Stamped concrete for driveways, patios, and walkways

What stamped concrete is

Stamped concrete starts as an ordinary slab. While the concrete is still workable, the crew adds color, applies a release agent, and presses stamp mats into the surface to leave the pattern. After it cures, the surface is cleaned and sealed.

Color is mixed into the concrete, worked into the surface as a hardener, or applied afterward as a stain. The release agent that keeps the mats from sticking can also leave a second, darker tone in the lines of the pattern.

The pattern is only the surface. How long a stamped slab looks good depends on what is under it and around it: the base, the thickness, the reinforcement, the joints, and where the water goes. That part is the same as for any driveway or patio, and it is where we start.

Patterns in our own work

These are patterns you can see in the photos below.

• Wood-plank patterns, with the grain pressed into each board
• Flagstone patterns on walks, patios, and steps
• Diamond, lattice, and chevron layouts, with border bands in a contrasting color
• Round patios with radial joints, and borders that step along the edge

Our stamped work

• Driveways & sidewalksStamped driveway with a diamond and lattice border
• Driveways & sidewalksStamped driveway with a contrasting border
• Patios & stairsRound stamped patio with a walk
• Patios & stairsStamped plank-pattern porch with a black border
• Patios & stairsStamped flagstone-pattern walk beside a garden
• Concrete overlaysWood-plank stamped overlay on a driveway, walks, and pool deck

See all of our work

Where stamped concrete fits

We stamp driveways, walkways, patios, porches, pool decks, and the entry areas around them. A stamped border can frame a plain broom-finish field, or the whole surface can carry the pattern. If the surface is for a car, a hot tub, or a stair, the build underneath changes with the load, so we plan that before we pick the pattern. The pages for driveways and sidewalks and patios and stairs cover that side of the work.

Built for a wet climate

Western Washington is wet most of the year, and that decides how a stamped surface behaves.

Traction. A textured pattern can give your feet something to grip, but a film-forming sealer can make any finish slick when it is wet. On steps, pool decks, and shaded areas we recommend a slip-resistant sealer, and we suggest walking on a wet sample before you choose. The answer hub compares finishes when wet.

Moss and algae. Shade and damp grow moss and algae, and deep texture is harder to clean. A pattern that suits a sunny patio can be a poor match for one under trees. We will say so if we think that is your site.

Water. A stamped slab has to shed water like any other. We set the slope and decide where the water goes before we form anything, and a patio should slope away from the house.

Stamped overlay or a new slab

If the existing concrete is sound, a stamped overlay can give it a new surface without tearing it out. An overlay is bonded to the old slab, so it is only as good as the slab underneath. Movement, settlement, or a failed base will crack through it, and old sealers and coatings have to be removed first. If the slab is failing, replacing it is usually the better answer. We look at it in person before we say which. See our concrete overlays page, or read when an overlay is a good idea and when it fails.

Sealing and care

Sealer protects the color and makes the surface easier to clean. It is not a one-time job, but it is not on a calendar either. Reseal when water stops beading and the color looks flat, because sealing too often can build up a film that is hard to remove. Follow the sealer maker’s written instructions for cleaning and resealing. The answer hub explains how often to seal and how color and fading work.

Clean off moss and algae before they make the surface slick (how to do it safely). In winter, skip de-icing chemicals during the first winter and go easy on them after that. Clean sand gives traction instead, and here is why de-icers damage a surface. Planning to pour in the cold months? Read our step-by-step guide to winter concrete pours.

Permits and rules

A stamped surface does not change what your city requires. Work in the public right-of-way, stairs, and retaining walls can all need permits, and the rules differ from city to city. We check before we pour and tell you what applies.

Where we build stamped concrete

Common questions