What Is Stamped Concrete?
You pick the stone you’d like to imitate and the color, and the DISCOUNT Concrete team will bring your vision to life.
Schedule a free no-obligation estimate for your stamped or colored concrete job!
THE BENEFITS OF STAMPED CONCRETE
A stamped and colored concrete patio is going to be one of the best investments you will make in your life. Here are just a few compelling reasons why stamped concrete is a worthwhile investment.
Match Any Style
Stamped concrete gets its unique look by utilizing rubber stamps. Whether you want your patio to look like wood, tile, brick, or even stone, it’s all possible with the stamping process. As such, you can customize your patio to match the style and colors of your home and landscape. You can even have it match existing elements, including your brick fire pit or stone water feature.
Affordable
Stamped and colored concrete does not require as much financial investment as other materials would. In a nutshell, stamped concrete is a bargain for what you get, and it will serve you well for a long time. That’s an investment that makes perfect sense!
Longevity and Performance
Your stamped and colored concrete patio will last you for many years. It will hold up very well to heavy traffic, patio furniture, and whatever nature offers.
Low Maintenance
Once your stamped concrete in Southern California has been installed, there isn’t much you need to do in the coming years. Your new patio looks great and will continue with very little maintenance. All you really need to do is clean it with a power washer and re-seal it every few years.
Quick Installation
Unlike traditional materials that require individual placement, stamped concrete can be poured and stamped in a single step, reducing installation time and labor costs.
APPLICATION FOR STAMPED CONCRETE
Patios
Driveways
Pool Decks
Walkways
Interior Floors
HOW IS IT DONE?
After the design and all specifications are confirmed for your new stamped concrete, the first step of the installation process is the Clear Out. The area where the new stamped concrete will be installed must be cleared out. If there is any structure, this is the stage where the demolition and disposal happens. All existing materials and objects in the area of the new stamped concrete to be installed like grass, gravel, boulders, trees, or anything that might be in the way is removed and properly disposed of to make way for the new stamped concrete of your dreams.
At this stage, any major slopes in the ground are assessed and any needed grading to properly level off the ground is completed. An even, strong, and well compacted area is essential to the long term success of your stamped concrete.
Next is the installation of any needed sub-base, which is simply the material on which we’ll pour the concrete. Most of the time, we’ll use road base or granular fill.
Constructing forms of the new stamped concrete to come is the next step of the installation process. At this point we install a temporary (typically) wooden perimeter that we’ll secure.
Forms are usually rectangular and need to be constructed well to ensure a high-quality finish on your project.
Immediately following the installation of the forms, we install any agreed upon support material. Rebar, wire mesh or any other support material to be used ensure the strength and longevity of your new stamped concrete.
After all of the above necessary preparations, we’ll get to the actual pouring of the concrete.
The concrete to be poured into the existing mold (forms) already prepared is a mix of sand, gravel, water, and cement. We start our concrete pouring at the portion of the walkway that is most ‘Uphill’. The pouring process is the grand time when all the crew is present, concrete trucks and pumps are on site and everyone is working together in the most efficient way to ensure your stamped concrete comes out exactly as planned.
After the concrete is poured, the project is still not quite complete. This is the stage when the Concrete Finishing process begins. While the concrete is still wet, stamps are pressed into the surface to create the desired pattern and texture. Additional coloring agents may be applied at this stage to achieve the desired look. After the concrete has been stamped, it is left to cure for a specified period to achieve optimal strength and durability. Once cured, the surface is thoroughly cleaned to remove any residue or debris. Finally, a sealant is applied to protect the stamped concrete from stains, UV damage, and water penetration.
Whichever area of your landscape you choose to have stamped concrete installed in, the above are some of the fundamentals regarding installation in Southern California. DISCOUNT Concrete is excited to create stamped concrete that you are not only immediately pleased with but also provides results that last a lifetime.