Stamped Concrete and Regular Concrete - What's the Difference Between Them?

I'm a concrete contractor and I speak to lots of people out estimating and considering work with my business. Often people think stamped concrete is totally different than regular concrete and it's really a completely different product. That is somewhat true, however the basics of the two are the same and they are usually specified exactly the same, when used in exactly the same application. For instance, if stamped concrete or regular concrete can be used for a driveway, they will generally be the same thickness and have exactly the same design strength.

Regular concrete is your everyday concrete found in sidewalks, driveways, patios, roads, and anytime regular pavement is constructed. It's generally positioned on some type of gravel or native soil base that's compacted. The region is then formed with lumber or manufactured forms. Reinforcement is normally installed in the base which is usually rebar or wire mesh.  concrete company  is specified to a desired thickness which is created for its application. For example, a driveway that handles car and light trucks is normally poured four inches thick. The concrete mix can be specified which is usually a 4000 psi mix within areas that have severe winters. That is the strength the concrete reaches in 28 days. Concrete is positioned, striked off, bull floated then gets a non slip finish, such as a broom. From then on, the concrete is cured with either water and burlap, or the simple way with a membrane forming curing compound.

Stamped concrete is very similarly placed to regular concrete. Generally all of the steps will be the same except the finishing steps. The concrete is also colored which is usually added to the mix. It is also colored with a color hardener, but most contractors use an integral color. After bull floating is when things the process changes with stamped concrete. Some contractors go one step further and trowel the concrete to obtain the concrete really smooth. We use air entrained concrete in our area because of the harsh winters, which isn't said to be troweled so we usually just obtain it smooth as possible with a magnesium bull float. Following the concrete sets to a desired hardness, the concrete is imprinted with the rubber like stamps. A release agent which is an antiquing colored release, or liquid release agent is used to help keep the stamps from sticking to the concrete. Some contractors will put curing paper on the concrete to cure it till the next day when the concrete will be washed and sealed with a high gloss sealer which is also a membrane forming cure.

So to conclude stamped and regular, there isn't much difference between the two apart from what they appear to be on the surface. Lots of people they think stamped concrete is just not as durable as regular concrete and that's just not the case. The only thing that could ensure it is less durable may be the texture of the stamped concrete. Within an environment that gets snow, stamped concrete can get damaged by snow removal equipment like snow plows.