Decorative concrete in Key West FL - a new finish on the slab you already have

Not always. Resurfacing usually isn't a good fit for concrete with large cracks, a lot of flaking or chipping, or bad settling, so a badly damaged slab may need replacing instead. I look at yours first and tell you which way it goes before you spend anything.

It can be, because slip resistance on an overlay comes down mostly to the sealer. For pool decks, outdoor showers and other wet spots, ask about a non-slip additive before you pick a finish, and we'll go over the options with you at the estimate.

You may, because the City of Key West requires a building permit before any work worth more than $1,000 in materials and labor, at the building official's discretion. We handle the permit paperwork with the city's Building Department when a job calls for one, and since some Key West addresses fall under the county, we check which office covers yours first.

Exterior work in the Historic District needs a Certificate of Appropriateness from the city as part of the building permit application. That review becomes part of your timeline, so tell us at the estimate if your property sits in the district.

One maker advises reapplying a good sealer every few years on both indoor and outdoor surfaces. Plan on it as routine care for the finish, the way you'd repaint trim, and we'll talk through what to watch for at the walk-through.

Ask to see their competency card, because the city requires every specialty contractor to carry one showing they passed their trade's testing. Monroe County also keeps a list of registered contractors whose business tax, license, liability and workers' comp dates are current, and you can look anyone up there before you hire.

The size of the area, the prep the old slab needs and the finish you choose drive most of it, and stamped patterns take more labor than a plain colored top. If the budget's tight, I'd rather simplify the pattern than cut the prep, because the prep is what keeps the new layer bonded.