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No, stamped concrete is extremely durable and relatively easy to maintain. To keep your stamped concrete clean and help prevent staining, you should sweep any debris off it regularly, like you would with any other hard outdoor surface. You should also plan on resealing the concrete about every four years, which is about the same timeline you’d expect from pavers and natural stones.

The average cost of stamped concrete is around $12 per square foot, but you might pay anywhere from $8 to $28 per square foot. The average 12-foot by 12-foot patio costs $1,730 on average. Your exact pricing will depend on the patio’s square footage, the condition of the area where you want to pour the concrete, the desired stamp pattern, concrete coloring, concrete grade, and local labor prices. Don’t forget to budget for extra costs like land preparation and additional concrete fortifications if necessary.

Adding a stamped concrete patio is an affordable way to bring some elegance into your backyard entertaining area, which could add to your home’s value. Provided your stamped concrete patio is installed by a local stamped concrete professional, the patio should last for 40 years or more, and prospective buyers will likely recognize value in that longevity. Keep in mind that permanent patios like concrete slabs will likely raise property taxes, but the added value is usually well worth the investment.

Many concrete companies that handle installing concrete slabs or standard concrete patios can also install stamped concrete, but you can also hire a company that specializes in stamped concrete. These textured concrete surfaces take some finesse to get right, and choosing a company that concentrates on stamped concrete patios and walkways is a good way to ensure the finished product looks top-notch. Additionally, specialists in stamped concrete will likely have more texture options that suit your preferences, like riverstone, sandstone, yorkstone, and cobblestone.

It’s possible to create stamped concrete yourself, but we don’t recommend it and it’s often not cost-effective. It’s easy to mess up the pattern of a stamped concrete patio or walkway, leaving you with an unsightly home exterior rather than the elegant solution you wanted. Any mistakes made during the ground leveling and concrete pouring process will also increase the risk of cracks forming on your concrete. Additionally, buying enough stamps to get the pattern in before your concrete cures can cost as much as hiring a professional to do the work for you.