Stamped concrete is concrete that is specifically designed to look like brick, slate, stone, tile and wood. It's an engineered system that replicates natural textures with amazing accuracy and longevity. As the concrete cures and dries it closely mimics the appearance of natural stones, bricks, and timber. When properly blended with hand held equipment and left to dry over the course of many days, stamped concrete can last up to 25 years before it begins to crack or begin to peel.
How does stamped concrete work?
The process of incorporating stamped concrete in the home or business environment begins with the laying of the concrete foundation. Once the foundation is in place, your stamped concrete will be hand carved by a skilled Belleville concrete contractor using precision machinery. Stamped concrete is then laid in a variety of textures - from the smoothest texture to the toughest. Natural rocks such as limestone, sandstone, and slate can be incorporated into stamped concrete. Stamped concrete also utilizes other materials such as flagstones, flagstone pavers and wood.
What kinds of decorative looks can you do?
Stamped concrete is an excellent decorative concrete option because it allows for natural earth toning and subtle visual appeal. In fact, there are several ways in which stamped concrete mirrors the texture and look of natural materials such as slate and stone. Stamped concrete allows for beautiful bold patterns that perfectly mimic the visual appeal of exposed aggregate. Stampcrete resists weathering because it consists of tiny aggregate "stabs" which resist breaking and drying.
What are some good places to put stamped concrete?
One of the most popular uses of stamped concrete is in the building of pool decks. The use of stamped concrete on the pool deck allows for natural looking outdoor decks while retaining the structural integrity of the pool deck itself. Furthermore, stampcrete is highly resistant to cracking, breaking, and drying. Concrete decks are a cost effective solution for low impact, landscaping and instant weather protection.
Stamped concrete is used to design the exterior and interior finishes of homes, commercial buildings and office structures. Unlike conventional concrete and exposed aggregate products, stamped concrete creates a beautiful "canvas" effect that can be either textured or plain. The textured effect of stamped concrete is created by using smaller textured stones (usually pebbles) that are pressed together by water to create a medium thickness stamped pattern. Large squares or other large patterned stones can be used to create the same visual effect as the small, textured stones.
What are some of the benefits of stampcrete?
There are many reasons that stamped concrete is so beneficial in today's home and business environment. Outdoor decor and landscaping are quickly becoming important concerns for homeowners. Stamped concrete provides an easy way to dress up plain or damaged concrete surfaces. Small decorative concrete pavers can be placed around the outside of a pool to create a fun and exciting addition to the outside entertaining area. Stamped concrete is often used as a substitute for paving when it is inappropriate for some areas due to terrain or weather conditions.
As with any product that has a large degree of flexibility, stamped concrete is a product that can be adapted to almost any situation. Different sizes, patterns and textures can be used to enhance any area.
What about the cost?
Stamped concrete is more cost effective than many other options. Concrete staining is often quite costly but stamped concrete can be stamped into nearly any size and pattern with only a small amount of labor and materials. Because there are no limitations, stamped concrete can be adapted to almost any situation making it an inexpensive and versatile choice.
The uses of stamped concrete are only limited by the designer's imagination. This is because stamped concrete can be made from a wide variety of materials including concrete, ceramic tile, rock and stone. Concrete stamping allows designers to use stamped concrete in any setting they wish because it's easily shaped. Once installed, the wide variety of uses for stamped concrete will ensure that this product will continue to be a staple of the interior and exterior design industry.
