Stamped concrete in Manchester, Pittsburgh
Manchester is Pittsburgh's largest National Register historic district, a mostly residential grid of Late Victorian houses laid out beside the Ohio River in 1832. Behind those tall brick fronts are small rear yards, and that's where most stamped work here happens.
Homes and yards in Manchester
- Late Victorian brick houses in 15233
- Rear yards reached only through the house
- Old plain concrete pads out back
- Blocks rebuilt after the 1961 clearance
Areas we cover in Manchester
We stamp, seal and restore concrete across Manchester, including these areas.
- Manchester Historic District
- Beaver Avenue side
- Blocks bordering Allegheny West
- Blocks bordering Central Northside
- Streets near the Three Rivers Heritage Trail
Covering an old rear pad instead of breaking it up
Plenty of Manchester yards already have a plain gray pad out back, poured decades ago. If it's level and solid, a stamped concrete overlay gives it a new pattern and color without breaking it up, which saves hauling every piece of old concrete back through the house. An ashlar slate or cobblestone in warm sandstone or brick red sits well against Victorian brick.
If the pad has heaved, cracked right through or sunk toward the house, an overlay would only copy those faults. Then it has to come out, and the new slab can be stamped from the start.
The Manchester Historic District takes in 609 buildings, so ask the city whether any review applies before you change a front stoop, a walk or anything else that shows from the street. A rear patio is usually less of a question, but ask anyway. Large parts of the neighborhood were cleared in 1961, and lots rebuilt after that may have old fill below them, so we probe the ground before planning a new slab. Many of these houses have no side gap, so concrete comes through the house by wheelbarrow or by hose from the street, with the floors covered. Victorian fronts look best with restrained work, such as a brick-pattern stoop or a plain tinted one with a tooled edge.
Stamped concrete work in Manchester
These are common stamped concrete jobs in Manchester.
Getting a quote in Manchester
Tell us if the yard can only be reached through the house. Tell us how a concrete truck or pump can reach the yard, and we will bring samples to look at against your house.
Before we visit, read our guide to how long stamped concrete lasts.
Stamped concrete questions from Manchester
Can you stamp a concrete overlay?
Yes. A stamped overlay is a thin cement layer spread over a sound slab and stamped while it is soft, the same way as new concrete. It only works on a level slab without moving cracks.
Can an old rear pad behind a Manchester house be stamped without tearing it out?
Often, if it is level and solid. A stamped overlay runs $9 to $15 per sq ft and skips the tear-out, which matters when everything has to be carried through the house. A pad that has sunk or broken up has to come out first, at $2 to $4 per sq ft.
Which stamped concrete colors go with a Manchester Victorian?
Warm sandstone, brick red and walnut usually sit well against old red brick, with a charcoal or dark brown release in the joints. Hold the samples against the house in daylight before you decide.
Is a stamped front stoop a good fit for a Manchester Victorian?
It can be, with restraint. A brick pattern in a soft red, or a plain tinted stoop with a tooled edge, suits a Victorian front better than a bold stone look. The stoop shows from the street, so ask the city whether any historic review applies first.