Stamped concrete patios are one of the best outside features to add to your backyard.  They are decorative yet offer significant durability compared to patio pavers or a wood patio or deck.  One thing many people are concerned with is the cost of a concrete patio. Costs can vary widely based on where you live and how much general construction costs in that area.

The first thing you should do is get numerous quotes from contractors that do stamped concrete patios, prior to setting up the appointment for a quote make sure they actually do stamped concrete patios and not just concrete patios (there is a difference from a cost and contractor standpoint), just about any contractor can do the standard poured patio, but a stamped patio requires someone with experience with that method.

When setting up the appointment request that the contractor bring some pictures of previous stamped concrete jobs as well as an estimated costs for a few different styles/sizes or patios.

They should also come prepared to discuss different stamped concrete designs or patterns with you, you should also have a few design ideas in mind. Make sure the shape of your patio flows with the rest of your landscape.

The color of the stamped concrete patio can have a wide variety of colors, contractors can apply concrete stain, which will stain the concrete just about any color you can imagine.

You also will need to determine if you will need a walkway to your patio, nothing is worse than getting muddy or wet shoes going to your patio. If it does not branch off of existing concrete then you have to determine if you should have a stamped walkway, this will add some extra cost but will pay off in the long run.

Another thing to account for is cover, are you planning on using anything to cover your patio?  Maybe an awning, portable shelter or even a fix pavilion type shelter.  When taking your shelter into account, think if you will be using a patio heater as not all shelters can have heat producing objects under them.

If you do not have the money to spend you can look into “how to stamp concrete” and attempt to do the project yourself.  Different tool rental places will rent you the concrete stamps. The selection of patterns may be limited but it will save you about 50% over the cost of hiring a contractor, thus saving money!