Coloring options for stamped concrete
There are many coloring options that a contractor may apply:
- Integral coloring is mixed into the material. This is good for earth tones and pastels.
- Dry-shake color hardeners are laid on the surface of the concrete, and provide a more intense color palette, and improve the strength and density.
- Surface-applied color are dyes, stains, and tinted release agents that can be used in conjunction with the first two options that help make textures look more like the natural materials they resemble.
UPGRADES FOR YOUR STAMPED CONCRETE PATIO
Stamped concrete patterns make your concrete patio beautiful. But why stop there?
J&H Decorative Concrete LLC – Uniontown, OH
Stamped concrete patio with fire pit
Have your contractor build in your very own fire pit for those late night conversations with your friends and family.
Greystone Masonry Inc – Stafford, VA
Stamped concrete patio with fireplace
Create a wow moment on your patio by installing a fireplace with complimentary coloring and stone look to match your stamped concrete patio.
John’s Cement - Milford, MI
Stamped concrete patio with border
Borders act as a great accent for your patio. Defining the edges of your patio with a new color, adds a stylish dynamic that makes your design more personalized.
See more patio border ideas.
The Wall - Portland, OR
Stamped concrete patio with pergola
Adding a pergola to your stamped patio will give you a shady spot to hang out. Pergolas can be built with wood, metal or even vinyl. Arrange patio furniture under the pergola for a comfortable retreat.
STAMPED CONCRETE PATIO VS PAVERS
Stamped concrete patios give you a vast array of decorative options not possible with other patio materials. At about $15 per square foot, this is a budget friendly way to get a high-end look.
Concrete pavers are placed individually, without any grout, in intricate, stunning patterns. The individual placement of each paver makes it easy to replace any damaged areas, but the spacing between the stones also allows for shifting and weed growth over time. At, approximately, $20 for the most detailed design, it may not be the most cost-effective to install.
CAN YOU DO STAMPED CONCRETE OVER AN EXISTING PATIO?
Yes, you can get a stamped concrete look over an existing patio. With a stamped concrete overlay, you can get the look you want, be able to fix any damaged areas of the concrete surface, and even add strength and durability to your patio.
STAMPED CONCRETE PATIO COST
The average cost of stamped concrete is between $8 and $18 per square foot and a typical patio is around 288 square feet. This means you’ll likely spend between $2,300 and $5,200 for a stamped concrete patio.
The cost difference is dependent on size and details you are looking to include in your design. The most affordable stamped concrete uses a single pattern and color. The more patterns and colors you look to include, the more expensive it will become. If you would like more detail about the costs, visit our stamped concrete cost page.
DIY stamped concrete patio
According to expert Chris Sullivan, stamped concrete is not a DIY project. He explains that because concrete only lets you have one chance at getting the stamping right you should leave it to the professionals. See what else he has to say about stamped concrete as a DIY project.
You can also visit our directory to find contractors in your area that install stamped concrete patios.
SEALING YOUR STAMPED CONCRETE PATIO
In order to have your stamped concrete patio last longer, you will need to apply a sealer. This will make your concrete surface easier to maintain, protect it from wear and tear, and keep the surface from being penetrated by oils, stains, and other chemicals.
In order to properly seal your patio, you will need to make sure the surface is clean and clear of debris and moisture, and that your concrete is properly cured (this could be several weeks after pouring).
Once clean, you can apply your sealer with a sprayer. Sealers can last anywhere from 1-10 years or longer, depending on the type of sealer used.
SEE THESE STAMPED CONCRETE PATIO PROJECTS
These homeowners considered building the patio with natural Pennsylvania bluestone, but were intrigued by some of the new developments being pioneered with stamped concrete.
These homeowners wanted the look of a natural stone patio, but didn't want to pay the high price. Concrete stamped in an Old English Slate was the perfect solution. To give the patio the look of natural bluestone, the base concrete was colored with a pale blue color hardener and then accented with custom-mixed highlight colors. Faux grout lines between the stones give the patio a beautiful, hand-laid stone appearance.
When this home was newly constructed, the backyard was nothing but a colorless, flat expanse of dirt. On this barren canvas, the homeowners created an inviting outdoor space for entertaining by installing a stamped concrete patio with separate zones for a large pergola and a stone-faced fireplace. The warm terra-cotta coloring of the concrete patio was achieved by using integrally colored concrete in a canvas shade and enhancing it with a dry-shake color hardener in a sun-baked clay hue. The surface was then stamped with texture skins in a Roman slate pattern.
A decorative border is a great way to set off and frame a stamped concrete patio, especially free-form designs. This new patio and set of steps is colored in beige with walnut accent coloring, and the borders are stained with a darker ebony acid stain. An ashlar slate stamp was used for the pattern and texture.
Equipped with an outdoor kitchen and bar, a pergola, and multiple areas for dining and conversation, this two-part stamped concrete patio is ideal for outdoor entertaining. A concrete walkway, stamped with the same ashlar slate pattern used for the patio, leads down to a second more-secluded patio with an outdoor fire pit. Seat walls made from concrete pavers retain the yard’s sloped terrain and create an attractive patio border.
For this beautiful 1,200-square-foot patio and outdoor entertaining area, travertine stamps and stone-textured form liners were used to replicate real stone, creating a high-end look for a reasonable cost. An ashlar travertine stamp was used for the main surface and a hammered-edge form liner was used to impart a stone-like texture along the edges. The realistic coloring effects were achieved with a buff-toned dry-shake hardener accented with a combination of sandstone, charcoal and sandalwood water-based stains. A walnut antiquing wash gives the surface a weathered look.
When the design of a concrete patio is conceived with the landscaping firmly in mind, beautiful things happen. That was the case for this backyard patio project in Silverdale, Wash., a collaborative effort by Northwest Construction & Landscape LLC, a company specializing in the installation of stamped concrete patios, driveways and walkways, and landscape architect Emily Russell of Russell Design Source, the designer of the formal backyard garden.
When this gorgeous stone-clad home in Wantage, N.J., was built, a raised concrete patio was installed, but it lacked the character of the home’s natural stone and log details. “Structurally, the concrete was in good shape, but not aesthetically pleasing,” says Todd Fisher of Unique Concrete, whose company was brought in to transform the patio. They installed a concrete overlay stamped in a fieldstone pattern and hand stained to match the color of the stonework.
