Choosing stamped concrete designs for your project can be difficult, but there are a few things to consider before making that decision. There are many patterns and textures, but some may be more suitable than others.

First of all, don’t try to match anything. For instance, if you have brick on your house, don’t think you can match it with colored and stamped concrete. Concrete and brick are completely different materials and you will never be able to get them to match exactly. I suggest staying away from brick patterns if there are existing brick structures close by. The same goes for any other patterns.

Remember that all concrete should have control joints. These cuts have to go straight across the slab. This means they have to go straight through the pattern. For most people it’s no big deal, but can be bothersome for others. Patterns with straight lines can help hide the cuts and even make them virtually unnoticeable.

The entire slab does not have to be one single pattern and one single color. There are infinite ways to incorporate different patterns, textures, and colors. Borders and bands are the most common ways to do this. There can also be accent designs in the middle. You’re only limited by your imagination. Of course, the fancier you get, the more it’s going to cost.

Although there are many patterns out there, some of them can be next to impossible to get. Most contractors don’t own more than a few patterns but can rent ones they don’t have. The rental stores, however, don’t carry every pattern available. Some of the less popular and obscure patterns may not be available and you may have to settle for a second or third choice.

The best way to go about choosing stamped concrete designs is to look at photos. Searching through Google Images is a good place to start. Be sure to ask the contractors which patterns are available before they come out to estimate.