Does Stamped Concrete Driveway Increase Home Value?
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Does Stamped Concrete Driveway Increase Home Value?
A stamped concrete driveway looks stunning but is unlikely to increase the home value significantly. Install a stamped concrete driveway for the gorgeous looks, not for anticipated return on investment.
Before putting your home, with a stamped concrete driveway, on the market, give the driveway a makeover by repairing cracks, and recoloring & resealing it. It will look almost as good as new.
Most prospective homebuyers expect a driveway as an essential part of the home. But as one real estate agent put it, “kitchens sell homes, driveways don’t”.
The homebuyer will be just as happy with a decent concrete or asphalt driveway as with a stamped concrete driveway. They won’t pay extra!
Installing a stamped concrete driveway is a personal choice. You may just want to see your guest’s faces go green with envy, when they come over. Go for a stamped concrete driveway that adds “aesthetic value” to your home.
Just don’t expect a stamped concrete driveway to add “monetary value” to your home!
Stamped concrete is impressive without doubt. But I believe it is best used in areas such as the porch, patio or pool deck. It looks spectacular in such settings and may even add some value to your home.
Stamped Concrete Driveway Pros and Cons
So what are stamped concrete driveway pros and cons that make it so alluring but a poor investment for flipping your home?
What Are the Advantages of a Stamped Concrete Driveway?
The four most popular driveway materials are concrete, asphalt, gravel and pavers. It is not fair to compare a stamped concrete driveway with an asphalt, gravel or paved driveway, as they use different materials.
A fair comparison would be between stamped concrete, exposed aggregate concrete, brushed concrete, epoxy or PU coated concrete, etc.
The distinguishing feature of a stamped concrete driveway is its classy & unique looks. There is a large range of stamped concrete patterns to choose from. In the hands of an experienced and creative contractor, very attractive color effects can be achieved.
You can always create a stamped concrete driveway that is unique and complements the facade and landscaping of your home.
A concrete driveway, irrespective of the finish, has superior properties when compared to asphalt, gravel or paver driveways. Some key features of any concrete driveway are:
- Longevity – Concrete driveways last for 25 – 30 years. With regular preventive maintenance, the life can be increased to even 50 years.
- Strength – Concrete driveways are very strong. 4” thick concrete slab is the norm for most homes that expect only standard passenger cars to drive and park on the driveway. For heavier loads, such as RVs or Motorhomes, go for a steel rebar reinforced 6” thick concrete slab.
- Cost – Concrete driveways are more expensive to install than asphalt and gravel but work out cheaper in the long run due to the longer lifespan. Speciality finishes, such as stamping, exposed aggregate, etc. of course push the cost even higher.
- Sealer – All concrete driveways must be resealed regularly. Water penetration into the concrete can degrade it very fast. Regular resealing is the most effective way of prolonging the life of your concrete driveway.
Functionally a stamped concrete driveway has no advantage over other concrete surface finishes such as exposed aggregate or broomed finish.
Actually there are parameters where a stamped concrete driveway under performs.
What Is the Downside of a Stamped Concrete Driveway?
A stamped concrete driveway will underperform, compared to other concrete finishes, on following parameters:
Stamped Concrete is Not a DIY Project
Small, say 24’X24’, concrete driveways can be undertaken as a DIY project. Concrete driveways with a plain or broomed finish are quite simple to build.
After the concrete has fully cured you can either seal it with a topical sealer or coat it with polyurethane.
An exposed aggregate finish does require some skill but still manageable.
Stamped concrete, on the other hand, is a really difficult DIY project. Not only do you require the stamps (which can be hired), you also need more hands and experience to get the job done
Stamped Concrete is More Slippery
Some concrete finishes such as broomed finish or or exposed aggregate finish are very skid resistant. Plain or coated concrete driveways are somewhat slippery.
Stamped concrete is probably the most slippery of all concrete driveway finishes. Check out my earlier article Is Stamped Concrete Driveway Slippery? (Great Looks But …).
One of the ways to increase the skid resistance of a stamped concrete driveway is to apply a coat or two of a topical sealer that has anti-skid additives.
RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS
The Best Sealers for Your Concrete Driveway or Patio
A topical sealer is essential for protecting concrete surfaces from water permeation that can damage the concrete from within and compromise its lifespan.
I highly recommend Foundation Armor Concrete Sealers. Pick the one that best meets your aesthetic and application preference.
Stamped Concrete Colors Fade
Both texture and color bring stamped concrete to life. Unfortunately, the colors of a stamped concrete driveway fade due to UV radiation. Within a few years of exposure a stamped concrete does not look as vibrant.
To maintain the color vibrancy of a stamped concrete driveway, you will need to re-color and reseal it every 5 to 10 years.
Exposed aggregate concrete driveway base color fades too. But the visual appeal does not drop too much as the exposed stones are the star of the show, not the concrete base.
Coated concrete driveways will also fade. Color fading is certainly not an issue with smooth or broomed concrete finishes.
Bottom Line
The bottom line is that stamped concrete looks stunning but is best utilized in low traffic areas such as a porch, patio or pool deck. It works even better in indoor spaces.
It looks great on a driveway too but do not expect it to increase home value!
Thank you very much for reading this post. I do hope you found it informative and helpful.