Stamped Concrete in Flint, MI

Stamped concrete is regular poured concrete that is colored and pressed with textured mats while it is still workable, so the finished surface looks like slate, fieldstone, cobblestone or brick. Flint homeowners pick it for backyard patios, front entries and walks, and borders around plain driveways. Because it is one continuous slab, there are no individual pavers to heave, settle or sprout weeds after a few winters.

Where it works best

• Patios: the most common use, often with a plain or contrasting border.
• Front entries and stoops: a stamped landing gives an older house a finished look at the door.
• Walks: a stamped path from the driveway to the porch or back yard.
• Driveway borders: a stamped band along the edges, with plain broom-finished lanes where you drive and shovel.

We generally advise against stamping an entire driveway in Flint. Plow blades and shovels wear the sealer and color faster, and the textured surface takes more effort to clear of snow.

Color and pattern

Color comes from two sources. Integral color is mixed into the concrete and runs all the way through. A release agent in a second color is applied before stamping and stays in the low spots, giving the shading you see in natural stone. Popular patterns include ashlar slate, random stone, cobble and running-bond or herringbone brick. We bring sample photos and help you choose a combination that fits the house, whether it is a brick bungalow or a newer vinyl-sided colonial.

Built and sealed for freeze-thaw

A stamped slab needs the same base as any other: compacted crushed stone, proper slope and air-entrained concrete. Timing is critical, because the mats have to go down while the concrete is firm enough to hold texture but soft enough to take it. Control joints are placed along pattern lines where possible so they blend in.

Sealer protects the color and helps keep water and salt out. A stamped surface should be resealed every few years, and more often near the street or on entries that see a lot of de-icer. Never use ammonium-based de-icers on decorative concrete; sand is the safest choice for traction.

Get a Free Estimate

Stamped overlays

If an existing patio or walk is structurally sound but plain or worn, a stamped overlay may be an option. A thin polymer-modified layer is applied over the old slab and textured. HomeGuide's resurfacing guide notes that overlays are not a fix for large cracks, crumbling or settling. We check the slab first and tell you honestly whether an overlay or a new pour makes more sense.

Upkeep

Sweep and rinse a few times a season. Reseal when water stops beading on the surface. Keep metal shovel edges off the pattern where you can, and use a plastic shovel on stamped entries and walks.