A decorative patio only looks good for years when the contractor gets the base, the timing, and the sealer right. This guide shows what to look for in decorative concrete patio contractors in San Antonio, what stamped, colored, and stained patios typically cost, how the job runs, how long it takes, and when the City needs a permit.
- What do decorative concrete patio contractors do?
- What should I look for in decorative concrete patio contractors?
- What should a decorative patio quote include?
- How much do decorative concrete patio contractors charge in San Antonio?
- Which decorative finish holds up best in San Antonio?
- What is the process when you hire a decorative patio contractor?
- How long does a decorative concrete patio take?
- Do I need a permit for a decorative concrete patio in San Antonio?
- How do I protect myself when hiring a contractor in Texas?
- What are red flags with decorative patio contractors?
- Where do we work?
- What else are homeowners asking?
Hire decorative concrete patio contractors who show local stamped or stained work, explain the base and joints, and list the pattern, color, and sealer in writing. Stamped or colored patios typically run $12 to $25 per square foot in San Antonio. Our clay and sun punish thin bases and skipped sealer, so call a pro early.
What do decorative concrete patio contractors do?
Decorative concrete patio contractors pour and finish patios with a pattern, color, or stain instead of a plain broom finish. The work covers layout, base prep, forming, the pour, stamping or coloring, joints, and sealing.
- Stamped concrete: Brick, slate, or stone looks pressed into the concrete while it is still workable.
- Colored concrete: Color added to the mix or the surface, often paired with a stamped pattern.
- Stained concrete: Acid or water-based stain on new or existing concrete.
- Decorative overlay: A new decorative surface over a sound, level slab, without a full tear-out.
See examples on our decorative concrete patio page and in our decorative concrete ideas guide.
Ask about the base and sealer before the pattern
What should I look for in decorative concrete patio contractors?
Look for decorative concrete patio contractors who can show finished San Antonio patios, explain the base and joint plan, carry liability insurance, and put the pattern, color, and sealer in an itemized quote. A crew that talks only about the look is skipping what makes the look last.
- Local decorative work: Photos or addresses of stamped, colored, or stained patios they have done here, ideally a few years old.
- Soil awareness: San Antonio clay swells and shrinks, and a crack through a stamped pattern is hard to hide. Ask how they prepare the base.
- Drainage: The patio should slope away from the house so water does not sit on the finish.
- Crew size and timing: Stamping has to happen while the concrete is workable, so ask how many people will be on the pour.
- Sealer plan: Which sealer goes on, when, and how often it needs to be redone.
- Insurance: A current certificate of insurance before work starts.
More hiring tips: how to choose a concrete patio contractor in San Antonio.
What should a decorative patio quote include?
A decorative patio quote should list the size, base prep, slab and steel, pattern, color, sealer, joints, tear-out, cleanup, and payment terms as separate items. If a line just says stamped patio, ask what is inside it.
| Quote item | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Size and layout | Square footage, shape, and any steps or borders |
| Base and drainage | Compacted base and slope away from the house |
| Pattern | The named pattern, such as brick, slate, or stone |
| Color | Base color and accent or release color, approved in writing |
| Sealer | Sealer type, and whether the first coat is included |
| Tear-out | Removal and haul-off of any old slab |
| Payment | A deposit and the balance after the walkthrough, never the full price up front |
How much do decorative concrete patio contractors charge in San Antonio?
A new stamped or colored concrete patio typically runs about $12 to $25 per square foot in San Antonio, about double a $6 to $12 broom finish. A 300-square-foot stamped patio comes to about $3,600 to $7,500 before tear-out.
| Work | Typical cost in San Antonio | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New patio, stamped or colored | About $12 to $25 per sq. ft. | Pattern detail and colors set the price |
| New patio, broom finish | About $6 to $12 per sq. ft. | For comparison |
| 300 sq. ft. stamped patio | About $3,600 to $7,500 | 15 by 20 feet, before tear-out |
| Old slab tear-out and haul-away | About $1.50 to $3.00 per sq. ft. | When an old patio comes out |
| Overlay or resurfacing a sound slab | About $3 to $6 per sq. ft. | Instead of tear-out and a new pour |
| Staining an existing 300 to 400 sq. ft. patio | About $1,200 to $3,200 | Acid stain about $3 to $7 per sq. ft., water-based about $2 to $5 |
Typical estimates as of November 2026 from our concrete patio cost guide. They are not a quote. Our stamped patio cost guide explains why the final number comes after a free look at your yard.
Which decorative finish holds up best in San Antonio?
Stamped, colored, and stained finishes all hold up in San Antonio when the base is solid and the sealer is kept up. Sun fades color over time, so the finish you pick matters less than the reseal schedule you keep.
- Stamped: The most dramatic look. Unsealed stamped concrete absorbs stains and loses definition, so plan to reseal every 2 to 3 years. See our stamped concrete service.
- Stained: A good way to add color to a sound existing slab. See our concrete staining service.
- Overlay: A decorative refresh when the slab is level, drains, and is not cracking through. Compare in our overlay vs. tear-out guide.
- Heat and grip: Think about how hot the color gets underfoot and how slick the surface is when wet. Our patio finishes guide compares them.
What is the process when you hire a decorative patio contractor?
The process usually runs from a site visit and written estimate to tear-out, base prep, forming, the pour and stamping or coloring, then joints, sealing, and a final walkthrough. A clear process in writing is a good sign you picked the right contractor.
- Site visit: Measure, check drainage and base conditions, and note cracks on any old slab.
- Written estimate: Pattern, color, sealer, schedule, and payment terms, before anyone forms or pours.
- Prep: Tear-out if needed, base prep, and forms set to the planned slope.
- Pour and decorate: Pour, then stamp, color, or texture while the concrete is still workable.
- Joints and sealer: Cut or tool control joints, then seal once the concrete is ready.
- Walkthrough: Check the pattern, color, drainage, and cleanup with you before final payment.
- You want to stamp or stain over an old patio that is cracked or sunken
- Water already pools on the patio or against the house
- You plan a cover over the patio later
Call (713) 504-2341 or request a free quote.
How long does a decorative concrete patio take?
Like our other flatwork, a new patio usually takes about 1 to 3 working days to form and pour once the site is ready, with extra time for tear-out, sealing, and cure. Stamping itself has to be finished on pour day.
- Weather: Rain and summer heat can move the pour day, and crews often pour in cooler morning hours.
- Before furniture: Keep grills, planters, and furniture off until the contractor says the slab and sealer are ready.
Do I need a permit for a decorative concrete patio in San Antonio?
A plain patio slab is not named on the City of San Antonio No Permit Required List, which lists sidewalks and driveways inside your property line, so call Development Services at 210-207-1111 to confirm. A patio cover over 300 square feet or attached to the house needs a permit.
- Decorative finish: Stamping or staining does not change the permit question. The slab and any cover do.
- Historic and conservation districts: Design and material rules can apply even when no permit is needed.
- HOA: Check color and pattern rules before you pick a finish.
More detail: do you need a permit for a concrete patio in San Antonio.
How do I protect myself when hiring a contractor in Texas?
Get several written estimates, never pay the full price up front or in cash, and keep copies of everything you sign. Texas Law Help says a written estimate should describe the work, materials, completion date, and price.
- Three-day right to cancel: If you sign at home, the contract should state your right to cancel within three business days.
- Pay as work is done: A deposit at signing and the balance after the walkthrough.
- Homestead jobs over $5,000: Texas Law Help notes the contractor must deposit your payments in a construction account. Ask for written proof.
- Warranty: Get what the workmanship warranty covers in writing.
What are red flags with decorative patio contractors?
The biggest red flags are no written quote, no base or sealer in the plan, a price far below other bids, and pressure to pay in full or in cash. Any one of these is a reason to keep looking.
- No photos of finished decorative patios
- A quote that says stamped patio with no pattern, color, or sealer named
- Plans to stamp over a cracked or sunken slab without fixing it
- Cash only, or the full price up front
- No certificate of insurance
- Pressure to sign on the spot
Planning a stamped, colored, or stained patio? Start with our decorative concrete patio service, request a free quote, or call (713) 504-2341.
Want a decorative concrete patio priced in writing?
Free site visit and a written, itemized price before any work starts. Insured, with $2,000,000 liability coverage. Father-son owned in San Antonio.
Where do we work?
Affordable Concrete San Antonio works across San Antonio and nearby areas from our shop at 1247 W Thompson Pl, San Antonio, TX 78226.
We give free decorative patio estimates in San Antonio and these nearby areas: Helotes, Leon Valley, Shavano Park, Terrell Hills, Alamo Heights, Converse, Universal City, Schertz, Boerne, Cibolo, Fair Oaks Ranch, Bulverde, Spring Branch, New Braunfels, Pleasanton, Floresville, Castroville, Lytle, and Von Ormy. Not sure about your address? Call (713) 504-2341.
What else are homeowners asking?
These are the short answers people want before they book a quote.
What do decorative concrete patio contractors do?
They pour and finish patios with a pattern, color, or stain, including layout, base prep, forming, the pour, stamping or coloring, joints, and sealing.
How much does a decorative concrete patio cost in San Antonio?
A stamped or colored patio typically runs about $12 to $25 per square foot, about double a $6 to $12 broom finish. A 300-square-foot stamped patio is about $3,600 to $7,500.
Can a contractor stamp or stain my existing patio?
Often, if the slab is sound, level, and drains well. A cracked or sunken slab usually needs repair or replacement before a decorative finish.
How often does a decorative concrete patio need sealing?
Plan to reseal a stamped or stained patio every 2 to 3 years in San Antonio to keep the color and pattern from fading.
How long does a decorative concrete patio take?
Most new patios take about 1 to 3 working days to form and pour once the site is ready, plus time for sealing and cure.
Do I need a permit for a concrete patio in San Antonio?
Patios are not named on the City No Permit Required List, so call Development Services at 210-207-1111. A patio cover over 300 square feet or attached to the house needs a permit.
Sources used in this article:
- Affordable Concrete San Antonio, decorative concrete patio service page, checked November 3, 2026, affordableconcretesanantonio.com
- Affordable Concrete San Antonio, concrete patio cost guide, checked November 3, 2026, affordableconcretesanantonio.com
- Affordable Concrete San Antonio, stamped concrete patio cost guide, checked November 3, 2026, affordableconcretesanantonio.com
- Affordable Concrete San Antonio, concrete patio permit guide, checked November 3, 2026, affordableconcretesanantonio.com
- City of San Antonio, No Permit Required List, checked November 3, 2026, sa.gov
- Texas Law Help, Hiring a Contractor, checked November 3, 2026, texaslawhelp.org
This article is general information for San Antonio homeowners. Prices are typical estimates as of November 2026 and are not a quote. It is not legal advice. Confirm City rules with Development Services before you build.
What should I read next?
Start with our decorative patio service page, or keep reading before you hire.