and most well-made mixes reach it within 48 hours at 50°F. We plan the pour and its cover around that stretch. For the first winter, one concrete association in Ohio advises skipping deicing salt, especially on concrete placed after September, and using sand or kitty litter for grip.
Do I need a permit for a new driveway in Juneau?
Yes, if the driveway runs from a city street onto your lot, the City and Borough of Juneau requires a permit, and driveways off a state highway or road go through the Department of Transportation instead. Most driveway permits come included in a subdivision land use permit or a lot preparation grading permit, with a separate one issued when neither applies, and the city's engineers review the application and inspect the work in the field. A driveway steeper than 10% or longer than 150 feet also gets a Fire Department review for emergency access, and a turnaround may be required. When a job needs a city permit, we handle the application and book the inspections, and if it isn't clear, we ask the CBJ Permit Center before we start.
How do I check that a concrete contractor can legally work in Alaska?
Ask whether they hold a certificate of registration from the state Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development, because Alaska makes it unlawful to bid or work as a contractor without one. Juneau Concrete is fully licensed and insured, and you can ask me about it when I come out.
Decorative concrete near you
We're based in Juneau and work across the City and Borough. Pick Juneau below, or call (907) 560-0628 if your job is somewhere else and we'll see if it makes sense.
Other concrete work
- Concrete driveway building
- Concrete patio construction
- Stamped concrete services
- Concrete sidewalk building
- Garage floor concrete
- Concrete retaining walls
- Concrete floor installation
- Concrete pool decks
- Concrete steps construction
- Slab foundation building
- Foundation installation
- Concrete parking lot building
- Concrete footings
- Foundation raising
- Concrete cutting
Get a free decorative concrete estimate
Send photos of your slab and say whether a driveway meets a city or state road. We reply within one business day, and I'll come out for an obligation-free estimate.