Custom Stamped Concrete Gives Your Property A Unique And Fun Look

If you want a patio, entryway, or driveway that's unique and fun, you can achieve that easily with stamped concrete. There are stamps of many sizes and shapes to choose from, but if you have a design idea, you can have stamps custom-made.

Your only limit is your imagination since you can customize the design and color. If you're not the creative sort, you can hire a concrete contractor to help you choose the shapes and colors for your driveway. Here's a look at the custom stamped concrete installation process.

Start With The Design

The design has to be planned before work begins since the concrete starts to get hard fairly fast and the crew needs to focus on getting the stamps in place. If you have an artistic nature, you can draw your design idea for the contractor to map out. The contractor can make any design you can imagine. You might want something artistic or you may just want stamps that look like bricks or wood planks.

Add The Overlay

Unless you're having a new patio or driveway put in, all the contractor has to do is pour new cement over the old concrete to have a surface for stamping. The overlay doesn't have to be very thick, but it needs to be level and free from imperfections.

Add Color And Stamps

The contractor adds color pigments to the concrete according to the design layout. Then they carefully place the stamps in the positions needed to cut patterns into the wet cement. The colors can vary in different patterns so you can create a cobblestone look with different colors of stones, a tile mosaic, or a design that looks like a painting.

You might want a logo of your business or favorite sports team. The contractor will make the design just like you want it and pull the stamps out before the concrete sets.

Protect The Design With A Sealcoat

The final step may take place later once the new concrete has fully cured. Your contractor may recommend putting a sealcoat on the concrete to protect it from stains and fading. The sealcoat fills the concrete pores so the concrete can't soak up rain or spills. A sealcoat also helps your overlay and design last a long time so you get a lot of enjoyment from your custom stamped concrete.

The coating can be clear and invisible or you can choose a coating that makes your patio or driveway shine. A sheen is a nice finishing touch for your artistic creation.