Stamped concrete adds a touch of beauty and elegance to patios, driveways, or pathways and costs less than you might think.
When installing a patio, driveway, or walkway in your yard, stamped concrete will enhance the overall look and provide unique character.
A great way to get a textured look without spending much money, stamped concrete is low maintenance, incredibly durable, and highly customizable.
Concrete has come a long way in the past few years, offering many customization options, including colors, designs, and textures. You can make your concrete resemble:
- Fractured Slate
- Yorkstone
- Fractured Earth
- Cobblestone
- Ashlar Stone
- River Stone
- Sandstone
- Limestone European Fan
- Natural Stone Rock Garden
You may be wondering: Can I install it myself? How much will that cost? How much does stamped concrete cost to install professionally?
We’ll answer these questions and more in this article about how much it costs to install stamped concrete.
Can I Pour and Stamp Concrete Myself?
Like anything, sure you can, but hiring an experienced professional to pour and stamp your concrete will ensure the best results.
To DIY stamped concrete, you’ll need to know how to perform many complicated processes, including:
- Mixing, pouring, and properly spreading the concrete
- Quickly and precisely laying the stamps in the proper order
- Carefully adding color to the concrete (optional)
With concrete, you don’t get a second chance to make your project look the way you want it to. You need to have a plan, know what you’re doing, and execute it quickly when working with cement. If you can’t do that, your best bet is to call a professional.
How Much Does It Cost To Do It Yourself?
If you have the skills and experience to pull off a DIY job of this magnitude — or if you are just curious about how much it might cost — below is a breakdown of the numbers.
For a 200-square-foot patio, expect to pay between $400 and $700 for the following:
- Concrete mix
- Trowel
- Concrete sealer
- Lumber and screws for the framing
- Gravel for the base
This does not include the stamping tools and coloring tools. Stamping tools can cost anywhere from $150 to $500 each. Depending on the volume of dye (or other add-ins or treatments) you need to use, it could add $60 to $200.
When all is said and done, installing stamped concrete yourself can cost anywhere from $3 to $7 per square foot. And, of course, the DIY process requires hours and hours to learn how to install stamped concrete properly, trial and error throughout the process, and then actually install it properly.
If you’re not experienced with each part of this process, expect your final results to have more than one error, such as uneven coloring, imprecise stamping, or imperfect drainage. If you’re willing to live with these issues for the life of your concrete installation and want to save the labor costs of hiring a professional, DIY is an option for you.
Pouring concrete is a highly-skilled process that requires precision and quick thinking–there’s always an on-site challenge to overcome in the moment. It’s highly unlikely that first-timers (or even second or third-timers) will get it right. Therefore, having a professional install your concrete is highly recommended.
How Much Does It Cost To Have Stamped Concrete Professionally Installed?
To have your patio, walkway, or driveway installed using stamped concrete quickly and efficiently — with no mistakes and looking as sharp and perfect as possible — you’ll want to work with professionals.
But how much is that going to cost?
Considering how much labor, experience, and professional tools are involved, any extra cost is worth every penny when compared to doing it yourself with the stress and worry that’s involved. And really, it’s not that much more expensive to have stamped concrete professionally installed.
What Are the Factors In Determining the Cost of Installation?
Many factors come into play when determining the installation price, which will be given to you in a project quote that mentions the total square feet to be installed.
The main factors that affect the cost of installing a stamped concrete structure are the number of stamps used, the number of colors, the intricacy of the finish, and the borders needed.
Here is a quick breakdown of the costs based on the degree of difficulty or complexity of the job:
Basic
- Price range: $9 to $13 per square foot
- Number of stamp patterns used: One
- Colors used: One
- The job is simple to do, with contractors moving quickly from one section to the next
Mid-range
- Price range: $14 to $19 per square foot
- Number of stamp patterns used: Multiple for contrasting patterns
- Colors used: Multiple
- The job is more complex, with the contractor needing more time to complete sections
High-end
- Price range: $20 to $28 per square foot
- Number of stamp patterns used: Multiple for complex and contrasting patterns and especially scored designs
- Colors used: Multiple with delicate hand-coloring needed
- The job requires more time taken to implement artistic capabilities and ensure intricate designs are well-made
Other Factors Influencing the Cost
While the stamps, colors, borders, and the intricacy of the patterns needed are the primary factors in determining the cost of your stamped patio, walkway, or driveway, other elements come into play.
- Size of the project (square footage)
- Availability of labor and specializations
- Extra materials needed
- Sealant
- Design complexity
- Shape
- Increased PSI, thickness, reinforcements
- Grading
- Removal of old concrete
- Ease of ingress/egress to project location
All of these will be reflected in the cost estimate of your project in either the materials or labor area.
This is why an on-site estimate is the only way to get an accurate price.
Price Estimates
With all that information, you might wonder what the actual price is to install stamped concrete.
Let’s run some approximate numbers, and you can gauge them against your own needs to determine a possible price.
Patio
Let’s use an average-sized patio of 289 square feet (17 feet x 17 feet).
We’ll assume average costs for all the above factors and that there are no extraordinary circumstances that would include extra fees.
- Basic: $2,500 – $3,700
- Mid-range: $3,800 – $5,500
- High-end: $5,600 and up
Driveway
We’ll use an average-sized driveway of 640 square feet (16 feet x 40 feet).
- Basic: $5,700 – $8,500
- Mid-range: $8,600 – $12,000
- High-end: $12,000 and up
Stamped Walkway
A stamped walkway will usually be around $9 to $13 per square foot, or maybe slightly more if you want intricate detail. Since walkways can be any size and length, providing an approximate cost is challenging.
What Are the Benefits of Choosing Stamped Concrete for Your Steps?
Choosing stamped concrete steps for practical home improvement offers numerous benefits. Firstly, they enhance the aesthetic appeal of your home with various design options available. Additionally, stamped concrete is highly durable, meaning it can withstand heavy foot traffic and harsh weather conditions. Moreover, these steps are low-maintenance and easy to clean, saving you time and effort. Finally, stamped concrete steps provide a non-slip surface, ensuring safety for you and your family.
Final Thoughts
There you have it — the approximate costs for installing stamped concrete for a patio, walkway, or driveway. You can also get stamped concrete for any number of other projects, including indoor floors, pool decks, retaining walls, and more. The prices will be approximately the same for these other projects.
While you can pour and stamp concrete yourself, this doesn’t mean you should. If you don’t know what you are doing, have the right tools, or have the time to ensure it gets done right, this is the kind of project for which you should call a concrete installation professional.
Tulsa Concrete Contractor can install your stamped concrete project correctly and efficiently. We have the tools, experience, and techniques to achieve the look you’re going for.
