Rather than laying natural stone or brick pavers over your patio, you might plan to use decorative concrete instead. To help you understand what is involved and what the benefits are, here is an overview.

How It Is Made

Stamped concrete can look like paving, such as slate pavers, timber planks, and cobblestones. It can look so much like these substances that you might wonder how it is done and whether it consists of individual sections. However, stamped concrete is just one continuous slab of concrete that is poured over the patio. Before it hardens, contractors press rubber stamps or texture mats over the surface. They systematically do this bit by bit. To stop the stamp from sticking, a releasing agent is applied to the concrete first. After a day or so, when the concrete has somewhat hardened, it is pressure washed to remove any residue. You will have to wait a bit longer than this before you can use the patio.

Adding Colours

To mimic stone, brick, and timber, concrete needs to exhibit the colours of these organic substances. To do this, different colour techniques can be applied. For example, pigments might be added to the concrete before it is poured, and colours are applied to the top as stains and dyes. A variety of methods can recreate the nuances and fluctuations of organic materials.

Benefits of Stamped Concrete

A stamped concrete patio provides numerous benefits. Concrete is long-lasting, plus it is a low-maintenance surface. All it will require is sealing every so often as recommended by your contractor. Decorative stamped concrete can imitate cobblestones, sandstone, and travertine, but it is cheaper than such materials. Another benefit is that you won't have weeds sprouting between individual pavers, which can be difficult to remove and time-consuming to pull up over a large patio.

Costs of a Stamped Concrete Patio

The cost of a stamped decorative concrete patio varies depending on several factors. For example, it will depend on the size of the patio area; a bigger surface will require more cement and take longer to pour and decorate. Plus, the patterns and colours that you choose will play a role too. More intricate designs with contrasting borders take more work, which adds to installation costs. Another factor is concrete thickness; a thicker slab can add to the price. Access to the patio can also affect the cost of the upgrade.

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