How to Stamp Concrete Stairs & Landings

Chip out any loose material from the old concrete with a hammer and chisel. Use a pressure washer to remove any debris and built-up dirt from the steps and the landing.

Cut pieces of 1-by-4-inch lumber the length and width of the stairs and landing. If you have scrap lumber available, use it. Place the lumber beside the stairs and landing to create a wall to hold the concrete overlay the depth you plan to pour it, which is typically 1 to 2 inches deep. Use wooden stakes to hold the lumber firmly in position.

Wet the steps and landing with water from the garden hose. Soak the concrete, but don't allow the water to puddle.

Mix three parts clean sand to one part Portland cement in a cement mixer. Add enough water to make a mixture the consistency of cooked oatmeal. Use a bucket to mix a second, smaller batch of one part sand and one part Portland cement with enough water to make it look like thick paint.

Use an old paintbrush to spread a thin coating of the cement paint onto the surface of the stairs or landing. This helps bind the overlay to the old concrete.

Spread the overlay onto the steps or landing. Use a trowel or a shovel to push the overlay mixture into corners. Set a piece of scrap 2-by-4 lumber on top of the forms. Rub it back and forth to help level the overlay.

Allow the overlay to dry until it's stiff. Smooth the surface with a float. Sprinkle color compound across the concrete with your hands. Add the stamp release agent, which keeps the stamps from sticking.

Set the stamp mat onto the surface of the concrete landing or stairs. Press it firmly into the overlay. Pull it up and away from the concrete. Repeat until the entire area has the pattern imprinted on it. If you are using a stamp roller, roll it in random patterns back and forth across the overlay. Allow the steps and landing to dry for 24 hours.

Use a garden hose to rinse away the remnants of the release agent. Let the concrete dry.

Stir the concrete sealer, but do not get bubbles in it. Apply a coat of the sealer to the stamped concrete with a paintbrush or a paint roller. Allow to dry completely. Apply a second coat of sealer and let it dry as well.