It is worth being clear about what it is and is not. Stamped concrete gives you the look of stone or brick at a lower cost than laying real stone, and it is one continuous slab so there are no joints for weeds. It also cannot be taken apart and relaid the way pavers can.
| What changes | Effect on your price |
|---|---|
| Square footage | The single biggest driver. Work is priced per square foot, so measure before you call. |
| Pattern complexity | A single running-bond pattern is the baseline. Multiple patterns, borders and inlays each add hand work, and hand work is most of the cost of decorative concrete. |
| Colour method | A single release colour costs least. Integral colour through the full depth costs more, and multi-colour antiquing more again. |
| Borders and banding | A contrasting border around the field is the most common upgrade and it is priced by the linear foot. |
| Sealing, and resealing later | Decorative work must be sealed to protect the colour, and it needs redoing periodically. Budget for the cycle, not just the pour. |
| Reinforcement, wire or fibre | Adds roughly 10 to 15 percent over a plain pour. Worth it anywhere a vehicle or a heavy load will sit. |
| Tear-out of the existing surface | Adds roughly 15 to 25 percent, depending on slab thickness and how easily a machine can reach it. |
| Concrete truck access | Tight lots, long wheelbarrow runs and pump trucks all add labour to the exact same square footage. |
