Ask the Concrete Contractor
Stamped Concrete Intallation Questions and Answers

What areas do you serve?
As a leading bay area concrete contractor we proudly serve residential and commercial clients in Marin County, Sonoma, Contra Costa, Alameda and San Francsco. With 25 years experience serving our clients, we're ready to provide you a no obligation estimate for your concrete project, so give us a call today!

Are you licensed?
Yes, Creative Concrete Design has a C-8 Concrete Contractor license #918427

Do you provide free estimates?
Yes - contact us today and we'll be happy to provide you with a free estimate.

Do I need a permit to have you install a retaining wall?
This depends on the height of the retaining wall and the zoning requirements in your area. Give us a call and we'll let you know the requirements.

Are permits required for a new concrete driveway in Marin County?
No - if you would like a new concrete driveway installed and you reside in Marin county, no special permits are required.

Should I get permits for my residential concrete installation in Marin County before I hire you?
We handle obtaining permits for you job, if needed. Most concrete work does not require permits.

Do you build concrete patios?
Yes- large, small, recessed, built in planter boxes, with lighting, drains - if you can visualize it, we can probably create it!

Are you a residential concrete contractor or are you a commercial concrete contractor or both?
We specialize in residential concrete installations.

Are you insured?
Yes - we carry Liability and Workmen's Comp insurance, and we are also Bonded.

How big is your crew?
We have a crew of 14 people.

How big a job can your company handle?
After 25 years, we haven't met a job we couldn't handle.

Can you describe the process / steps of installing a stamped concrete driveway?

• Evaluation / Estimate
  First, we will meet with the home owner or genral contractor at the job site to be able to take all factors in to consideration. Then an estimate will be given in written form that same day or next day.
• Site survey
  We'll perform a site survey to determine special needs or accommodation, grading requirements, equipment needs, and access limitations, if any.
• Excavation
  If excavation is determined to be needed, we will take care of that in the bid prepping the ground for the job, depending upon the size, generally takes 3 days.
• Pouring
  Once all the prep work is completed, we'll begin the pour - timing of this part of the job will depend on several factors including size and scope of the work and weather conditions.
• Finish work
  Bascially means, what texture are you looking for at the end result. do you want stamped, texture, salt finish, broom finish, etc. This is where technique and talent come in. What's involved?
• Clean-Up
  As professional contractors we take the utmost care in the clean-up process because we understand the importance of this step to our clients.
Total Time
The entire job will typically take up to 10 days, though larger projects will take proprotionally more time.

Do you provide colored concrete?
Yes, if you are looking to achieve a unique look to your concrete surface. We will provide a color chart and take care of ordering that in the process. We will also provide a brochure that shows different stamp patterns. We have the most popular on hand, if something else is chosen, we will rent them.

Are coloring agents toxic?
No coloring agents are non-toxic.

Do you use "green" materials?
The term "green" when it comes to concrete, relates to reducing the amount of cement added to the mix by 25% and adding fly ash to replace it. This also happens to make concrete stronger, more durable and easier to work with.

What is "curing"?
Curing is another term for setting. The concrete sets for about 3-4 days before it is considered "cured"

How can I be sure the concrete has cured properly?
The warmer the weather, the faster the curing process, cold and rain, the longer the process. Consult with your contractor if you are concerned about it.

Does Charles supervise all the work?
Yes, we have a great crew, and Charles is with them for most of the prep work, but when it comes time for the "pour and placement" he is always there, this is where his passion comes in and where he shines as a true artisan.

We have an unusual property, and the patio has curves - is this a problem?
Not at all. This is one of our specialties.

I own a house in San Francisco on a steep grade - will this be a problem?
Not normally - we've done installations of this nature so we understand the challenges and the process to ensure a proper result. An engineer may be required for some work, so the first real step is contacting us - we'll come by and discuss your unique situation.

We want a new patio in our back yard and don't want our side-yard torn up - do you have to drive in big machines?
Concrete is pumped in from a concrete pumper through a hose, so it does not require large trucks or equipment to damage your yard. If grading is needed, a bobcat may need to be used.

If so, who will pay for the repair or restoration of the lawn?
The home owner is responsible for the repair of the lawn.

The only way into our yard is through our neighbor's side yard - how do we handle this?
Most towns or cities address this problem in their town/city ordinances.

Who should speak with our neighbor about this to get permission?
We will speak with your neighbor about your project to answer any questions or concerns that they may have. The homeowner should have the initial conversation.

What do you use to reinforce your concrete work?
This depends on what the use of the concrete will be. 6 x 6 10 x 10 wire mesh is used for most jobs. Rebar 3/8" to 5/8" is used in jobs where the strength needs to be greater.

I heard wire mesh is not as strong a reinforcement as rebar - is this true?
Yes - wire mesh would not be used for a public parking garage, but is just fine for most residential jobs

I don't know if there are any underground wires or sewage pipes below my driveway - how do we find out if they exist, where they are and how deep they are?
As the homeowner, you can find out yourself, or we will do it for you. If you would like to find out, in Northern California simply call USA North toll free 800-227-2600.