Stained Concrete One of the most popular and cost effective applications for transforming concrete slabs is staining. This method of coloring hardened concrete can even be used on concrete that has been in place for years. Hardened concrete can be stained one color for approximately $2 to $3 per square foot (this does not include the cost of the concrete).

Stenciled Concrete Stenciling uses disposable stencils to impart a pattern on fresh concrete. Because the stencils mask off the underlying surface, they leave behind realistic "mortar joints", the color of the gray concrete base. By applying a dry-shake color hardener to the exposed concrete before stencil removal, you'll get the appearance of individual stones or bricks that have been mortared together. Stenciling concrete costs start at $9 to $10 per square foot.

Stamped Concrete Commonly referred to as patterned concrete or imprinted concrete, stamped concrete is designed to resemble brick, slate, flagstone, stone, tile, and even wood by pressing specialized rubber forms called stamps into the surface of fresh concrete. Stamped texturing costs start at about $8 to $9 per square foot, while other stamps range from $10 to $13 per square foot.

Textured Concrete Changing the texture or finish of the concrete is one of the least expensive of the decorative concrete methods. The reason is because all these finishes are done by the concrete finisher, or maybe one or two extra finishers on the crew. They require no added materials to produce.

Exposed Aggregate Exposed aggregate concrete can almost be compared to a piece of granite or marble transformed by polishing. A plain, unremarkable surface has been stripped away to reveal the exceptional beauty lying beneath. In the case of concrete, that beauty is in the form of decorative aggregate, either natural or manufactured. The exposed aggregate costs start at approximately $6.50 per square foot.