Concrete is everywhere in suburban neighborhoods. Driveways, patios, walkways – it’s ubiquitous. But take a closer look, and the surfaces are not all the same. Some are stamped to look like brick or stone. Some are stained in various rich colors to blend in better with landscapes. Many are just plain concrete. But they all come at different price points, have different maintenance needs, and different life expectancies – and these factors could make or break your budget for your next exterior project.
Many homeowners fail to realize how different these options are until halfway through designing a new patio or driveway replacement. The difference from the initial installation to the end over twenty years can be eye-opening. Not to mention, will the style that is chosen hold up for five years or present itself as a dated eye sore?
What Plain Concrete Offers
Plain concrete often gets a bad wrap for being boring. Yet it’s the most commonly selected for a reason – it works. It’s literally gray cement and aggregate mixed, poured, finished, and sealed – with no enhancement or extra effort needed. It is what it is. For those looking for a standard driveway or patio space, going for plain concrete is the most cost-effective option by thousands.
And it shouldn’t be understated. Plain concrete costs about $3 – $7/sf installed (not including thickness or rebar consideration) depending on where you live and the specifics of the job. This means that plain concrete costs $3-$5 less per square foot than stamped concrete – and potentially less than a detailed stained job. For a 400sf patio, that’s $1,500-$2,500 difference up front.
But what people don’t realize about plain concrete is that it can look smooth and not industrial. One of the biggest complaints people make is that their driveways and patios look cold and utilitarian. But with a proper contractor, one can create texture through finishing techniques – such as broom finishes which create low-profile lines across the surface for traction or exposed aggregate where stones in the mix show themselves off for a more organic feel. These finishes do not cost significant upcharges but offer life long visual enhancement.
Maintenance is cut and dry. It needs to be swept out, blown off and rinsed down occasionally with resealing (every few years). Plain concrete doesn’t have color fading or patterns wearing unevenly. Cracks – or inevitably cracks – look more natural because repairs will more easily blend than they would with patterned work.
How Stamped Concrete Works
Stamped concrete takes that plain gray version of concrete up a notch through enhancement before it hardens completely. Contractors take rubber mats and stamp into wet concrete to create impressions of bricks, stones, tiles and wood (believe it or not). From afar, one cannot even tell if natural pavers or stones have been installed.
Stamping occurs immediately after the concrete has been poured, as workers add color (base colors throughout and additional dusted-on colors on top) before stamping while still malleable. This process is part science and part art as timing plays a huge role in success; otherwise, muddy-looking colors become apparent without patterns.
Stamped concrete costs about $8 – $15/sf (most commonly $8 – $12) for standard projects, however, if those patterns are complicated or colors multiple, expect costs to rise. Companies like Viking Concrete & Power perform concrete work with aesthetic enhancement for easy serving so there is no need to hire multiple contractors.
The benefits are obvious: One can achieve the look of expensive stones without the hassle of installation of hundreds of pavers or stones. There are no issues with weeds growing between pavers or settling pieces; it’s all one solid surface.
Unfortunately, stamped concrete is annually riddled with issues. It requires annual resealing (every 2-3 years instead of 5) and the coloring/top surface might wear in high traffic areas like drivetrains when turning into sides of their property. In addition, when repairs take place, matching patterns and colors are nearly impossible unless one uses extra cement stamping plastic sheets – all of which defeat the purpose of having cheaper repairs.
Stained Concrete’s Appeal
Stained concrete takes a different spin on enhancement through the addition of color vs. impressions through chemical reactions or topical stains (water-based stains and acid-based stains). Stained concrete is effectively smooth (or finished like before) and instead the gray disappears for rich browns, blues, greens, terra cotta tones.
Water based stains work like paint/acrylic mixtures and acid stains are inside out developments through chemical reaction. Acid stains are more translucent with variegated tones while water-based stains are more saturated in one color with less tone variation unless additional steps are taken.
Staining can be effective for patio and interior floors where character is important; stains will never peel from chips because they’re part of the concrete. However, when improperly applied (exterior seams), certain colors can bleed more because it’s on the top.
Costs fall between stained and stamped ($4-$10/sf) depending on complication; single color stains cost less than multiple color designs. In addition some people stain AND score into etched patterns for more visual interest which ups costs as well.
Staining requires maintenance annually but not as much as stamping; noted issues with stamping are highlighted here – as stained concrete is stained concrete – it will crack or chip just like anything else poured outside in air – but won’t work out naturally for years on side seams.
Selecting What’s Best for Your Job
Ultimately, what’s best depends on the use of space more than what looks good in a photo. A driveway gets constant traffic with tires turning on it, oil dripping off vehicles, snow removal chemicals – which all take a toll on decorated top layers. However, a back patio that’s somewhat protected without furniture sliding around on it could benefit from decorative processes.
Further considerations include climate; freeze-thaw climates stress all types of concrete surfaces however decorative top layers separate easier based on water getting in and freezing; plain concrete expands/contracts better than any other option although proper installation plays a role regardless.
Finally, long-term plans play a major role in decision-making. If you’re only going to be in your home for 5-7 years, decorative processes could yield curb appeal to up your asking price. However, if you’re investing in your forever home (20+ years), plan on resealing at these rates often plus maybe every 7 so it looks beautiful again (when most likely it will need a facelift).
Budget for anticipated maintenance over time outside of expected upfront costs. For example, by spending less now might save you over 15 years when you never pay for resealing since stamped surfaces get lost in decorative touch ups and color touch ups fade over time unless continuous management occurs.
Final Thoughts on Concrete Options
Finally, none are better than others; plain is more practical; stamped is high-end; stained offers subtlety tying into your house potentially better.
The biggest mistake comes from people who choose only with the initial cost or appearance to be most important instead of functional needs and reality over time. Speak to contractors who do all three regularly; see their work from 5-10 years ago – not just their current projects – even if they’re still working with that particular client now since it’ll offer more insight as to how this worked out than any sales pitch ever could.
Concrete is an infrastructure-need, not just an aesthetic approach needing to last decades – so go for what fits in your vision but your ability to maintain over time!
