How Much Does a Stamped Concrete Patio Really Cost? Here's What to Know

A stamped concrete patio costs less than the natural materials it aims to duplicate—natural stone, brick, cobblestone, and more—yet with the convenience of a poured concrete slab. A stamped concrete patio costs an average of $3,600 for a 200 square foot patio. A stamped concrete patio generally costs between $2,000 and $5,000.

While a stamped concrete patio isn't indistinguishable from natural materials, it's a close replica that improves the texture and color of an ordinary concrete slab.

Cost of Stamped Concrete Patio by Square Foot

On average, a stamped concrete patio costs $18 per square foot. On the lower end, a basic patio will cost $10 per square foot and an upper end stamped concrete patio costs $25 per square foot or more.

Cost of Stamped Concrete Patio by Type of Project

The type of stamped concrete project, whether basic, average, or high-end, determines the eventual cost.

Basic Stamped Concrete Patio

A basic stamped concrete patio costs $2,000 on average. This simple type of patio uses a basic stamp such as brick pattern or ashlar, and just one or two stamp variations may be used. An integral color will be included. Seams are not defined by hand.

Average Stamped Concrete Patio

An average stamped concrete patio, which costs about $3,600, uses an integral color and an accent color. A wider range of concrete stamps may be available. Also, the concrete installer should bring the stamp up to edges with texturing skins and should use multiple stamps at once, rather than repeatedly pressing the same stamp.

High-End Stamped Concrete Patio

A higher-end stamped concrete patio, costing about $5,000, will have no repeated patterns. There will be a significant amount of hand work to define seams and to individually color the units. Borders may be added, and there might also be features like medallions.

Cost Factors

Size of the Patio

The size of the project is one of the most important factors with a stamped concrete patio cost. Every 100 square feet that you add to the project increases the cost by a minimum of $1,800.

Thickness of the Patio

Thickness isn't usually a factor in the cost of a stamped concrete patio since the standard quote is for a four-inch slab. But if you need to increase the slab thickness due to weight concerns, a six-inch slab will cost 50-percent more.

Removing Old Patio

Removing an old concrete patio costs $2 to $6 per square foot, for an average of $4 per square foot to remove an old patio. While this is a labor-intensive job, doing it yourself is one way to save on the cost of a stamped concrete patio.

Grading

A stamped concrete patio cannot be built on slopes or uneven ground. To grade or level the site starts around $1,000 and ranges up to $3,200.

Labor

Skilled concrete workers cost between $18 and $40 per hour, with the average worker costing $29 per hour. Prevailing wages for skilled concrete workers differ from state to state, so adjust according if you're hiring concrete workers to help with your DIY stamped concrete project.

Cost to Stain a Stamped Concrete Patio

Stamped concrete patios are often designed with a range of colors, including shades of tan, gray, terra cotta, and red. A primary integral color is added to the wet concrete during the mix. Once the patio has been poured, a secondary accent color is added to enhance the design.

Integral color costs about $120 per bag, and each bag can color one cubic yard of concrete (or a little less than 100 square feet). Release agent, which also acts as an accent color, costs about $95 per bucket for around 1,000 square feet of concrete.

Stamped Concrete Patio Cost vs. Other Patio Materials

Stamped Concrete Patio vs. Flagstone Patio

A flagstone patio costs an average of $21 per square foot, including professional installation and materials. The cost of installing a flagstone patio ranges from $15 to $27 per square foot.

With its irregular shapes, natural flagstone offers a pleasing appearance that blends in well with the rest of the yard's landscape.

Stamped Concrete Patio vs. Patio Pavers

A professionally installed concrete paver patio, including materials and installation, costs an average of $17 per square foot (total range: $8 to $25 per square foot).

Installing concrete pavers is an alternative to stamped concrete that's easier for DIYers because wet concrete does not need to be poured. Pavers come in many colors and textures.

Stamped Concrete Patio vs. Pea Gravel Patios

The cost to build a pea gravel patio is about $14 per square foot (ranging from $7 to $20 per square foot) when professionally installed.

Building a patio from pea gravel saves money because pea gravel is so easy for a DIYer to install. After grading the site, a border is added and landscape fabric is rolled out. Pea gravel is then shoveled out and raked flat.

Pros and Cons of Stamped Concrete Patios

Pros

• Improves concrete's appearance
  

• Fewer seams

• Eliminates weed growth
  

• Cracks less noticeable
  

• Easy to maintain
  

Con

• Not accurate look
  

• Complicated to repair
  

• Difficult to sweep

• Slippery

• Hard to DIY well
  

As a cohesive slab, a stamped concrete patio has no seams or joints between the simulated building units (however, most slabs will have expansion joints). This prevents weeds or the intrusion from burrowing animals.

A stamped concrete patio lets you have the look of expensive building materials, like ashlar or flagstone, but with lower costs that are more in line with concrete materials.

Cracks, common with many concrete slabs, are less noticeable with a stamped concrete patio than on the smooth, featureless surface of a traditional poured concrete slab.

One downside of a stamped concrete patio is that it's apparent that this is simulated stone or brick, not the real thing. A stamped concrete patio is formed with polyurethane molds. A professional concrete installer is good at disguising the repetition, but often the eye can pick out repeated shapes.

While stamped concrete is easier to maintain than some other patio materials, the texture of stamped concrete makes it more difficult to sweep than a smooth slab. Damaged stamped concrete must be professionally repaired to blend the patch with the existing materials.

Tip

Stamped concrete patios can be slippery due to sealers. A coarse sand-like grip additive to the sealer can improve traction.

DIY vs. Professional Stamped Concrete Patios

As a do-it-yourselfer, you can build your own concrete stamped patio for as little as $750 to $800 in materials for a 10-foot-square (100-square-foot) patio. This cost includes concrete, an integral color (mixed into the wet concrete), a release agent that also provides an accent color, wood forms, and one polyurethane stamp. The cost of tools is not included.

On average, though, expect to pay $1,000 to $1,200, or $10 to $12 per square foot, to build your own concrete stamped patio. This higher price includes three stamps, rather than one, for greater texture variation and tools such as a wheelbarrow, shovel, level, trowel, and tamping tool.

Hiring a concrete professional to install a stamped concrete patio is usually best. Stamping concrete well requires practice. Sizes beyond 100 square feet can become unwieldy if you mix your own concrete, and concrete's workability timeframe is limited. While it's possible to smooth out some minor errors quickly, eventually the concrete hardens and cures.

Professionals may own enough stamps to cover the entire patio (or close to it) simultaneously, avoiding repetition. This also lets the pros stamp the concrete immediately while still in workable condition.

How to Save on a Stamped Concrete Patio

There are numerous ways to save on the cost of a stamped concrete patio, including:

• Use seamless stamps: Seamless stamps, also known as texturizing skins, can be applied without matching up side by side, reducing labor costs and saving time.

• Mix materials: Incorporate less expensive materials like gravel with stamped concrete to reduce the amount of concrete needed.

• Use a stamp roller: Imprint texture on concrete quickly and without the need for stamps with a push-style stamp roller.

• Overlay the concrete: For existing concrete patios in good condition, save money by overlaying the concrete with two inches of new, stamped concrete.

• Stick to one pattern: Multiple patterns on the same patio take longer. Use one pattern to save on labor charges.

• Use one stamp: For DIY concrete stamping, the cost of stamps represents a huge part of the budget: from $100 to $400 per stamp. Reusing the same stamp for the entire patio saves hundreds of dollars.
  

How a Stamped Concrete Patio Is Made

1. Prepare the site: Grade, compact, and add gravel to firm the soil and promote drainage.

2. Build the forms: Build forms around the patio area to contain and shape the wet concrete.

3. Pour the concrete: Pour the concrete slab to a depth of four inches and screed it flat.

4. Float the concrete: Run a bull float over the surface to smooth it.

5. Add the color: Add color to the smoothed concrete surface.

6. Apply the release agent: Add a powdered release agent to make it easier to remove the forms.

7. Add stamps: Add stamps to the top of the concrete with the textured side facing down.

8. Stamp the concrete: Apply pressure to the stamps by standing on them or pounding them with a tamping tool.

9. Cut expansion joints: Cut expansion joint grooves in the concrete with a concrete saw.

10. Remove the release agent: Sweep off the release agent after two or three days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is stamped concrete cheaper than paving?

Stamped concrete patios are more expensive than regular paved patios because more materials and labor are required. They are also more expensive than building a patio with individual concrete pavers.

How much does a 20x20 concrete slab cost?

A 20x20 concrete slab, or 400 square feet, will cost from $4,000 to $10,000, for an average cost of $7,200. This cost includes stamping and staining the concrete.

Is a stamped patio worth it?

A stamped patio is worth it if you want a concrete slab patio but want to improve the concrete's flat, gray appearance. A stamped concrete patio gives your yard an upgraded look and adds to the home's value. If you want simplicity and a lower-cost patio, consider a pea gravel patio or a concrete paver patio.

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Read the original article on The Spruce.