Stamped concrete for patio

kah22

I'm looking at giving my patio a face lift this year, when decent weather eventually appears!!

It's a reasonably decent size patio roughly 26x26 feet. I have two options go with the traditional patio pavers. Or opt for what is generally known as stamped concrete and I'm asking if any members have direct knowledge of stamped concrete. Unfortunately I don't know of any locally.

Looking at Google images this form of patio looks great. Cost wise it comes in much cheaper than pavers.

But it does appear to have its drawbacks one such one is that it can develop hair cracks and if it does happen to get damaged then there is major work involved in fixing it.

I'd be delighted if anyone with knowledge of this type of product would share their experience.

As alway thanks for you advice

Kevin

Jonesya

There's a very good website on paving, worth having a read through as there's several pages covering printed concrete:

http://www.pavingexpert.com/pic01.htm

Doozergirl

Not a fan. I would never lay it for a client.

It does need expansion gaps in it and even then it can develop more than hairline cracks.

We rented a house about 10 years ago that had a fairly recent one and it was cracking, despite having expansion gaps. Ground does move. It expands and contracts.

(edit: forgot we were talking about a patio, not a drive,but I'll leave in here for any future search.

My personal favourite is block paving. Even if and when the ground moves, they can be lifted and relaid. My in laws have had subsidence in the front garden due to their house being plonked on a former quarry. Problem for the house, not a problem for block pavers.

Our drive is reclaimed block pavers. They were brought in grab wagons and tipped out. They didn't break!)

missbiggles1

We had it done in a garden years ago and we were very pleased with it. Not sure how well it lasted as we moved a year later.

matty2767

The quality of the finished product depends on the skill of the person laying it, how they cure the concrete, the thicness of the concrete and what the sub base construction is. Around us there are many drives with imprinted concrete, some are cracked and have repairs and others look really good. Maybe it's worth having a wander round your place and asking people if they recommend their installer. Then you can ask about construction thicknesses appropriate for the patio. Ask how long they expect the colour to last, if you are south facing it might be worth considering a colour that is less likely to bleach.