Consumers shopping for a more attractive alternative to plain poured concrete usually end up with stamped concrete. One misconception about stamped concrete is that it gives you the look of paving stones for less money.

While this might have been true a few years ago, in recent years the cost of concrete has raised considerably, making stamped concrete comparably priced to paving stones. This is usually quite a surprise to most consumers, who have always thought pavers were significantly more expensive.

The biggest advantage of going with stamped concrete is that it can be made into a wide variety of patterns to simulate the look of brick, slate, cobble stone, flagstone, real stone, and tile. The biggest disadvantage, of course, is that it's still concrete. This means it's just one large slab that will crack.

Stamped concrete done correctly can look very nice. It usually looks great at a distance but up close it looks artificial since it's an imitation of stone, brick, or cobblestone. If you're thinking about stamped concrete to create that look of paving stones, you should educate yourself on the benefits of installing paving stones.

For example, paving stones have a lifetime warranty against cracking. You won't get that from a stamped concrete company. Also, when you repair stamped concrete you will see a scar, discolorations, and repair marks. As you can see from the photo above, a repair can not be matched to the original stamp which leaves an unsightly patch. However, if paving stones get stained or cracked, you simply remove the stone and replace it with a new one that will match perfectly.

Now that you know a little about the differences between stamped concrete and paving stones, consider paving stone for your next home improvement project. They will increase both the value and beauty of your home's exterior, for around the same price as stamped concrete.

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