SC · P-03 · Stamped
Stamped and decorative concrete
The look of slate, stone or brick, poured as one slab. Pattern mats, integral color, a release powder for depth, and the first coat of sealer included.
- Thickness
- 4 in on walks and patios, 5 in on driveways
- Base
- 6 in of 21AA crushed gravel, compacted
- Mix
- 4,000 psi, air-entrained, integral color in the truck
- Price
- from $15 per sq ft
Scope
What we pour
Stamped concrete is regular concrete with a pattern pressed in while it is still soft. Done well, it reads as stone from the curb and costs less than the real thing. It is also the finish with the most to get right: timing the mats, matching color batch to batch, hiding joints in the pattern and keeping it sealed. We pour a sample board before your job so you see the color in daylight.
- 01 Stamped patios, front walks, porches and steps
- 02 Ashlar slate, random stone, cobblestone, wood plank and brick patterns
- 03 Integral color with a contrasting release, or two-tone stain work
- 04 Smooth or contrasting border bands around the field
- 05 Resealing and color refresh on stamped work we or others poured
Specification
Built like this
This is what goes on the written quote. If another bid does not say these things, ask.
- Thickness
- 4 in on walks and patios, 5 in on driveways
- Base
- 6 in of 21AA crushed gravel, compacted
- Mix
- 4,000 psi, air-entrained, integral color in the truck
- Pattern
- Full mat set plus texture skins for the edges
- Joints
- Cut along grout lines in the pattern so they disappear
- Sealer
- Two coats of acrylic with anti-slip grit; the first coat is included
- Sample
- A color sample board poured before your job
Top: Pattern mats and release, two coats of sealer with grit
Slab: 4,000 psi, air-entrained, integral color in the truck
Steel: Wire mesh on chairs, held at mid-depth
21AA crushed gravel, compacted in two lifts
Native soil, soft spots dug out and replaced
Prices
What it costs
-
Stamped, one color
Base color plus contrasting release
$15 to $22 per sq ft
-
Stamped, multi-color with border
Stain work, border band, detailed edges
$19 to $27 per sq ft
-
Stamped steps
Per step, up to 5 ft wide
$550 to $850 each
-
Reseal existing stamped work
Clean, strip if needed, two coats
$1.75 to $3.00 per sq ft
Worked example
Stamped patio, 16 × 25 ft, one color
- Area 25 ft × 16 ft = 400 sq ft
- Stamped, one color: 400 sq ft × $15 to $22 $6,000 to $8,800
Range, rounded to $50 $6,000 to $8,800
Run your own numbersRanges include digging, gravel base, forms, steel, mix, joints and curing unless a line says otherwise. Where you land in a range depends on access for the truck, how much soft soil comes out and how complicated the shape is. The firm number comes after the site visit and does not move unless the scope does.
Before you sign
Honest notes
Cracking
Stamped concrete is still concrete. It gets joints and it can crack. We cut joints along the pattern's grout lines so they read as part of the stone.
Curing
Same clock as any slab: feet after 24 to 48 hours, cars after 7 days. The release powder is washed off around day 2 to 3.
Sealing
This is the finish that needs it most. First coat included, then every 2 to 3 years, or every 2 on a driveway that sees salt.
Freeze-thaw
Sealer is the armor here. A faded, dull surface is your cue to reseal before winter, not after the flaking starts.
Schedule
How the job runs
-
Before
Pattern and sample
Pick a pattern and colors from our boards, then we pour a small sample in your color.
-
Day 1
Dig, base, forms
Same base work as any slab. Nothing about stamping makes up for a soft base.
-
Day 2
Pour and stamp
Release powder down, mats on at the right moment, edges and steps textured by hand.
-
Day 4
Wash and cut
Excess release washed off, joints cut along the grout lines.
-
Day 28+
Seal
Two coats of sealer with grit for traction. The first one is in your price.
Questions
Asked about stamped
Is stamped concrete slippery?
Sealed stamped concrete can be slick when wet. We mix a fine anti-slip grit into the sealer on every job, and we recommend lighter textures on steps.
Will the color match my sample exactly?
Close, not exact. Cement, sand and weather vary batch to batch. That is why we pour a sample in your color first, and why patching a stamped slab never matches perfectly.
How long does stamped concrete last?
The slab lasts as long as any good concrete. The surface look depends on sealing. Kept sealed every 2 to 3 years, it holds its color for a long time.
Next step
Get your stamped price in writing.
Tell us what you want poured and roughly how big. We walk the site, check the base and the slope, and send a written quote within two business days.