Stamped & Decorative Concrete
Get the high-end look of natural stone or brick at a fraction of the cost, with concrete that lasts decades longer.
Make Your Concrete Look Like Anything
Stamped concrete lets you create custom outdoor spaces that look like expensive stone, brick, or tile without the maintenance headaches those materials bring. We use special stamps and coloring techniques to make your concrete look like almost any natural material you can imagine. The result is a surface that gives you the appearance you want with the durability and low maintenance concrete provides.
Homeowners throughout Champaign and Urbana choose stamped concrete because it solves a common problem. You want your patio, walkway, or driveway to look great, but you do not want to spend every weekend maintaining it. Natural stone requires sealing, re-sanding joints, and replacing shifted pieces. Brick can sink and spread apart. Pavers need constant attention to stay level and weed-free.
Stamped concrete gives you that upscale look without the ongoing work. Once we install and seal your stamped surface, you just need to sweep it occasionally and reseal every few years. That is it. You get to enjoy your outdoor space instead of working on it. Many of our customers tell us their neighbors assume they paid far more than they actually did for their stamped concrete.
Design Options for Every Style
The options for stamped concrete are nearly endless. We can create patterns that look like flagstone, slate, cobblestone, wood planks, or geometric tiles. You can choose from earth tones that blend naturally with your landscape or bolder colors that make a statement. We often combine different stamp patterns or use multiple colors to create borders and define separate areas.
Popular Pattern Choices
- Random stone patterns that mimic natural flagstone or slate
- Brick and cobblestone designs for classic European looks
- Wood plank textures that look like hardwood decking
- Tile patterns perfect for pool decks and Mediterranean styles
We can stamp any concrete surface including driveways, patios, walkways, and pool decks. Many customers mix stamped concrete with standard finishes to highlight certain areas or stay within budget. For example, you might stamp your front porch and entry walkway while using a simpler finish for side paths. We will help you design a combination that looks intentional and fits your budget.
How We Create Stamped Concrete
Creating beautiful stamped concrete requires skill and timing. We start with the same careful preparation we use for any concrete project, including proper excavation, base preparation, and reinforcement. The stamping process happens while the concrete is still workable but firm enough to hold the pattern.
The Stamping Process
First, we pour and level your concrete to the correct thickness and grade. Before the concrete hardens, we apply color hardener to the surface. This special powder contains pigments that become part of the concrete itself rather than just sitting on top. We then press large stamp mats into the surface to create the texture and pattern you chose.
Each stamp mat must be placed carefully to align the pattern correctly and create realistic texture. We use release agents that prevent the stamps from sticking and add subtle color variations that make the pattern look more natural. After stamping, we clean and seal the surface to protect the color and make the concrete resistant to stains and weather damage.
The whole process requires experience to get right. Timing is critical because the concrete must be at exactly the right consistency to accept stamps without sticking or losing detail. We have completed hundreds of stamped concrete projects around Champaign, Urbana, and Savoy, and our team knows how to handle the variables that come with every job.