The short answer
Stamped concrete in Olathe costs about $14 to $20 per square foot for one pattern and one color, and $16 to $22 with a contrasting border or a second color. A stamped border on a plain broom driveway or walk, the cheapest way to get the look, runs $20 to $35 per linear foot. Integral color on its own, without stamping, adds $1.50 to $3 per square foot to a broom slab.
| Finish | Per sq ft | 16×20 patio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broom finish, gray | $8 – $13 | $2,600 – $4,200 | The baseline |
| Broom with integral color | $10 – $16 | $3,200 – $5,100 | Color through the slab |
| Exposed aggregate | $11 – $16 | $3,500 – $5,100 | Washed river rock |
| Stamped, one pattern and color | $14 – $20 | $4,500 – $6,400 | Flagstone, slate, plank |
| Stamped with border or two colors | $16 – $22 | $5,100 – $7,000 | Most popular |
| Pavers, installed | $18 – $30 | $5,800 – $9,600 | For comparison |
| Natural flagstone, set in mortar | $30 – $50 | $9,600 – $16,000 | For comparison |
What drives the price
- Pattern. Seamless textures and simple ashlar patterns are fastest; random flagstone and wood plank with hand-detailed grout lines take longer.
- Color. Integral color in the truck plus a release color in the texture is the standard two-layer job. A second integral color for a border means two pours or a careful cold joint.
- Borders and bands. A contrasting border frames the field and hides the joint at the house; it adds a few dollars per square foot.
- Size and shape. Curves, steps and tight spaces slow the stamping, and the crew has to finish the whole pour before the concrete sets, so big patios are done in sections.
- Sealer. Included in the price. A breathable decorative sealer with a non-slip additive is what we use here; a glossy film sealer looks better in July and worse in January.
The cost of keeping it
Stamped concrete needs resealing every two to three years, $1.50 to $3 per square foot for a cleaning and one or two coats, so a 16-by-20 patio costs $500 to $1,000 every few years to keep its color and shed water. Rock salt should never go on it. If the sealer is let go for a decade the color fades and the surface starts to scale; it can be cleaned and resealed, but the color won't come all the way back.
Where stamped makes sense here
Patios, walkways, pool decks and borders. We don't recommend stamping a whole driveway in Olathe: car tires, road salt and snow shovels are hard on a decorative sealer, and a broom driveway with a stamped border gets most of the look for a fraction of the maintenance.
Common questions
Is stamped concrete cheaper than pavers?
Yes, by a third or more installed, and it has no joints for weeds or ants. Pavers can be lifted and relaid if they settle; stamped concrete can be foam-lifted but not relaid.
How long does stamped concrete last?
As long as plain concrete, 30 years or more, if it's air-entrained, sealed with a breathable product and resealed on schedule. Most stamped work that failed early here was short on air or sealed with a film that trapped water.
Can you stamp over my existing patio?
A stamped overlay is possible on a sound, flat slab, at roughly $8 to $14 per square foot, but it won't fix a slab that's moving. Usually a new pour is better money.
Does the color fade?
Integral color doesn't; the release color on the surface softens over years and comes back with cleaning and resealing. A south-facing patio fades fastest.
What patterns do you offer?
Random flagstone, ashlar slate, cobble, brick, wood plank and seamless textures, with borders and bands. We bring the pattern photos and a color chart to the estimate.
Related: Stamped concrete · Patio cost · Sealing · Salt damage