Decorative concrete in Bellevue NE - a better-looking slab with color that ages well
Tired gray patio or driveway looking worn? We'll tell you if it can take an overlay, then give it color and pattern that wear well.
Should I resurface my concrete or replace it to get a decorative look?
Decorative concrete in Bellevue, NE, gives a plain gray slab color and pattern in one of two ways. A stamped overlay goes over the concrete you already have, updating the look and toughening the surface. Or we pour new concrete with integral color, which means pigment mixed all the way through the slab.
Most calls start with a patio, walk or driveway that still works but looks tired, and the real question is whether it's sound enough to dress up or worn far enough that new stamped concrete makes more sense. What you pay turns on that answer, along with the square footage, the pattern and color you pick, and how much tear-out and base work the job needs. The estimate gives you the figure for your slab. The schedule mostly turns on weather, because exterior concrete poured in late fall, winter or early spring is at risk if a freeze comes while it's still wet, so we plan the pour for a stretch when that's unlikely.
What our decorative concrete work includes
When you want an old slab dressed up, I check first whether it's sound enough for an overlay or needs replacing, and I tell you straight, because color and pattern laid over a slab that's breaking up or sinking just means paying twice. If it's sound, our crew cleans and preps the surface, lays the overlay, stamps the pattern and seals it. If it isn't, we break out the old concrete, dig out and pack the subgrade, which is the soil and gravel the slab sits on, check where the water runs so the new slab sheds it away from the house, and set rebar, the steel that holds the slab together if it cracks. Then we pour, color, stamp and cut control joints, shallow cuts that give the concrete a straight line to crack along instead of a random path across your pattern, and let it cure, the wait while it gains strength before you use it. Either way, we help you pick a color approach that suits how the surface will wear over time. If the budget gets tight, I'd rather keep the base work and simplify the pattern, since a bad base can't be fixed later without tearing out the finish.
Decorative work often sits next to other jobs. Outside, a dressed-up patio is only as steady as the ground beside it, so where a slope crowds the edge we often pair the job with concrete retaining walls. Indoors, concrete floor installation is where we start when a room needs a brand-new slab rather than a new face on an old one.
Why Bellevue homeowners call Excel Bellevue Concrete Construction for decorative work
I give every estimate myself
I come out to look at every job and give the estimate myself, and the work is done by me and a small crew I've trained. The person who tells you whether your slab can take an overlay is the same one who answers for it on the job.
Licensed and fully insured, every job
We're licensed and fully insured. That matters when a crew is breaking out concrete and running equipment on your property.
Permits checked before we schedule
We find out which office covers your address and look into the permit side before we put you on the calendar, and when a permit applies, we take care of the application or walk you through it. In Bellevue, a driveway or apron built over the curb needs permission from the city's public works director, so we raise that early on any driveway job.
Started here in Bellevue in 2023
I started this business here in 2023 after teaching myself on my own walks and pads and learning the rest on other people's job sites. We're best known for driveways, patios and steps where the prep work matches the finish, and decorative jobs get that same attention under the surface.
On decorative work, the slab under the color matters more than the color itself. When you request an estimate or call (402) 206-0944, send photos of any cracks or settling, the rough size of the area and whether a driveway meets the curb.
Get a free on-site estimate for your decorative concrete
We get back to you within one business day, and the estimate is free with no obligation. I'll come out to look at the slab myself, tell you whether it can take an overlay or needs replacing, and give you the price for your job.
Decorative concrete colors and patterns
What people ask about decorative concrete
Can my old patio take a stamped overlay?
It can if the concrete is in reasonably good condition. Large cracks, a lot of flaking or a slab that's settled badly usually mean it needs replacing instead. That's why soundness gets checked before anything else, because it decides between resurfacing and new concrete.
How long does a stamped overlay last?
One concrete guide says a properly applied stamped overlay should last 10 to 20 years or more, with resealing every 2 to 5 years depending on traffic and weather. Plan that resealing as regular upkeep, since the sealer is what keeps moisture and sun from wearing the surface down. The same guide names surface prep and mixing as the biggest factors in how long an overlay lasts, so it's fair to ask any crew how they prepare the slab.
What does stamped concrete cost around Omaha?
Installed stamped concrete in the Omaha area usually costs about $13 to $26 per square foot. That's the area's usual range, not our price, and where your job falls depends on whether it's an overlay or new concrete. Your on-site estimate gives you the figure for your own slab.
How do I pick a color for decorative concrete that won't show chips?
Go with integral color if you want the most forgiving finish. Because the pigment runs through the full depth of the concrete, a chip or saw cut shows the same color as the surface, so the slab ages without pale scars. The trade-off is that it won't give you the deepest or brightest tones.
Who issues building permits in Bellevue, NE?
The city's building official issues permits for regulated buildings and structures in Bellevue and its two-mile jurisdiction. The city's exempt list includes replacing concrete driveways and walks no larger than before, but decorative work isn't always a straight replacement. If you have questions about your own slab, call the city's Permits and Inspections office at 402-293-3014, Monday through Friday.
Does a concrete contractor have to be registered in Nebraska?
Yes, a contractor has to register with the state before doing any construction work in Nebraska. Someone working on their own property isn't a contractor under that law. If you're hiring it out, ask any crew you're considering whether they're registered before they start.
Other concrete work that goes with it
- Concrete retaining walls
When a patio or walk sits near a slope, a poured wall holds the soil back so the ground under your new decorative surface stays where it belongs.
- Concrete floor installation
If a basement, garage shop or addition needs a new interior slab, we pour and finish it flat, and it can take color and a sealer later on.