tamped concrete is one of the most popular patio and deck materials worldwide.
It is slightly cheaper than pavers and offers a variety of colors and patterns. Since stamped concrete is in fact concrete, it will crack at some point.
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However, can I stamp my own concrete?
Stamped Concrete DIY. The short answer is NO! ... Concrete, especially stamped concrete, is unforgiving and expensive in terms of materials and time. Unlike carpentry, plumbing, or electrical work, concrete doesn't come apart and you can't come back tomorrow to finish if you run out of time or patience.
At all events, does stamped concrete crack easily? Stamped concrete is highly resistant to cracking when installed correctly. Even if stamped concrete experiences minor cracking, the cracks are often hard to detect because they will often blend in with the pattern and joint lines.
Anywho, why is stamped concrete so expensive?
So, why is stamped concrete so expensive? ... The client needs to pick out three things; the stamp design, the integral color of the concrete, and the color of the release which gives the highlights. The next step for the contractor depends on if the contractor owns their own stamps or needs to rent them.
How thick should stamped concrete be?
How thick is stamped concrete? Our standard slab is a minimum of four inches. Some situations will require us to pour six inches of concrete, and this would be discussed before the project takes place.
16 Related Questions Answered
Stamped concrete is more slippery than normal concrete, mainly because concrete comes with a brushed finish that provides a rough texture. Stamped concrete is smooth, therefore more slippery, especially when it is wet.
Cost of concrete per square foot
Slab SizeSquare FeetAverage Cost
| 10x10 | 100 | $600 |
| 10x12 | 120 | $720 |
| 10x20 | 200 | $1,200 |
| 12x12 | 144 | $864 |
The average price range for stamped concrete patios is $15-$25 per square foot. Compared to a wood deck, this is actually cheaper. The primary reason for this is that concrete materials are much cheaper than wood products. ... You may be surprised to find that stamped concrete is more affordable than wood options.
Answer: The crack in this stamped overlay is caused by a crack in the underlying concrete that reflected through to the overlay. The sticky gray material is the epoxy that was used to repair the original crack. The original colored and stamped concrete slab had developed cracks running through about 30% of the slab.
What Are They? Pavers are multi-colored pieces of concrete, which are interlocked to form a durable surface for walkways, driveways and patios. On the other hand, stamped concrete is poured as a solid surface and then embossed or textured to resemble brick, flagstone, slate, stone, tile or even wood.
Weeds will not grow through the βcracksβ of stamped concrete because the "cracks" or "mortar lines" are simply part of the imprinted design of the continuous concrete surface.
Durability. Although stamped concrete may be simple to clean and requires no maintenance to retain its patterned appearance, one of its major disadvantages is that it lacks durability compared to other finished surfaces. ... Stamped concrete is a poor choice for a driveway and any area on which cars are driven or parked.
STRENGTH COMPARISON. Poured concrete is typically around 3,000-4,000 PSI on average, whereas pavers are 8,000 PSI or greater. Pavers are significantly stronger than stamped concrete and more resistant to the effects of freeze-thaw cycles.
The cost of most concrete patios is between $7.00 and $12.00 per square foot when professionally installed, or $700 to more than $3,600 for common patio sizes. When DIY concrete patios and pro options with upgrades are considered, the range spreads to about $3.00 β $12.00 per square foot for smooth concrete.
Stamped concrete is also referred to as textured concrete or imprinted concrete. It replicates other surfaces such as stone, tile, brick or even wood. It is commonly used to add an aesthetic dimension to driveways, courtyards, and a variety of other spaces.
Never use a pressure washer to clean your stamped concrete. Over time the high pressure breaks down the sealer and reduces the protection, the shine and expected life of the sealer. Always use a gentle cleaner when washing stamped concrete.
Even though it's possible to build a concrete patio without rebar, it's not recommended. All concrete is subject to cracks, but rebar holds all the cracks together and keeps the slab level and even. Without rebar, the cracks would become quite wide and the concrete would become uneven.
If you leave a clean imprint about 3/16 to 1/4 inch deep, you can generally begin stamping. Another test is to place a stamp on the concrete and step on it. The stamp should hold your weight and not slide around or sink too deeply into the surface.
#2 β Stamped Concrete color will fade or leach out and color needs to be reapplied every year. ... Interestingly, colored concrete that needs to be sealed can appear to have a βchalkyβ or faded appearance. Once a fresh coat of sealer is applied, the concrete colors come back to life again!
Pavers can last up to 50 years, in part because individual tiles are easy to replace with minimal dint to the wallet. Slab and stamped concrete can last as long as 25 years.
Laying stone will cost around $30 per square foot, while pouring, stamping and coloring concrete will cost around $15 per square foot. That means the overall cost for a concrete patio or walkway could be half that of flagstone. On larger projects, this will be a considerable amount of money.