Stamped concrete isn't exactly a brand new material but instead a traditional tried and true material with a fresh new look. This type of concrete can emulate a host of other building materials from bricks to flagstones or cobblestones. In addition the surface can be impressed with an almost infinite variety of textures. This concrete often is colored in order to make it more beautiful and to more closely resemble the material it's intended to simulate.
There are uses for which concrete is very clearly the superior building material but is the least pleasing aesthetically. Stamped concrete is the answer to that problem. While it is usually as expensive as the natural materials it is often more durable and more suited for the purpose. This choice permits the builder to combine strength with aesthetics in a way that has never before been practical.
Concrete that is stamped is not a new discovery. However what has been used in the past has been distinctly lacking in visual appeal. Stamped surfaces were obviously stamped and very poor simulations of the materials they were modeled after. Recent advances in coloration and textures however have lifted stamp concrete into another realm and given it a greater aesthetic appeal.
Stamped concrete today is still very much concrete with all the virtues concrete brings but it also achieves a distinctive look that the discerning builder and homeowner find appealing. In addition to it's ability to emulate naturally occurring materials more closely, textured concrete also requires fewer repairs in trying conditions.
The stamping process for concrete isn't an easy do it yourself project. It requires specialized equipment and skill and is a multistage affair. While pouring concrete is relatively straight forward and almost anyone can do it, the stamping and texture impression process is almost always strictly a job for the skilled professional.
With this process, concrete is poured as usual but in a very thick layer more than 4 inches. Colors are often added to concrete in the mixer, if not then they are applied after the concrete is poured. A release agent is applied to the surface of poured concrete, this will allow the texture mats to placed on the concrete impressed and then release without removing the concrete.
After the surface has set for at least 24 hours the release agent must be thoroughly washed from the surface. Once this has dried again a clear sealant is applied to the stamped concrete surface. This is a complicated process which requires very careful timing in order to achieve the desired looks and still maintain the strength of the material. It is normally beyond even the skilled do it yourself enthusiast.
Textured and colored decorative concrete won't fool most people into believe it is wood or natural stone but it gives an added aesthetic appeal to the concrete surface. This allows concrete to be used where it serves best without the builder having to settle for boring or ugly. Sometimes the improvement to tried and true products can be as exciting as brand new materials are.
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