If you’re looking for a unique pattern for your patio, driveway or walkway, stamped concrete may be the way to go. Put a one-of-a-kind touch on any surface with stamped concrete, which involves pressing wire mats into wet concrete to provide a texture imitating the look of anything from cobblestone to slate to brick. Stamped concrete, which typically runs about $6 to $8 per square feet, usually features a stain or pigment as well.
What is Stamped Concrete?
This textured way of providing a pattern within cement can resemble tile, wood, flagstone, brick or similar materials, ideal for anything from pool decks and patios to sidewalks and even interior flooring. This procedure makes your design generally more affordable than the real thing, presenting an economical solution to natural stone and pavers. Benefits of stamped concrete include cost effectiveness, durability, long-lasting performance, easy installation, and versatility. You can shape, texture, and color stamped concrete to get almost any look you want, complementing various different accents and traction on slippery surfaces, such as pool areas and public walkways. It also blends well with any landscape in your yard, offering a versatile and unique design that you just can’t get with other types of smooth, standard surfaces.
Safety First, Aesthetics Second
Applying a textured-concrete surface to naturally slippery areas — such as a pool deck — can create a safer environment for adults and kids, as stamped concrete has natural non-slip properties according to home improvement specialist Bob Vila. The versatility and utility of stamped concrete is high, as Vila points out, and you can even add features such as pebbles to it to enhance its texture even further. Add coloring to match your home or surrounding patio area, making for a complementary space that offers a unique touch to any outdoor space.
When deciding whether to stamp concrete in a particular area, Vila advises considering what activities take place there. If you have kids who love to play basketball in the driveway, for instance, an elaborate textured pattern probably won’t match well with a bouncing ball. On the other hand, if you have an in-ground pool and frequently entertain guests, stamped concrete is advantageous because it will prevent people from slipping and sliding once the surface gets wet.
Materials You’ll Need
If you decide to tackle the project yourself, you’ll have to make a trip to the home improvement store and pick up a few things. According to HGTV, you’ll need to buy a stamping kit — which comes in many different styles, shapes and sizes — plus polymer resin, thinset, stain sealer, and a tinting agent. The tools you’ll need to have on hand include a hose, gauge rake, bucket, broom, safety glasses, and gloves. You can tackle the project in a day, but if you don’t have the time, materials or patience to take it on, hire a professional skilled in stamped concrete. The end result will be a long-lasting decorative tribute to your outdoor landscape that you and your family will treasure for years to come.
Byline
Frank Reinhart focuses on concrete patios, home improvement, kitchen remodeling, roofing, gadget repair and other kindred topics; interested readers are encouraged to click here to learn more about concrete and home improvement.
Image credit goes to EliteCreteAUS.
