How Much Does A Decorative Concrete Finish Cost?

Despite my experience as a DIYer, I've never worked with concrete or heavy building materials. 

I'm perfectly at home in my garden, looking after the plants and using the latest gardening equipment. However, life has a funny way of testing people, just when they think they can get by without learning something. That's exactly what happened to me. 

As I was pulling into the driveway one day, I felt a slight bump, and the car almost hit the garage door. Luckily, I managed to brake in time to avoid the accident. 

Upon inspection, I found that the concrete was cracking, making it necessary to carry out a quick restoration. But since I didn't know anything about patching a damaged driveway, the only option was to search for solutions online. 

Fortunately, it's not a rare issue, and I found a lot of helpful information. However, what caught my eye was an interesting article on decorating concrete which sounded interesting. 

And you guessed it, that's what I did. Now, the driveway is as good as new and also adds to the glamour of my home. 

Hi! I'm Stacy Smith, and today I'll tell you all about decorative concrete finishes. 

Price Of A Decorative Concrete Finish

Speaking of decorative concrete, the first thing you might be thinking about is the cost. However, several factors determine the total expenditure, including size, products, and scale of work. 

So, how much does a decorative concrete finish cost? Let's find out. 

A. Things To Consider

I'll be going through the important points to help you better understand the various aspects and costs of decorative concrete finishing. So, I’ve narrowed down the essential factors that determine the price of renovations. 

1. Preparation

When I consulted professional workers, they asked me to spend adequate time on preparation. This is because if the concrete doesn't get time to settle, it will skew the design and shapes, further adding to the costs. 

2. Products

It's challenging to strike a balance between necessary and over expenditure in terms of choosing the right products. Obviously, I wouldn't recommend buying cheap ingredients that will wear out after a while, but you mustn't go overboard either as concrete decorations don't come cheap. 

3. Coverage

The area of coverage determines how much you'll have to spend per square foot. Understandably, you'll need to cut costs elsewhere if you're planning to renovate a large area. 

4. Time

I'm not much of a motivational speaker, but when it comes to decorative concrete finishes - "time is indeed money." Any project that lasts more than a day tends to cost more. Plus, you must have the required tools and materials to complement the duration of work. 

5. Detailing

Now, my driveway is pretty simple despite being decorative. However, you can opt for further detailing by using overlays, stenciling, or altering the concrete patterns. Needless to say, it will cost more, depending on the intricacy of the look. 

6. Expertise

Before I forget, you need a certain amount of expertise to get the job done. 

Inexperienced individuals may have trouble understanding how long the concrete takes to set or what materials to use. Hence, it could result in expensive patch-up work. 

B. Types Of Concrete

Once you have an idea about the above factors, it all comes down to the type of concrete structure you need. I've highlighted a few popular options below, along with their average costs. 

1. Acid Staining

Although it may not sound appealing, acid stains on a freshly prepared concrete slab help deliver a permanent color. But before you can add the color, it's vital to treat the slab and use a durable sealant. Altogether, staining costs vary from $2-$7 per square foot, while treatment costs are higher between $3 and $5. 

2. Countertops

If you don't like the idea of staining, you might find it more appealing to use concrete countertops. These are ready-made concrete slabs either cast on the spot or prepared beforehand to deliver a vibrant appearance. 

Now, the cost of the material isn't high but polishing, finishing, detailing, shaping, and coloring the concrete makes it expensive. Not to mention, they are made from scratch, meaning that prices vary between $45 and $225. 

3. Polished Concrete

Did you ever think that people would be using diamonds to polish concrete? No, I'm not kidding because this technique involves grinding and cleaning the concrete surface with industrial-grade diamond. 

You can also add colors if needed, but the major expense is that of the polishing equipment. Overall, you can get a new concrete slab for $5-$12. 

4. Resurfacing Systems

Next up, I must mention thin resurfacing systems, which come in handy if you don't like lengthy renovations. Rather than changing the entire structure, it allows you to rebuild the damaged concrete, making it one of the more affordable methods. 

That said, you'll need to spend time repairing the damaged portions before adding the color. In spite of that, it shouldn’t cost more than $2.25 per square foot with intricate patterns amounting to between $4 and $8 per square foot. 

5. Concrete Toppings

Just like pizza toppings add flavor to the pizza, similarly concrete toppings like imprinted overlays and patterns help revitalize the structure. It's a concrete resurfacing method that adds a new layer to the existing slab, thereby reducing the time and expenditure of renovations. 

Moreover, they are extremely beautiful with the average cost varying between $7 and $10.

Final Words