TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Beautifying your outdoor living space on a budget can be a big challenge, but a gorgeous driveway or backyard patio is possible without the expense of laying stone, tile or pavers. Stamped concrete is becoming the popular alternative many people are choosing to help their home really “pop.”
It mixes, pours and spreads like plain old concrete. But if you add a little color and a decorative pattern, it’s hard to tell a stamped concrete patio from one made of more expensive natural materials.
For as little as 10 dollars per square foot, stamped concrete can be half the cost of laying individual tiles or pavers. But Angie's List founder, Angie Hicks says don’t trust the job to just any concrete company, "you want to be sure they have experience in actual stamped concrete, not just concrete, because it’s a specialized skill, and you should expect to see examples of their work.”
If you already have a standard concrete driveway or patio, you can dress it up with what is called an overlay. They, too, look great, but can be hard to maintain in northern climates.
Angie also says sealing the concrete every year or two can keep it looking great for 10 to 20 years. It’s best to use the same sealer each time, so ask your contractor what he used on the original job. She says to also consider your landscaping because there’s a lot of heavy equipment involved that will leave your yard a mess even after the project is complete.
