Stamped Concrete in Brentwood, TN

Stamped concrete is a regular slab with a decorative surface. While the concrete is still soft, we press textured mats into it, then color and seal it so it reads as slate, flagstone, cobblestone, brick or wood plank. Many Brentwood homes are brick or stone, and stamped concrete lets a patio, front entry or driveway border match that look in one continuous slab, with no sand joints for weeds and ants to work through.

Where it works well

• Back patios, often with a border in a second color
• Front walks and entries, tying the approach to a brick or stone facade
• Driveway borders and entry pads, adding pattern while the lanes stay broom finished
• Pool surrounds, with a texture and anti-slip additive in the sealer

We usually advise against stamping a whole steep driveway or walk. Sealed stamped concrete is slicker when wet than a broom finish, and on a slope that matters.

How the color works

Most stamped jobs use two colors. The base color is mixed into the concrete at the plant, so the color runs all the way through and a chip does not show gray. Just before stamping, a release agent in a second color is spread on the surface so the mats do not stick. It collects in the low spots and leaves them darker, which gives the varied, natural-stone look. Sealer then deepens both colors and protects the surface from staining and water.

Picking a pattern

Ashlar slate, a mix of rectangles in several sizes, reads as cut stone and suits most patios. Flagstone and random stone look more natural near beds and lawn. Herringbone or running-bond brick matches traditional brick homes. At the estimate we bring pattern photos and color charts and talk through how the pattern lines up with doors, steps and the house.

Get a Free Estimate

Sun, rain and sealer

In Brentwood the biggest threat to stamped concrete is not ice, it is the sealer wearing away. Strong summer sun and heavy rain wear down the top coat, especially along walking paths. Once the sealer is gone, color fades, and the surface takes on water and stains. We pour stamped work on a compacted stone base, plan the slope so water runs off rather than puddling in the texture, hide control joints in the pattern lines, and seal after curing. Resealing every few years keeps it looking new.

New slab or overlay?

If your existing patio or walk is solid and level, a stamped overlay, a thin patterned topping, may be an option. HomeGuide's resurfacing guide lists stamped overlays at $7 to $20 per square foot, with single patterns near the low end. An overlay cannot fix a slab that has sunk or cracked through; those cracks come back in the new surface, and a new stamped slab is the better choice.

Care

Sweep and rinse, clean up grease and food spills quickly, and reseal when water stops beading or the color looks dull. Use a plastic shovel on the rare snow days, and use sand rather than rock salt.