Before your technician starts with your stamped concrete installation, they will prepare the surface the concrete will be installed on. For a new surface, you will need to prepare the surface with an impasto or overlay primer before pouring the concrete. This will help the concrete adhere to the surface better, which will lead to better and more consistent staining. If you are restoring an existing surface, make sure to only use an impasto primer prior to the staining.
In addition to preparing the surface, another step in the stamped concrete installation is to clean it thoroughly. Cleaning the area surrounding the stone will help you seal the surface and avoid staining. Stone and slate will stain very easily, especially if acidic chemicals are used to clean the surface, so make sure the area surrounding the stone or slate is spotless before beginning any sealing or staining procedures. Any residue left behind will only end up causing more problems.
One of the most popular areas for stamped concrete installation is on patios. Patios are normally paved with pavers, and they are an easy way to add instant character to any home. Because patios are generally narrow, the pavers must be laid at an angle so that they will sit level with the surrounding landscape. If you use unleveled and uneven pavers, the finished product will look unsightly and will detract from the beauty of the landscape.
Pavers are usually available in several different colors, so finding one to match the color of your home is fairly simple. In addition, most patios have several routes to choose from, so if you want to accentuate a specific feature of your home’s design, you can do so by choosing a stamp to use as a border along with one of the routes. Even driveways and walkways can benefit from some stamped concrete installation. Driveways can have a stamped design as long as it’s not too severe, since the pavers do not need to be as deep. A design that’s too severe around a sidewalk or driveway will detract from the safety of passing cars, so it’s best to stay away from this type of design on patios and driveways.
The benefits of using concrete as a driveway or walkway material are plenty. First, stamped concrete is much easier to repair in the event that it’s ever damaged. Even a small crack can allow water to get underneath it and cause cracking. Stones may crack more easily, but they’re also less susceptible to water damage. Concrete, on the other hand, is practically indestructible.
The cost of installing concrete is generally cheaper than stone paving. If you have a budget constraint, stamped concrete may not be the right choice for you. Stamped concrete installation involves laying the concrete yourself, which can be quite a pain if you’re not used to it. Even the smallest molds can cause significant damage to the concrete lining, so you should always use caution when working with concrete. For those who are good at DIY projects, you can purchase concrete stamps to help make the laying of the stamping easier, but the cost of such an investment can still be offset by the cost of your patio or driveway renovation.
With any surface, patios, or driveways included, it’s important to keep in mind the overall aesthetic appeal that you want to achieve. Because of the staining process involved with stamping concrete, it can be much less time-consuming to create an attractive design on a new concrete surface. Stamped concrete has a variety of different looks that include light colors or darker hues that can contrast against the background color of the pavement. This can be done to add subtle differences or to create a much more interesting design. The possibilities are endless, and the level of creativity you can exert will only be limited by your imagination.