Stamped Concrete: What Homeowners Should Know Before Choosing It
The main reason homeowners choose stamped concrete is because of its appearance. That is a reasonable place to start, as it really does look good when it is done properly. The patterns, textures, and color combinations available today are truly amazing, and a skillfully designed stamped patio or driveway can be an asset to any home that grey concrete just can’t match.
However, it is easy to make the choice based on the appearance. The components that should be considered before deciding are the ones that are involved in the performance of the surface over time, the maintenance required, and whether or not the surface would be appropriate for the particular application the person has in mind. Those who forgo such thinking end up with faded surfaces, cracked surfaces that can’t be invisibly repaired, or surfaces that need some work they never anticipated.
Planit Dirt Excavation and Concrete has been installing Stamped Concrete Patios, Driveways, Pool Decks and Decorative Concrete Surfaces in Jacksonville, Little Rock, Bryant, Sherwood, Conway, and the surrounding area of central Arkansas for over 37 years.
Here are a few points to consider before you make any decision.
What Stamped Concrete Actually Is
Stamped concrete is simply ordinary concrete that has been textured and coloured prior to hardening. Patterns are formed by the pressing of rubber or polyurethane stamps into the wet surface to create a pattern that resembles slate or flagstone, brick, cobblestone or wood. Color is incorporated in the concrete by using integral pigment within the concrete itself, by using a color hardener that is broadcast onto the surface prior to stamping, or by using a combination of both methods. The stamps are coated with a release agent to prevent them from sticking and to provide additional tone to the surface, making it deeper and more contrasted.
When done properly, the finished surface looks like the material it’s replicating, yet it has the strength of concrete and can be installed in a fraction of the time natural stone or brick would take.
The finish that is immediately achieved from the stamps isn’t the last step. Once the surface has cured, a sealer is applied, which is what lends the sheen to stamped concrete, helps resist UV fading of the color, and provides the waterproofing necessary to prevent moisture from working into the surface. The other maintenance item homeowners would need to know about before opting for stamped concrete is the sealer.
Pattern and Color Selection: More Than an Aesthetic Decision
For most homeowners, the process of pattern and color selection is done in a purely visual way, and that makes sense because that’s the easiest thing to imagine. But there are a couple of practical considerations that should be incorporated in that discussion as well.
Scale relative to the space: Large-scale tiles, such as wide flagstones or oversized slate tiles, may appear to be in proportion on a large patio but appear to be visually busy on a smaller patio. Patterns that are smaller and more dense, such as cobblestone or herringbone brick, work well on a small open area but can appear to be understated on a large open space. It takes experience to match the scale of the pattern to the scale of the space, and seeing the completed projects in similar spaces will provide better information than looking at sample boards.
Color in Arkansas sunlight: Colors that perform well in a shaded showroom will look different in the full sun of Arkansas, which can be quite strong late spring through early fall. Colors that are vibrant and rich in the house can become washed out in July outdoors. Darker hues absorb more heat, impacting ease of barefoot walking around a pool or patio during the summer. These are not excuses for not using color, but they should be taken into consideration before making any final decisions about a color that you will be seeing for a couple of decades.
Pattern complexity and repair: Use simpler patterns for easier future replacement of sections if necessary. The more complex, multi-tone designs are hard to match exactly during replacement of a section, and are likely to be noticeable when the repair is made. The pattern that is forgiving to repair is worth considering on high-traffic surfaces such as driveways that will receive loads from vehicles over many years, as opposed to the choice of a pattern that looks impressive on day one.
What Stamped Concrete Requires in Terms of Maintenance
This is the aspect of stamped concrete which surprises people more than anything else. It is not a “set it and forget it” surface.
Sealing: The sealing material that is used to preserve the color and surface of stamped concrete is not permanent. Resealing usually is required every 2-3 years depending on sun exposure, foot traffic and weather. The lower end of that range is achievable for surfaces exposed to the elements in central Arkansas, where UV exposure is high and rainfall is often intense and frequent. A surface that is not re-sealed for a reasonable period of time will lose its sheen, will permit the fading of colors by the action of UV and will be susceptible to staining and moisture penetration.
Resealing: Resealing is a relatively simple maintenance activity. Not costly or hard to do if done on time. The problem is when the existing sealer has become significantly compromised and the surface must be cleaned, sometimes even the old sealer removed and replaced with a new one, which isn’t as simple as a routine reseal.
Cleaning: Stamped concrete needs more attention in cleaning than plain concrete. Excessive pressure washing can force water into the sealer, resulting in bubbles or peeling. A poorly applied sealer can allow oil stains, leaf tannins and other organic matter to penetrate the surface and cause stains that are hard to remove without damaging the surface below. Between sealing cycles, cleaning with the proper product and technique will help to maintain the surface in the proper state.
How Installation Quality Determines Long-Term Performance
The pattern and color are the visible part of stamped concrete. What actually determines how long it performs without cracking, fading unevenly, or requiring early repairs is everything that happens before and during the pour.
- Base preparation: Stamped concrete is no different from any other concrete in its dependence on a properly prepared subbase. Clay soil movement in central Arkansas puts pressure on any slab sitting on inadequately prepared ground, and that pressure eventually shows up as cracks that are particularly difficult to repair invisibly in a decorative surface. The base preparation requirements for stamped concrete are the same as for any concrete application, and shortcuts at that stage show up in the finished surface sooner than most homeowners expect.
- Concrete mix and water content: The mix used for stamped concrete needs to be workable enough to accept stamping before it sets, while maintaining the strength characteristics required for the application. Too much water in the mix, a common issue when crews are working against a setting window in warm weather, produces concrete that’s easier to work with and weaker in the finished slab. Arkansas summers are particularly demanding in this regard, and experienced crews know how to manage the pour timing and concrete temperature to maintain quality under those conditions.
- Timing of stamping: The time between when the concrete is workable enough to stamp and when it is set too hard to accept the pattern is fairly limited and varies with weather conditions and temperature. If stamping is done too early or at the wrong time, the patterns will not be sharp, and the designs will become washed out. If stamping too late: will produce shallow and inconsistent patterns. Experience, rather than instructions, is required to get this timing right.
Is Stamped Concrete Right for Your Project?
The short answer is it depends on the application, the site conditions, and how much work you are willing to put in over the long term to maintain it.
If the main concern is style, and you know the surface will be cared for well, then stamped concrete is a great alternative to plain concrete for a pool deck in Conway or a decorative patio in Sherwood. In a high-use driveway at Cabot, where traffic is parked close to the edge of the driveway or the driveway is in difficult terrain, a plain concrete or a more basic finish may be more appropriate in the long run.
Planit Dirt visits all sites and has a direct conversation with the site owner about what makes sense for the site before recommending a decorative finish. The objective for a surface is to look good for 10 years, not the day the crew packs up.
Get a complimentary quote in Jacksonville, Little Rock, Bryant, North Little Rock, Sherwood, Conway, Benton, Cabot, Alexander and Maumelle by calling James at (501) 258-5935 or sending him an email at planitdirt@yahoo.com.