DIY Stamped Concrete Patio: A Beginner's Guide

Updated November 18, 2023

Author: Michael Day

This page is going to go over the basic steps it takes to stamp a concrete patio.

There's some videos to show you the entire stamping process from start to finish.

I also have a more detailed training course if you want to learn how to stamp your own concrete patio.

The course has many "on the job" type of training videos where I break down all the details and steps that I use when I stamp a concrete patio.

You can check out the course here. 

How do you stamp a concrete patio yourself?

The versatility of concrete is what makes a stamped concrete patio such a great choice. A concrete patio can be formed and poured in any shape or size to fit your needs or creative ideas.

There's so many textures, colors, and patterns to choose from, deciding which is your favorite will be challenging. One of the most attractive advantages to having a concrete patio is the wide range of colors available.

You can choose integrally colored concrete, a shake on color hardener, concrete stain, or a concrete dye. These can also be used together to create many color variations.

HERE ARE SOME GREAT REASONS TO CHOOSE STAMPED CONCRETE FOR YOUR NEW PATIO:

  1. The concrete can be stamped and textured to look like stone, brick, wood, and tile, to name a few, at a fraction of the cost of pavers.
  2. Concrete can be molded into any shape to accommodate your backyard requirements.
  3. Concrete is very durable and can stand up to a wide range of weather conditions.
  4. With the use of stains, dye, and colored concrete you can achieve a look to match your house or landscape.
  5. With all the concrete stamps available your patio will not look like your neighbors does.
  6. Staining and sealing a wood deck every year is a lot of work.
  7. You will not have sand in the joints with weeds growing up through them like pavers do.
  8. You will not have to worry about termites or the wood rotting and splintering.
  9. The aesthetic appeal of stamped concrete will boost the value of your home.
  10. Concrete is environmentally friendly when compared to wood.

Creating an outdoor space with a concrete patio will allow you to spend time with your family, entertain friends with a BBQ, or unwind after work, in the comfort of your own backyard.

now lets get into the 4 step process of how to stamp a concrete patio

step 1: pour the concrete patio

If you'd like to learn how to form and pour a concrete patio, check out my course!

When pouring a concrete patio that is going to be stamped, I usually add a darker grey color so the concrete doesn't dry a white/light grey color. I use the UNI-MIX Integral Concrete Colorant by Butterfield Color.

Here are the steps to follow when pouring a concrete patio:

  1. pour and rake the concrete out as level as possible
  2. mag the edges
  3. screed the concrete
  4. bull float concrete

Check out the video below to see a more in depth explanation on how to pour a concrete patio:

Step 2: stamp the concrete patio

The most important step when it comes to stamping concrete, is knowing when to start.

This is one of the most valuable things you'll learn from my training videos.

You can't start too early or you'll sink in too much and have low spots everywhere and you can't start too late or you won't be able to leave a good impression from the stamps.

After you mag and edge the concrete patio, it's ready to go, start spreading the release agent. Make sure to entirely cover the concrete, but don't create a thick layer.

Next, use a textured roller and go around the edges to make sure all spots on the patio are evenly textured. Now, you can begin to stamp!

Check out my course to learn how to stamp like a pro: HOW TO STAMP CONCRETE

You can also check out the video below!

step 3: Wash & clean stamped concrete

After waiting a full 24 hours after you've stamped the concrete patio, it is now time to clean all that release agent off the concrete. All you'll need is:

Begin by power washing the entire concrete patio and cleaning off as much release agent as you can.

Next, mix a 5 gallon bucket of water and 4 - 5 ounces of dawn dish detergent together and pour the soapy water onto the patio.

Scrub and brush the soapy water firmly across the surface of the patio. This is to help remove all the excess powder release you used for stamping.

Finally, power wash the patio again to get the rest of the residual release agent, dirt, and soap off of the stamped concrete.

I usually add some saw cuts to the patio to help prevent any cracking. (also in the training course)

The video below shows exactly how we clean a stamped concrete patio.

step 4: sealing your stamped concrete

Lastly, to ensure the stamped concrete is protected, make sure to seal the concrete patio. 

***Make sure to wait another 24 hours after cleaning the concrete before you seal. If there is a rain storm between the 24 hours you clean and seal the concrete, you need to wait another 24 hours for the concrete to completely dry before sealing.

When it comes to sealing stamped concrete, I always use the FOUNDATION ARMOR AR 350 sealer. This sealer is perfect to use on newly stamped concrete and also old stamped concrete! To distribute the sealer, I use a stainless steel concrete open head sprayer.

The video above also goes over how to seal a stamped concrete patio.

How to clean concrete stamps

Cleaning your concrete stamps in very important to ensure they last a long time and always create the best looking stamp.

All you need to clean the stamps are:

First, use power wash to wash as much release agent off of stamps. Then, add dawn dish detergent to a bucket of water and use that and the broom to scrub off the rest of the release agent and any other dirt / concrete. 

how much does stamped concrete cost?

In general, stamped concrete usually costs between $15 - $20 per square foot.

There are many different factors that go into pricing stamped concrete, so for a more exact price make sure to contact your local stamped concrete contractor.

I also have another page that goes into more depth of how much stamped concrete cost: COST OF STAMPED CONCRETE

If you would like to learn more about stamped concrete, read  below.

STAMPED CONCRETE PATTERNS

STAMPED CONCRETE SEALERS

STAMPED CONCRETE DESIGNS

STAMPED CONCRETE DRIVEWAY

STAMPED CONCRETE OVERLAYS

HOW TO STAMP CONCRETE

CONCRETE STAMPS

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