Landscaping - Stamped concrete. Do steps at a landing cost more per square foot than a walkway or patio?
I am building a home. Originally considered flagstone for the patio/walkways, but was too expensive. Changed things to stamped concrete, which for the patio/walkways is about the third of the cost of flagstone. The landscaper now tells me that making the landing steps from the house onto the patio/walkway is almost twice as expensive compared to flagstone. Makes no sense, concerned about the honesty of the contractor. Thoughts?.
I'm sure steps cost more per square foot that flat work because of the extra forming work required. With stamped concrete, there is some extra work to "butter" finish the riser portion of each step but that is not really a big labor item unless you have 10 or more steps.
The question is what is the total cost difference between making the steps flagstone or stamped concrete. The cost may be twice as much but if the total diffrence is still relatively small then you might still want to do it.
If I were you, I would talk with several concrete contractors and ask them the approximate cost to install a set of concrete steps and the differential to do stamped steps. Most contractors are willing to do rough estimates as long as you understand they are must that.
Our patio and three walkways are all stamped concrete. We love them and so does everyone who sees them. We removed flag stone walks and patio to go to the stamped concrete. It is much easier to maintain and safer to walk on.
Flagstone Walkway Project Part1 of 3
