Stamped Concrete in Madison, WI

Stamped concrete is regular concrete that is colored and pressed with textured mats while it is still workable, so the finished surface looks like flagstone, slate, cobble or brick. For Madison homeowners it is a way to get the look of a stone patio or a brick-bordered walk as one continuous slab, without hundreds of separate pieces to settle or sprout weeds. It does need a few extra steps to do well in a climate with about 52 inches of snow a year, and those steps are what we focus on.

Where stamped concrete works well

• Backyard patios: the most common use, often with a contrasting border.
• Front walks and entries: a pattern that dresses up the approach to the door.
• Driveway borders: a stamped band along the edges, leaving the main lanes in plain broom finish for traction.
• Pool and hot tub surrounds: with a texture that grips when wet.
• Steps and landings: stamped treads and risers to match a patio.

We usually steer people away from fully stamped driveways in Madison. Plows and shovels wear the sealer faster, and a smooth stamped surface can get slick with ice. A border gives most of the look with fewer of those trade-offs.

Making it last through Wisconsin winters

The base and mix under a stamped patio are the same as under any slab we pour: compacted stone that drains, air-entrained concrete and planned joints. We hide joints in the pattern lines where possible so they do not cut through the middle of a fake stone.

Color can be mixed through the concrete or applied to the surface, and a release agent adds contrast in the low spots. The sealer is the part that needs attention over time. It protects the color and keeps water out of the surface, and it wears faster where foot traffic and shovels hit. Plan on resealing every few years. We also add a slip-resistant additive to the sealer on walks and steps, because a glossy sealed surface can be slippery in rain or frost.

Use plastic shovels, skip ammonium-based de-icers entirely, and use as little salt as you can. The City of Madison suggests a 12-ounce mug of salt is enough for 10 sidewalk squares and recommends sand below 15 degrees.

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Choosing a pattern and color

Ashlar slate and random stone are popular for patios because the irregular shapes hide small imperfections. Brick or cobble patterns work well as borders. Earth tones like gray, tan and brown tend to suit the brick, stone and siding on Madison houses and show less dirt than very light colors. We bring samples so you can see them against your house before deciding.

Already have a plain slab?

If an existing patio or walk is structurally sound but plain or lightly worn, a stamped overlay may work. HomeGuide's resurfacing guide puts a stamped overlay at $7 to $15 a square foot for a single pattern and $15 to $20 for complex designs. Overlays bond to the old surface, so they only make sense on concrete that is not cracked through, heaving or crumbling. If it is, we will price a new stamped slab instead.