Stamped Concrete in Garland, TX
Garland Elite Concrete pours stamped concrete patios, driveways, walkways and pool decks in Garland, Texas, pressing brick, slate, cobblestone or wood-plank patterns into fresh concrete. Color goes in through the mix, a hardener spread on the surface, or both, and a release agent leaves a darker accent in the texture.
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Stamped patterns, colors and finishes
The common stamped patterns around Dallas are brick, slate, cobblestone, wood plank, and custom logos or inlays. Design is what moves a job between price tiers: one pattern in a uniform color is basic; two or more colors, more than one pattern or a custom border is mid-range; multi-color layers and custom patterns imitating stone, wood or brick are high-end.
How the color goes in
Integral color is mixed into the whole batch and colors the entire slab, but its options are usually limited to earth tones and pastels. Color hardener is broadcast by hand onto the fresh surface, so its color is more intense, and it strengthens the surface and helps produce sharper imprints. About 70% to 80% of the release agent washes away once the concrete hardens; what stays gives the antique accent color, which is generally best kept to 5% to 30% of the final look.
Other decorative finishes
For color without a pattern, stained concrete soaks translucent color into the surface and leaves no film. For a rugged, nonskid texture, exposed aggregate brings stones from 3/8 inch to 2 inches or more to the surface.
- Control joint at least ¼ of the slab depth
- Stamped pattern; release accent 5% to 30% of the color
- Color hardener at the surface, or integral color through the slab
- Driveways: #3 rebar, 18 in. on center (City of Garland)
- Compacted gravel, 4 in. minimum (Butterfield Color)
- Houston Black clay, high shrink-swell (USDA)
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(945) 441-5958Stamped patios, driveways and pool decks
Patios
Under the pattern, a patio slab is generally at least 4 inches thick, or 5 to 6 inches where it carries a heavy load such as a hot tub or outdoor fireplace. Stamping is a finish on that slab, so layout and slope follow the same rules as our concrete patios. Outside the city, Garland Elite Concrete also pours stamped concrete patios in University Park.
Driveways
A stamped driveway still has to meet Garland's driveway rule: reinforced concrete 4 inches thick with Number 3 rebar 18 inches on center on rebar chairs, under a city permit. A stamped surface drains more slowly than a smooth one because water collects in the pattern, so slope toward the street matters; the Portland Cement Association's minimum is ⅛ inch per foot. Garland Elite Concrete pours stamped concrete driveways in Parker as well.
Pool decks
Around a pool, grip matters. A brushed or broom finish gives a deck slip-resistant texture, and traction can be improved with a textured overlay or clear plastic grit mixed into the sealer. Our page on concrete pool decks compares the finishes.
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(945) 441-5958The stamping process, from base to sealer
General practice, backed by the color-hardener makers' data sheets; your estimate covers your site.
Prepare the base
Butterfield Color recommends at least 4 inches of compacted gravel under color-hardened concrete. On expansive clay, good compaction and drainage come first.
Place and color
Brickform's data sheet calls for at least 5 1/2 sacks of cement per cubic yard and no more than a 4-inch slump. Color hardener goes on in two passes, about 75-80% and then the rest.
Stamp at the right set
Stamping can generally begin when a test press leaves a clean imprint about 3/16 to 1/4 inch deep. The first row of stamps goes on a straight line.
Wash, cut joints, cure
Leftover release is washed off at least a day later, sometimes two or three, before curing compound goes on. Control joints are cut at least one-fourth of the slab depth.
Seal
The slab cures at least 28 days before the first sealing, then gets two thin coats; acrylic sealers are the most common outdoors.
Stamping in Garland heat
Normal highs at DFW Airport reach 95.6°F in July and 95.8°F in August (1991-2020 normals). The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association says hot concrete sets faster, so finishing has to happen faster, and around Dallas, high temperatures shorten the working window for pouring and sealing. Some stamped-concrete cracks also trace back to pressing the stamps after the surface has become too hard.
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(945) 441-5958Resealing and stamped concrete repair
Resealing
A stamped surface typically needs resealing every 2 to 5 years, depending on traffic, climate and the previous sealer. The American Society of Concrete Contractors adds that penetrating sealers typically aren't used on stamped work because they don't protect the antique coloring, and that 75% or more of powdered release must come off before sealing.
Fixing a worn or cracked stamped surface
An overly rough texture can be softened with a couple of light coats of low-solids acrylic sealer. Scaling, which usually comes from placing or curing in freezing temperatures or from poor finishing, may call for an overlay or replacement. A stamped overlay goes on 1/4 to 3/4 inch thick and, properly applied, should last 10–20 years or more, but it may not be viable over large cracks, significant spalling or severe settlement.
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(945) 441-5958Stamped concrete cost in Dallas
In 2026 Dallas-area figures, stamped work runs $8 to $28 per square foot, with projects averaging $3,751. By pattern, the average runs from $8 per square foot for one-color brick to $16 for wood plank and $28 for a custom logo or inlay. Local conditions add cost too: heat that shortens working windows, clay soil that can call for grading or reinforcement, and tight fenced side yards.
These are published averages, not prices from Garland Elite Concrete. Your estimate is free and based on your site.
- Patio, 100 sq ft
- $800–$2,800
- Walkway, 300 sq ft
- $2,400–$8,400
- Driveway, 500 sq ft
- $4,000–$14,000
- Large patio or driveway, 1,000 sq ft
- $8,000–$28,000
Typical Dallas-area prices, 2026. Averages, not a quote.
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(945) 441-5958Questions about stamped patios and driveways
How long will stamped concrete last?
Well looked after, it can last 30+ years. Estimates run from 25 to 50 years, and regular resealing and good maintenance decide where a slab lands in that range. The main upkeep is resealing every 2 to 5 years.
What is the downside of stamped concrete?
Repairing or replacing it is often harder and costlier than with pavers, and poured slabs may crack from tree roots, freeze/thaw cycles and other disturbances. Textured surfaces also drain more slowly than smooth ones, and the sealer needs renewing. The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association adds that no concrete is completely crack-free.
Is stamped concrete driveway expensive?
It costs more than plain concrete. Nationally, a stamped driveway runs $8 to $26 per square foot, against $6 to $15 for concrete driveways overall, and a separate estimate prices a 2-car stamped driveway at $6,900 to $10,400. In 2026 Dallas-area figures, a 500-square-foot stamped driveway runs $4,000 to $14,000.
What is better, pavers or stamped concrete?
Both last 30+ years with maintenance. Compared side by side, stamped work runs $8 to $18 per square foot installed, against $7 to $20 for concrete pavers. The stamped surface needs only routine cleaning and resealing but is harder to repair; pavers may need the sand in their joints replenished every 2 or 3 years to keep weeds out. In Garland, both are allowed for driveways.
Do I need a permit for a stamped patio or driveway in Garland?
For a driveway, yes: Garland requires a permit to pour a new driveway or widen one. A patio or porch cover needs a building permit, but the City's pages list no separate permit for a plain patio slab, so call the City's Building Inspection department before you start. City approval doesn't replace any HOA approval.
Free estimates for stamped patios and driveways
Garland Elite Concrete answers calls and estimate requests 24/7 for stamped patios, driveways, walkways and pool decks in Garland and nearby towns. Tell us the area, the pattern you like and what's there now.