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Q: I want to upgrade my old patio, and a friend suggested getting a stamped concrete patio installed as a budget-friendly option. I’ve never heard of this material. What is stamped concrete, and is it a good choice for a patio?
A : The unforesightful solvent is that stamped concrete is textured , patterned , or colored to look similar to more expensive materials that are used for outdoor surfaces . Concrete stamping can offer up an affordable solution for homeowners who are looking to replace a terrace , private road , walkway , or other exterior surface while add visual appeal to their property that standardconcrete or asphaltwouldn’t be able to match .
Stamped concrete is concrete that has been textured and/or colored to look like other materials.
As its name suggests , stamped concrete is a character of concrete . After the concrete is poured , heavy flatness and stamps are localize over it to give it a pattern appearance . Because of the full array of concrete stamp patterns usable , the material can mime the face of higher end material often used when lay an outdoor surface .
For instance , the mat used to texture a stamped concrete walkway or driveway could let it to look as if it was really made from :
In addition to matching the pattern of these different Harlan Fiske Stone , stamped concrete can also be colour to provide an even near look . There are many stomp concrete colors available ; some of the color additives are design to be summate to fuddled concrete before it is pour out , while others are used as a topical color .
Photo: istockphoto.com
Patios, driveways, pool decks, and other paved surfaces can be made of stamped concrete.
There are severaluses for stamped concretearound a dimension . One pop path to utilise it is to upgrade the look of an existing terrace or to add a raw patio to a yard . With the dissimilar intention options mention above , the terrace can look as if it were made from slating , pavers , woods , or various other high - end material . In add-on to patios , stamped concrete can also be used for making paseo to a front threshold , through a backyard garden , or anywhere else one is needed on your property .
A stamped concrete driveway can avail add check entreaty to a base . With the variety of pattern and coloring pick usable , you ’re able to customize the design to fit your preferences or mimic the look of high conclusion driveway materials , such as cobblestones orbrick pavers . Some homeowners also take to lay stamp concrete for their puddle pack of cards . Again , it can make it easy to total some optical stake to the space while also protect the yard from piddle damage . Just note that stamped concrete may become slippery when wet after the sealer is lend oneself . If you ’re looking to practice it for a pool deck of cards , Concrete Decorrecommends mixing a non - slip additive into the sealant or choose a more textured formula for a little extra peace of judgment .
Stamped concrete is often cheaper and easier to maintain than the materials it’s designed to mimic.
As shared earlier , stamped concrete patterns make it possible to mime the look and texture of several higher goal patio , driveway , and walkway materials . However , while stamp concrete may face standardised to these other textile , it often costs much less to have installed . While the monetary value to have a stamped concrete patio or private road installed can motley based on the specific innovation you choose and your location , you could pay as little as $ 8 per solid foot . More complex purpose , those with different sealer , or selection using multiple colors may be about $ 18 per square foot ( or more in some vitrine ) . Compare these price to those of some of the textile the stamped concrete can imitate , and you may see the likely delivery . Brick patio , for example , run to cost about $ 17 per square foot , while a slate terrace could cost up to $ 40 per hearty foot .
Maintaining stamped concrete is often easier than maintain other materials . Regular upkeep include sweeping debris off of the surface and periodically rinse off dust and dirt off . Concrete pavers , for example , are much more thought-provoking to maintain . The joint sand between the pavers will need to be supercede periodically , which is a rather prominent undertaking .
High durability and a long lifespan are two of stamped concrete’s biggest benefits.
Concrete is a very durable stuff . The steps and materials followed when installing stamp concrete are virtually identical to those follow when install standard concrete . The main difference is the stamp and mats ( and sometimes coloring ) that are used to allow stamped concrete to mimic other materials . Because of the similarity between the two material , the life-time of stamped concrete can match that of standard concrete , or about 25 years .
Stamped concrete can crack and become discolored over time, and it can be difficult to repair.
You may have heard write up about stamped concrete cracking easy . While this was a more common problem year ago when the proficiency was unexampled and still being perfected , it is less of an issuance now . Experimentation with different stamping techniques and materials have helped to check that that the indentation are of a more uniform depth , make cracking less likely . However , if the fabric does check or get otherwise damaged , repairing it can be very hard . Similarly , if the contractor you hire does not set up the concrete aright or apply the impression rule good , fixing it will not be an easy labor .
That being sound out , stamped concrete can be more potential to snap if it is used to create a airfoil that will entertain a lot of weighting . A stamped concrete driveway , for model , will be more likely to crack than a terrace made from the material because a railway car weighs a lot more than a terrace set .
To maintain the vividness of your boss concrete , it is of import toreseal it every few eld . If you leave out this important step , it can start to fade or become discolored . If the color does become too faded , it is potential to recolor the concrete , but it will postulate removing the existingsealantand process carefully to ensure an even software of the concrete color .
Photo: istockphoto.com
Installing stamped concrete requires advanced skills and specialized tools that DIYers may not have.
In most character , stamping concrete will not be a DIY project you ’ll want to take on . Concrete can be challenging to work with and not well-heeled to alter once it part to harden . Plus , there are several specialty tools that are needed to complete the task . Taking on this project is not impossible for homeowners to complete , but it may end up being price - prohibitive once you buy all the tools you ’ll need and a much bigger undertaking than you ’re ready for . If you want to engage a professional toinstall stamped concrete , you should expect to pass between $ 2,700 and $ 7,203 for a terrace - size space .
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Photo: istockphoto.com
Photo: istockphoto.com
