Stamped Concrete For a Beautiful and Durable New Look
By: A.Noton
Submitted: 2012-01-09 02:59:02 | Word Count: 506
Stamped concrete is the process of pouring a slab of concrete to create a patio, walkway or driveway, for example, and then pressing in a pattern and texture before it dries. You can make it look like cobblestone, seashells, wood, pavers or brick. You can add color to it to accentuate the look. It is better than individual pieces that could move due to weather conditions like frost or changes in the underlying foundation.
Decorative concrete is very popular with homeowners the world over. It has been around in California for many years and started out with using tools to make designs in cement that looked like cookie cutters. It has grown in popularity to include many different patterns.
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If you have a flat, level surface you can have concrete poured and reinforced with rebar. Pavers, bricks and cobblestones allow for weeds to grown between them and create a lot more work for you in the garden. With a stamped concrete surface nothing can grown between the patterns giving you a maintenance free surface.
It is not recommended that you do the work yourself as concrete work is an art in itself. Special tools are needed and a crew of people to use them. It's best to find a company that has experience in stamped concrete. When you are done it will look almost as good as laying bricks or pavers and in some cases better as you can add color and texture to it and make it your own design.
Stamped concrete should be no less than a thickness of 4 inches. Color is added either after the concrete is layed or while mixing. These methods are known as broadcast or surface coloring and integral coloring prospectively. Broadcast coloring is done by evenly spreading color across the surface of the concrete. A release agent is then applied allowing the texturizing to come off without the concrete coming up.
Texturizing mats are laid until all the pattern is done. You can also broom finish the surface. Freshen old slabs with acid staining, overlay them and stain them with colored sealers or a splatter finish. Allow them to dry for 24 hours. Curing the concrete appropriately for the climate you live in is critical. Pressure wash the release agent and apply a clear seal to finish.
When stamping first came to be it was not done very deep for fear that it would crack. Now deeper grout lines are done with no problems. Concrete is one of the most durable construction materials in use but without the knowledge of how to work with it you could have poor results. Cracking, dusting, shrinkage, discoloration, blisters and scaling are just some of the problems you could run into if you don't have the right mix.
To ensure you don't run across problems make sure you have the best concrete mix for your needs. Take steps to ensure that you use the right techniques to reduce the chance of problems. When you understand the nature of concrete you will encounter fewer issues.
Author Resource:-
Artevia is a decorative concrete company serving in the GTA offering services on backyard landscaping and backyard landscaping. http://www.artevia-ca.com/wps/portal/ca
