May 23, 2017 Bob Benhardt

Stamped Concrete In Depth Ultimate Guide

What Is Stamped Concrete
Why Stamped Concrete Will Add An Elegant, Jaw-Dropping Design Component To Your Next Construction Project
How Stamped Concrete Is Made
What Options Are Available For Your Stamped Concrete Project

stamped concrete patio

1 – What Is Stamped Concrete

Stamped Concrete is above and beyond typical concrete when thinking of concrete.

Very much an anchor of the Decorative Concrete side of the Concrete Family.

Stamped Concrete has all the strength, longevity and durability one associates with Concrete with the ability to be a showroom to museum quality beautiful work of art. (Right on your own property!)

The surface of fresh concrete is ‘Stamped’ to mimic wood, flagstone, tile, stone, brick, slate in great detail.

Without the high maintenance and upkeep hassle one has with those type of materials.

Finally!

No longer concerned with unlevel pesky pavers or weeds and ants using the cracks in between to further their agenda!

Stamped Concrete Unquestionably Adds Top Shelf Appeal To Your Home or Business.

There are multiple Stamp Concrete Pattern and Stamped Concrete Color options which can be combined to make a truly unique work of art!

Like a box of chocolates in Forrest Gump, each stamped concrete project is a clean slate to bring something fresh and unique to the table for your project.

Stamped Concrete Is Great For a Wide Range of Residential and Commercial Applications:

Residential Applications:

Commercial Applications:

2 – Why Stamped Concrete Will Add An Elegant, Jaw-Dropping Design Component To Your Next Construction Project

Choosing Stamped Concrete is a sure fire way to make your property stand out from the rest of the neighborhood.

Stamped Concrete is a direct reflection of your style, tastes, personality & sophistication.

Your neighbors, friends and family will definitely be impressed with your stamped concrete.

The Bottom Line is…Your Stamped Concrete is Going to Make Heads Turn and Jaws Drop!

You may be thinking, “Wow if a Stamped Concrete Patio can do this for my home, what could Stamped Concrete do for my business?”

Stamped concrete for your business – whether an outdoor patio, dining area, entry way, bar area or wine tasting room subtly tells your clientele your place of business is well above and way beyond average.

Incorporating stamped concrete into your business – whether it is a restaurant, a winery or a retail business – strongly sends the message to your ideal client you are in the game for the long haul.

While at the same time making your ideal client’s experience be one of opulent, luxurious indulgence.

Your investment in stamped concrete will easily return back to you many times over.

Arizona Flagstone Stamped Concrete Commercial Outdoor Patio

Okay, I don’t own a business but can you tell me again what will stamped concrete do for my home?

Sure thing!

Your Stamped Concrete Patio will be sure to make your next gathering sound like a farmer’s chicken coop full of chickens!

People won’t have their chins on their chest looking at their phone passing time – everybody is going to be looking at the ground while doing a lot of clucking!

Admiring your beautiful stamped concrete patio like it’s a rare piece of artwork on loan from the local museum!

The beauty of stamped concrete is appreciated by everybody, unless, someone is jealous! (WARNING-Which very well may happen!)

If someone is jealous of your stamped concrete you will notice right away because they won’t be looking at your stamped concrete patio. Heck, they may even refuse to stand on your stamped concrete patio!

Offer that person a beer or a glass of wine while holding it out after calling their name.

Watch them wince as if in pain when they have to step on that beautiful stamped concrete patio to get their drink!

Tis’ a shame really because everyone else is going to really enjoy spending time at your place!

You may very well become like Frank Sinatra back in the day and become THE home that everyone wants to be at.

Heck, you may very well end up having to pretend you are NOT home once in awhile so you can enjoy your stamped concrete patio all to yourself!

3 – How Stamped Concrete Is Made

Pouring and Finishing Stamped Concrete is Similar to Regular Concrete With SEVERAL Additional Steps
As with regular concrete – the sub grade, forming, re bar pinning where needed is still critical

The are many factors which influences the cost of your stamped concrete project

The layout of the area, the footprint of the stamped concrete, access to the area to prepare and complete the stamped concrete and more.

Cost to fully wash the inside of the concrete mixer truck from the integral colors so as to not taint the next concrete delivery. Integral color costs. Release costs.

Are legitimate factors which will be involved in the final cost associated with your stamped concrete project.

The concrete mix changes for stamped concrete by utilizing a smaller aggregate.

The smaller aggregate in the stamped concrete mix is used to make sure that all areas of the stamped concrete pour is uniform. The uniformity keeps the slab strong and consistent for years of beautiful enjoyment.

Integral Concrete Color is mixed with the stamped concrete batch to color the concrete throughout the stamped concrete mix.

This is usually done on site when the concrete mixer truck arrives. But it can also be done at the concrete plant at the time of dispatch.

Before the stamping of the concrete starts – stamped concrete color release powder is broadcast across the surface of the concrete to be stamped.

This release is similar to flour when making biscuits in that the release allows the stamp to be removed from the concrete while leaving the concrete surface in tact.

butterfield stamp being placed on concrete surface to be stamped A Concrete Finisher (Cement Mason) sets a large, heavy rubber pattern on top of the concrete surface to be stamped.

Then tamps to emboss the pattern from the stamp into the surface of the stamped concrete mix.

These concrete stamp patterns are placed side by side careful not to drag, dig or otherwise touch the concrete surface until in the exact location the concrete finisher wants them.

This process continues in a steady process from start to finish.

texture-stamping-the-surface-of-concrete Usually there is one person responsible for texturing and grooving the edges of the concrete that the patterns don’t stamp well.

The concrete stamps do not stamp as deep along the home or structure – the concrete stamps will not completely unfold.

Along the edges next to the forms because the top of the wood or metal form doesn’t allow deep enough embossing of the stamp.

All the edges have to completed by hand to assure an authentic look.

Any groove or texture from the stamp itself is pressed into the concrete surface. This results in a nice color contrast between the main concrete color and the accents.

Once the stamping process is complete the concrete is allowed to cure.

Concrete Sealing Project Completed The stamped concrete expansion joints will be saw cut followed by a light power washing to remove excess release.

The stamped concrete is allowed to dry overnight and then the Concrete Sealer will applied.

4 – What Options Are Available For Your Stamped Concrete Project

Whether your stamped concrete is uniform across the entire project or several stamped concrete ‘pieces’ are part of an overall design, each are considered an individual stamped concrete project.

Each Stamped Concrete Project Requires A Selection From The Following Three Categories:

Stamp Pattern To Stamp The Surface Of Your Concrete With
Integral Color To Be Mixed Within Your Concrete To Be Stamped (Natural Concrete Color Is An Option!)
Release Color For The Highlights And Indentations Of Your Stamped Concrete