Stamped Concrete Walkways

J&H Decorative Concrete LLC in Uniontown, OH

Walkways are an important part of your landscaping and can greatly enhance your home's curb appeal. Whether the walkway leads straight to your front door or to a backyard patio or pool deck, you'll want a surface that is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also long-lasting and easy to maintain. You can achieve all of these goals with a stamped concrete walkway, an affordable way to get a high-end look without sacrificing performance.

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WHAT ARE MY PATTERN AND COLOR OPTIONS?

Stamped concrete has become the most popular decorative surface treatment for concrete walkways. And for good reason: Your pattern options are nearly unlimited, ranging from traditional materials such as cobblestone, brick, and flagstone, to specialized patterns such as wood planking and decorative borders and medallions.

Coloring options offer equal versatility and give concrete contractors the ability to customize the color of your walkways to look almost identical to the natural materials they resemble. The coloring can be added integrally to the concrete or applied to the surface. Often a combination of techniques are used to achieve the most realistic results (see this guide to coloring concrete).

WHERE CAN I USE A STAMPED CONCRETE WALKWAY?

Just about anywhere you want to create an eye-catching pathway leading people from one area of your property to another. Some examples include:

• As a welcoming entryway that ushers visitors to your front door. To give your front entry even more curb appeal, consider extending the stamp pattern from sidewalk to stairway to landing.
• To connect the various areas and structures on your property, such as a stamped concrete sidewalk from a side door or driveway to the backyard or from your home to a detached garage.
• To guide the way from one area of your backyard to another, such as joining a concrete patio to a pool deck or as a wayfinding element through a garden. Widening or flaring your stamped concrete sidewalk or making it curvilinear rather than straight will create a more inviting and informal pathway.
• To replace worn or hard-to-maintain walkways made from slate or other natural stone. Stamped concrete is a great way to replicate the patterns and natural color variations of real stone while providing greater durability. (See How to Make Slate-Stamped Concrete That Looks Like Real Stone.)

WHAT IS THE COST OF A STAMPED CONCRETE WALKWAY?

Stamped concrete can range in cost from $8 to more than $12 per square foot, depending on the size and complexity of your project. The most affordable stamped concrete walkway will use a single pattern and color. Projects requiring multiple patterns, hand-applied coloring techniques, and curvilinear walkway shapes will usually cost more. (See this guide to calculating the cost of a stamped concrete walkway.)

The good news is that in most cases, stamped concrete will cost less than the material it is mimicking and is comparable or even lower in price than installing a concrete paver walkway. That’s because many sidewalk installers find it more economical to pour concrete and apply a pattern than to haul and place individual stones or paving units by hand.

CAN STAMPED CONCRETE BE PLACED OVER AN EXISTING WALKWAY?

Yes, it’s possible to restore and upgrade the appearance of an existing concrete walkway by resurfacing it with a stamped concrete overlay. This cost-effective option to sidewalk replacement not only covers up minor flaws and discoloration, it also allows you to give walkways a whole new look while avoiding the expense and hassle of ripping out your existing concrete.

CAN I INSTALL MY OWN STAMPED CONCRETE?

We recommend hiring a professional to install your stamped concrete walkway rather than doing it yourself because a concrete contractor’s technical skills and expertise will help you avoid costly mistakes. Even if you feel confident enough to pour your own concrete sidewalk, stamping it yourself involves a whole new set of skills and a big investment in materials and stamping tools.

Don't be fooled by watching a how-to video or reading a book that the process is easy. Proper timing is crucial, and you only get one chance to do it right. Learn more about what’s involved.

HOW DO I MAINTAIN A STAMPED CONCRETE WALKWAY?

Stamped concrete walkways are relatively maintenance-free as long as you seal them every few years to preserve their appearance. Sealing a stamped concrete sidewalk is not only essential to protect the surface from stains and weather damage, it also enhances and intensifies the color. Sealers are available in matte, satin, and high-gloss finishes and some can be tinted to add a subtle hint of color.

To keep your stamped concrete walkways looking their best, it’s also important to clean them on a regular basis to prevent dirt and grime from building up over time. Get more tips on cleaning and maintaining stamped concrete.

DESIGN IDEAS FOR STAMPED CONCRETE WALKWWAYS

Replicate cobblestone

Give your concrete sidewalks on Old World look by stamping them with a cobblestone pattern. One of the most popular is European fan, an elegant pattern featuring slightly curved stones with edges that look hand-chiseled.

Add a decorative medallion

The centerpiece of this beautiful stamped concrete walkway is a compass medallion that points the way to your destination. Medallions work best when they are incorporated into concrete stamped with a complementary stone pattern. Get more ideas for using decorative medallions to customize a stamped concrete project.

Use a complementary design scheme

Stamped concrete is flexible enough to mimic nearly any pattern or color, allowing you to create a concrete entryway that matches or complements your home's architecture and color palette. This stamped concrete walkway blends in beautifully with the color scheme and style of this two-story brick home and features a border that was custom colored to match the trim and shutters.

Imitate wood planking

The owners of this home wanted a deck but without all the maintenance that wood requires. Integrally colored concrete textured with a stamp that replicates pine planks helped them achieve the look they were after while giving them a maintenance-free surface. The plank pattern extends from the porch and down the sidewalk to form a border for a large driveway.

Use sawcut borders

Here’s a technique that’s simple yet elegant – stamping the concrete with a seamless texture skin and then using sawcut borders to frame each sidewalk slab. Texture skins are a great alternative to stamping mats if you want to eliminate deep pattern lines. They also work well for adding texture to concrete overlays.

Combine pattern and texture

This residential walkway was created by stamping the surface with a seamless Italian slate texture accented by bands stamped in a London cobblestone pattern. Natural weathering effects were achieved by coloring the concrete with a beige surface hardener followed by a contrasting walnut release agent.

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Stamped Concrete Patios
Stamped Concrete Pool Decks
Stamped Concrete Driveways