These concrete designs will get your stamp of approval
Looking for a custom look for your walkway, pool deck, or patio? Stamped concrete is a budget-friendly way to get the look of stone, slate, brick, or even wood without the associated cost or complicated installation. Stamped concrete is available in a wide array of patterns to achieve a personalized finish for your concrete features. Whether you’re building a brand-new patio or considering a stamped concrete overlay to freshen up the look of your aging pool deck, these stamped concrete designs will elevate your outdoor spaces.
If you want the look of wood planks without labor-intensive upkeep or worrying about water damage and rot, this stamped concrete design is an easy choice. Enjoy the timeless look of wood without ever having to replace a damaged board or trip on a warped plank.
Wood-patterned stamped concrete can mimic many different kinds of wood and be colored to match the hue of real planks, so unless you’re looking closely, you’d never know it wasn’t the real thing. Some wood pattern stamps even include realistic-looking nail holes at the end of each “plank” for added effect.
Best for: Patios and porches
A classic cobblestone walkway or driveway is a great way to add old-world charm to your outdoor spaces, but cobblestones are notorious for becoming uneven tripping hazards. Avoid a stumble, but keep the look and texture of cobblestone with this stamped concrete design.
Cobblestone-stamped concrete comes in many stone sizes and colors and can be customized to suit your home. Unlike real cobblestones, stamped concrete won’t lift or shift and will remain a durable, sturdy surface for years to come.
Best for: Walkways and driveways
Brick-patterned stamped concrete is one of the most popular and versatile designs available. This design can be found in several different patterns, sizes, and colors and is often used for walkways and patios to complement homes with existing brick components.
Brick-stamped concrete not only looks great but also requires much less maintenance than its real-life counterpart. This design ensures you’ll never have to replace a chipped or crumbling brick, worry about deteriorating mortar, or fix a brick that’s been knocked askew. Stamped concrete maintenance couldn’t be easier—just keep it clean, sealed, and free of debris.
Best for: Walkways and patios
Ashlar slate stamped concrete features square and rectangular shapes in a repeating pattern and mimics the look of slate pavers. This popular design can be used for almost any concrete feature and is especially common in driveways and pool decks.
This design also comes in a larger version, known as majestic ashlar slate, so you can vary the size of the design to suit the area being stamped. Ashlar slate offers an upscale finish without the hassle of individual paver stones.
Best for: Driveways and pool decks
Elevate the look of your patio or walkway with this classic pattern featuring alternating vertical and horizontal rectangles set at right angles to each other. This pattern adds visual interest to a concrete feature and can be stamped straight or on a diagonal to suit your tastes.
Depending on the color of concrete used and the size of the stamp, herringbone-stamped concrete can look like brick or stone. This pattern is often set on the diagonal when used in walkways to “point” in the direction of travel.
Best for: Patios and walkways
If you don’t love the look of a defined pattern but still want something a step up from traditional concrete, a seamless stone design is a great way to add texture to your concrete. This type of stamped concrete imparts a stone-like texture to the surface but doesn’t have defined edges or a repeating pattern.
Seamless stone concrete stamps have feathered edges rather than a clearly defined outline. Because there’s no set pattern, the stamp can be overlapped and rotated to give the random texture and look of a stone slab.
Best for: Pool decks and driveways
Not sure whether to tackle this job yourself or hire a concrete contractor? It all depends on how comfortable you are pouring concrete. A handy homeowner with experience pouring concrete can DIY stamped concrete, but if you’re new to the task, you’ll want a local concrete stamping contractor to make sure the job is done right.
A concrete contractor will know if you’ll need a permit to pour concrete for the project and will ensure your stamped concrete design ends up looking just as you imagined. The cost of a stamped concrete patio averages between $8 and $28 per square foot for a new patio, and the cost of resurfacing existing concrete with a stamped overlay isabout $5 to $20 per square foot.
