Pros and Cons of Choosing Decorative Stamped Concrete for Your Patio

If you are looking to add a bit of style to your patio this year, think about decorative stamped concrete. Stamped concrete can really add a lovely touch to your outdoor space.

And while they have come a long way in the manner of styles and colors, there can still be a few disadvantages, as well and advantages. Here are a few things you should know before choosing decorative stamped concrete.

Pros and Cons of Decorative Stamped Concrete for Your Patio

Due to its durability and weather resistance, colored and stamped concrete is a popular choice for those wanting the look of stone, brick, or wood for their patios.

Pros

There are certainly plenty of benefits to putting in decorative stamped concrete for your new patio.

Costs Less

You can achieve the look of marble, flagstone, wood, or almost any other material you want with stamped concrete. It is going to cost a lot less and looks just as great.

Durable

Concrete is extremely durable. If it is sealed it is protected from the weather elements, stains, and any spills that may happen on your patio throughout the year.

More Options

With decorative stamped concrete, your options are almost limitless. It can be made to have a very distinctive texture and look like anything you want. Get your patio to look like paving stones, natural stone, and more with ornate designs.

Ease of Installation

Rather than waiting days to have some other material installed, the concrete can be done right away. The colors and designs can also be done on the spot, as well.

Cons

Of course, there are downsides to using decorative stamped concrete, as with almost everything. Here are a few disadvantages to decorative stamped concrete.

Prone to Cracks

Depending on your climate, concrete that is exposed to severe weather, highs and lows, can easily crack. These cracks are not easy to fix and certainly not easy for the homeowner to fix.

Easily Damaged

Decorative stamped concrete can be easily scratched, chipped, stained, and exposed to chemicals from the pool, the BBQ, and heavy items being dropped can all cause damage. Even small damages show.

The sun can also cause damage to the color of your concrete. If the sun bleaches out only one section, it can be almost impossible to match that color again.

Hard and Uncomfortable

One of the aspects of concrete that make it appealing is also something that makes it less desirable. Concrete is hard and that makes it uncomfortable to stand on, fall on, and sit on.

Anything breakable that gets dropped on the concrete is going to be smashed beyond repair. Glasses, vases, teapots, glass jugs, any type of glass, ceramic, or your good china will not survive even a small fall.

Moisture Damage

Even if your concrete patio is sealed, moisture can still get in. It can seep in underneath or through damage on the surface of the sealant. Once moisture gets in, then cracks can start, there can be areas of collapse, and it will shrink and expand in accordance with the weather.

Decorative Stamped Concrete

If you are not sure that getting decorative stamped concrete for your new patio is going to be the right choice, give us a call. Here at Johnson Concrete, you have your choice of beautiful stamped concrete overlay that will look just like the real thing but will cost you less time and money to install and you will have more options to choose from when it comes to design and colors.