Patios and Houston - a Houstonians point of view - by Richard Keelin, PE Patios and Houston is as cup is to tea.... Thats what Home Builder David Weekly says about the Houston Stamped Concrete Patio company crave thats sweeping across this bustling Nation. When ConcreteForever.com opened up its new residential division serving 160 cities and starting offering their exotic architectural cast in place stamped concrete patios, driveways and sidewalks to the residential clients throughout the USA rather than just Malls, Schools and commercial facilities it literally took Texas by storm with the exotic concrete patio fad spreading like wild fire, says staff engineer Richard Keelin. The costs of turn-key installations associated with a Decorative Concrete Patio that is colored, stained, engraved, molded, patterned, stamped and integrated with the latest technology in engineered concrete composite technology are calculated at an average rate of between $10.00 and $12.00 per sq ft (square foot)in Texas - $12 to $15 per sq ft in Phoenix Arizona and $18 to $22 per sq ft in the Boston Mass area for a nominal slab thickness of 5" to 6" depending on quantity, design and other project variables that contribute to the construction budget. A stamped concrete driveway with a nominal slab thickness of 6" to 8", dual reinforcement, stained, colored, integral molecular fiber reinforcement, molding, engraving, concrete demolition and site excavation, patterned, texturing and epoxy resin sealing usually costs between $8.00 to 12.00 per sq ft for a turn key installation. The structural integrity of a Decorative slate Stamped Concrete Patio installed versus a natural slate installation is generally about 110% greater than it's natural stone counterpart. By nature stone, slate and other natural materials have relative low strength properties and are unable to sustain under loads. So a Decorative ECC Stamped Concrete Patio or Stamped Concrete Driveway is a viable, smart alternative to installing natural stone or slate versus a structurally engineered concrete composite Patio or Drive way. Houston Patios used to be just a plain concrete slab with a broom finish or if the builder got fancy an exposed aggregate (pebble) finish. Now, if you stroll through many of the upscale residential neighborhoods you'll see that Patios in America have taken on a whole new meaning as the classy and elegent stamped concrete patios embrace not only feng shui design but also integrating colors, stamped slate, stamped stone and cast in place decorative concrete benches that add splendor to any American residence. Patio Builder and supervisor at ConcreteForever.com, Ricky Gueterrez says, "Homeowners are embracing our hi-tech Patios and North America is beginning to get thirsty for the "I want That" fever that is catching on all over The USA. Utilizing the latest in Engineered Concrete Composites that offer a decorative concrete patio that looks like stone, slate and even wood but has the structural flexibility that has been intergrated in concrete bridges and overpasses for years. "Our extensive commercial background has given us an opportunity to utilize the best technology available today into Americas Residential market offering superior American patio installations that you couldn't get five years ago", says Miguel Fajardo Gonzales, Supervisor for ConcreteForever.com If your searching for a custom installation for a concrete patio and America is your home, than find it here at Affordable Concrete Contractors of Houston