Any comments or experiences? Should I just go the Unilock route? In my area Unilock runs about $12/sq-ft. I’m thinking the stamped concrete will run less (but I first need some quotes). Does it crack after a few years? Any input appreciated. Thanks.
Charlie
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If you find a good contractor, the stamped will look great and perform great for many, many years. We were lucky to have a great contractor for it. I've also seen some with almost no definition (what happened to the release agent???) and with footprints!
Look at enough examples of the contractors work to give you confidence.
I agree. I worked on one house with a 10 year-old patio that looked great (done by a competent pro), and I have an aquaintance who did one himself with one of those stamp form things they peddle at home shows and his patio and walkway are hideous.
Cloud, would you happen to be in SW CT? If so, who did you use? What $/sq-ft should I expect for the CT area? Thanks to everyone for the input.
Charlie
So sorry...WNC. No clue about CT. I think we were in the $7 or $8 sf range here.
Cloud where in WNC are you? We are in Mitchell County. Went to Nashville this weekend. Happened to go to Opry Mills. They use the concrete inside with some great colors! We have seen the kit at home shows. My question is who in this area do you recommend? I think my email shows up with my name here at this site if you could email me who you used. Lars has tried on someones, but to get the color that we saw at Opry would take a lot of experience. By the way do they have classes for GC to learn this stuff? We got a call a few months ago wanting to know if Lars was interested in being a rep. for them in doing the stamped concrete patio. My thought is if it looks easy it isn't.Tamara
We're in Asheville proper. Carolina Concrete Designs in Brevard is the undisputed king (well, Queen be/c it's owned by a woman) of stamped here. Don't know about classes. Takes all the skill of doing good flatwork, plus some.
I'm debating the same issue right now. Surprisingly the prices on colored, stamped concrete are running in the $9-$10/sq. ft. I expected much less since simple concrete work runs about $3/sq. ft. in my area.
There will be much less maintenance with the concrete compared to pavers. I've seen too many paver patios with weeds growing out of the cracks.