Stamped Concrete Projects
When remodeling or revamping an old patio or new structure, everyone wants something different, something unique and also something that will last and is virtually maintenance free.
A new idea, Stamped Concrete, is an affordable way to imitate the look of natural stone or brick without having to pay for the real thing. Patterned concrete or imprinted concrete, is concrete that is designed to resemble brick, slate, flagstone, stone, tile and even wood. This technique can be used to beautify pool decks, driveways, entries, courtyards, and patios, and is being used more and more because of the affordable cost and duration of the product, but more importantly for many, the way it looks. There are numerous shapes and variations of stamped concrete and the cement is colored before stamping it, making it look even more like natural stone or other material.
There is need for very little preparation work, the created concrete overlay takes the form of natural stone or brick and allows for surface movement. The elegant and unique stamped concrete system is durable and can resist extreme temperatures. There are hundreds of ideas out there, too. If you don't want commercial patterns, use your own. How about an old piece of wrought iron that you want to preserve from an old porch you removed or a fossil your kids found 10 years ago or a beloved dogs foot prints. The sky is the limit.
A new idea, Stamped Concrete, is an affordable way to imitate the look of natural stone or brick without having to pay for the real thing. Patterned concrete or imprinted concrete, is concrete that is designed to resemble brick, slate, flagstone, stone, tile and even wood. This technique can be used to beautify pool decks, driveways, entries, courtyards, and patios, and is being used more and more because of the affordable cost and duration of the product, but more importantly for many, the way it looks. There are numerous shapes and variations of stamped concrete and the cement is colored before stamping it, making it look even more like natural stone or other material.
There is need for very little preparation work, the created concrete overlay takes the form of natural stone or brick and allows for surface movement. The elegant and unique stamped concrete system is durable and can resist extreme temperatures. There are hundreds of ideas out there, too. If you don't want commercial patterns, use your own. How about an old piece of wrought iron that you want to preserve from an old porch you removed or a fossil your kids found 10 years ago or a beloved dogs foot prints. The sky is the limit.
The Concrete Path
- Concrete Stamping Patterns and Designs
- VERY Elaborate Stamped Concrete
- Concrete Stamping Cost
- Concrete Stamping Patios
- Concrete Stamping Links
- Concrete Stamping Mats
- Concrete Stamping Colors
- Concrete Stamping Borders and Stamps
- Concrete Stamping Installation
- DIY Concrete Stamping
- Stamped Concrete on eBay
- Find a Job Installing Concrete Stamping
- Become a Professional Installer of Stamped Concrete
- Stamped Concrete Books
- Concrete Stamping Video
- Concrete Stamping Safety
- Stamped Concrete - Simple to Elaborate
- Just a Few More Ideas!
- Great Ideas
Concrete Stamping Patterns and Designs
The biggest decision before you start your patio or driveway or whatever you're doing, is deciding the pattern, the shape and the colors. You can look through an idea book, drive around and look at other projects and it's highly recommended that before you hire a contractor you go look at his previous work. It will be easy to come up with some ideas then.Check out some of the elaborate ideas below.
Concrete Stamping Cost
The cost of stamped concrete varies depending on the pattern, appearance and surface. Installation is usually between $6 and $20 per square foot installed. The cost depends on the complexity of the job. More elaborate stamped concrete installations will cost more.
BASIC
($6 to $10 per square foot)
What you'll get: An eye-catching, economical upgrade to plain gray concrete, enhanced by one coloring method or decorative technique. Basic stamped concrete (use of an integral color or one color of dry-shake hardener)
INTERMEDIATE
($10 to $15 per square foot)
What you'll get: More elaborate decorative effects incorporating contrasts in color and pattern. Intermediate stamped concrete (use of two or three colors and maybe a contrasting border).
ADVANCED
($15 and up per square foot)
What you'll get: The ultimate decorative concrete surface-an artistic blend
of techniques, patterns and coloring mediums, often incorporating hand-applied detailing. Advanced stamped concrete (may include borders, sawcut designs, and hand-applied chemical stain accents)
Concrete Stamping Links
Here you will find an extensive list of supplies, contractors, ideas, patterns, mats, coloring agents and powders, tips, DIY videos and other instruction and much more.
- Concrete Network
- Find a contractor by state using this link.
- DIY
- Have you resolved to undertake concrete stamping to give an enhanced look to your house? Well, you can do it easily yourself without having to spend any extra dollars, by just following a few simple steps.
- Entrepreneur
- Flat concrete is boring. Make your mark with a concrete stamping business.
- Stamped Concrete Forum
- Get ideas, find a contractor and resources of where to buy supplies for concrete stamping.
- Concrete Forever
- ...setting the pace with our award winning custom concrete installations, authentic textures, innovative designs, stains, colors and realistic molds allowing us to achieve....Elegance.
- Super-Krete
- The Concrete Overlay Experts. We carry all the supplies you'll need to stamp concrete and other projects.
- Scofield
- L. M. Scofield Company -- The #1 Ranked Brand Name in Concrete Coloring. Decorative Concrete products for Professional use including Colored Concrete, Concrete Stain, Stamped Concrete, Concrete Resurfacing and Concrete Overlay Products, Concrete Color Hardeners and Concrete Sealers and Curing Products.
- Rock Molds
- RockMolds.com is a company based in Maui, Hawaii. We've utilized our own stamps for years in custom projects, now we provide you the materials to build amazing creations.
- Butterfield
- With over 40 years of field experience in architectural and decorative concrete, Butterfield Color offers a complete line of decorative concrete color additives, decorative concrete stamping tools, release agents, concrete acid stains, concrete sealers and concrete overlay products that are technically superior to meet the demanding needs of the architectural specifier as well as the concrete finisher.
- Allin Concrete
- "This tried and proven system is No.1 in Las Vegas, and has been for the past 12 years! You can see this product on the floors of the most prestigious hotels on the strip, and many well known theme parks and commercial facilities. This is the ORIGINAL ¼" Stamping Overlay system, which was first introduced at the World of Concrete in 1997."
- Contractor Source
- The Contractor Source offers quality tools and supplies made for decorative concrete professionals. from concrete professionals.
- Brick Form
- BRICKFORM systems work seamlessly together to resurface and restore aging concrete or to create new colored and textured hardscapes. BRICKFORM systems including: coloring, staining, imprinting, sandblast stencils, an extensive line of sealing systems, and all the companion accessories to complete the job.
Concrete Stamping Mats
Find Concrete Stamping Mats. These are the molds or patterns you set into your concrete.
Concrete Stamping Colors
Concrete Stamping Borders and Stamps
DIY Concrete Stamping
1. Choose a color and texture of concrete that complements the surrounding and adjacent structures such as the landscaping, porch, decks, etc.
Take into consideration the color of your home, (siding, trim and shutters) or if you have a concrete block porch vs. a wooden deck. If everything around the area that you are covering is natural greens and browns, it probably wouldn't look right to use blue or red. Also if everything has straight line design, go with something more natural like a natural stone pattern to alleviate so many straight lines. If you decide to use a straight line grout, the area should be stamped so that long lines of the pattern run perpendicular to the length of the project. This will help reduce straight-line errors and provide a more pleasant and aesthetic overall appearance. Always lay out your pattern first, using mats in the area prior to pouring the cement.
2. Pour the concrete.
Follow normal procedures with a sub-grade and concrete. Check the manufacturer instructions for recommendations on the type and amount of admixture to use. Pour the at least four inches in thickness.
3. Color the concrete.
Use one of two techniques for coloring your concrete:
· Integral Color: Use Liquid color right in the truck. This combines the color with the cement and provides color throughout.
· Broadcast Method: Apply color powder directly to the freshly poured concrete. The color hardener will penetrate the top of the concrete slab 1/8" and color thoroughly.
· Remember after initial floating and all excess bleed water has been absorbed, you should cover as much concrete as possible by using a wide sweeping arm movement with each throw. Allow the hardener to be absorbed for several minutes until it has moistened sufficiently. One pass with the float should be sufficient; do not overwork the concrete. When you are satisfied with the color, finish with a steel trowel.
4. Apply the color release agent. This specially formulated powder prevents mats from sticking to freshly placed concrete. Generally 3.5 lbs. of material is required per 100 square feet. As the slab starts to set for texturing, apply the release agent. Brush it onto the mats and spread it across the surface of the concrete. Keep the layer of release consistent in depth between the concrete and the texture mats. Make sure it's thick enough to prevent damp concrete from bleeding through yet thin enough so as not to diminish the texture detail. Texture mats will not work without the use of this release agent
5. Choose a color of release agent to complement the color of the concrete. Use a release agent with a darker tone than the coloring agent to provide depth and shadowing in the finished concrete. Most of the release agent will be removed when the finished project is pressure washed.
6. Texture the concrete. At the optimum time for texturing, force is not necessary to press the mat into the concrete but timing is critical. Lay the mats without delay once texturing begins.
7. It's best to work with a team to lay the mats. A four-man crew is recommended for a 400 square foot project, the average pour. Here is an outline of what each crew member's tasks should be:
Worker 1: Fluffs the release agent throughout the application process. Inspects areas that may require touch up work.
Worker 2: Places the texture mats. Align the first mat carefully, place and tamp at the starting point of the project. Repeat the process by placing the second mat next to the first and leapfrogging the mats as they are removed and replaced in the concrete. A minimum of three mats should be used for smaller pours.
Worker 3: Tamps the mats as they are placed. Tamp straight down into the concrete using no more force than necessary. Do not over tamp!
Worker 4: Carefully removes the tamped mats by lifting gradually from one side first to break the suction.
8. Use a high-powered pressure washer approximately 24 hours after the concrete has set.
This is to remove excess release agent from the surface of the concrete. Don't be too picky about getting it all off. Allowing some of the agent to remain in the grout lines and deeper indentations help give the concrete a more natural and shadowed effect.
9. Seal the concrete with decorative concrete sealer according to manufacturer directions. When the slab is thoroughly dry, clear enhancer should be applied using a roller. One gallon covers approximately 200 square feet. A light coat should be applied in one direction and a second coat should be applied in a perpendicular direction in order to avoid unwanted lines. Be careful to avoid a buildup of sealer in the corners.
Take into consideration the color of your home, (siding, trim and shutters) or if you have a concrete block porch vs. a wooden deck. If everything around the area that you are covering is natural greens and browns, it probably wouldn't look right to use blue or red. Also if everything has straight line design, go with something more natural like a natural stone pattern to alleviate so many straight lines. If you decide to use a straight line grout, the area should be stamped so that long lines of the pattern run perpendicular to the length of the project. This will help reduce straight-line errors and provide a more pleasant and aesthetic overall appearance. Always lay out your pattern first, using mats in the area prior to pouring the cement.
2. Pour the concrete.
Follow normal procedures with a sub-grade and concrete. Check the manufacturer instructions for recommendations on the type and amount of admixture to use. Pour the at least four inches in thickness.
3. Color the concrete.
Use one of two techniques for coloring your concrete:
· Integral Color: Use Liquid color right in the truck. This combines the color with the cement and provides color throughout.
· Broadcast Method: Apply color powder directly to the freshly poured concrete. The color hardener will penetrate the top of the concrete slab 1/8" and color thoroughly.
· Remember after initial floating and all excess bleed water has been absorbed, you should cover as much concrete as possible by using a wide sweeping arm movement with each throw. Allow the hardener to be absorbed for several minutes until it has moistened sufficiently. One pass with the float should be sufficient; do not overwork the concrete. When you are satisfied with the color, finish with a steel trowel.
4. Apply the color release agent. This specially formulated powder prevents mats from sticking to freshly placed concrete. Generally 3.5 lbs. of material is required per 100 square feet. As the slab starts to set for texturing, apply the release agent. Brush it onto the mats and spread it across the surface of the concrete. Keep the layer of release consistent in depth between the concrete and the texture mats. Make sure it's thick enough to prevent damp concrete from bleeding through yet thin enough so as not to diminish the texture detail. Texture mats will not work without the use of this release agent
5. Choose a color of release agent to complement the color of the concrete. Use a release agent with a darker tone than the coloring agent to provide depth and shadowing in the finished concrete. Most of the release agent will be removed when the finished project is pressure washed.
6. Texture the concrete. At the optimum time for texturing, force is not necessary to press the mat into the concrete but timing is critical. Lay the mats without delay once texturing begins.
7. It's best to work with a team to lay the mats. A four-man crew is recommended for a 400 square foot project, the average pour. Here is an outline of what each crew member's tasks should be:
Worker 1: Fluffs the release agent throughout the application process. Inspects areas that may require touch up work.
Worker 2: Places the texture mats. Align the first mat carefully, place and tamp at the starting point of the project. Repeat the process by placing the second mat next to the first and leapfrogging the mats as they are removed and replaced in the concrete. A minimum of three mats should be used for smaller pours.
Worker 3: Tamps the mats as they are placed. Tamp straight down into the concrete using no more force than necessary. Do not over tamp!
Worker 4: Carefully removes the tamped mats by lifting gradually from one side first to break the suction.
8. Use a high-powered pressure washer approximately 24 hours after the concrete has set.
This is to remove excess release agent from the surface of the concrete. Don't be too picky about getting it all off. Allowing some of the agent to remain in the grout lines and deeper indentations help give the concrete a more natural and shadowed effect.
9. Seal the concrete with decorative concrete sealer according to manufacturer directions. When the slab is thoroughly dry, clear enhancer should be applied using a roller. One gallon covers approximately 200 square feet. A light coat should be applied in one direction and a second coat should be applied in a perpendicular direction in order to avoid unwanted lines. Be careful to avoid a buildup of sealer in the corners.
Stamped Concrete on eBay
Find a Job Installing Concrete Stamping
Elite Crete Systems has the industry's largest network of sales, training and technical support offices.
Elite Crete Systems, Inc.
1061 Transport Drive
Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 USA
+1 888 323 4445 Toll Free:
+1 219 465 7671 Telephone:
+1 219 531 0898 FAX:
Employment at Elite Crete
Concrete Resurfacing Products, Inc.
Ph: (404) 439-0423
1049 Industrial Court, Suite D Suwanee, GA 30024
All American Decorative ConcretePhone: (678) 202-1591
875 Gettysburg Trail, Suite 430 Kennesaw, GA 30144
Elite Crete Systems, Inc.
1061 Transport Drive
Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 USA
+1 888 323 4445 Toll Free:
+1 219 465 7671 Telephone:
+1 219 531 0898 FAX:
Employment at Elite Crete
Concrete Resurfacing Products, Inc.
Ph: (404) 439-0423
1049 Industrial Court, Suite D Suwanee, GA 30024
All American Decorative ConcretePhone: (678) 202-1591
875 Gettysburg Trail, Suite 430 Kennesaw, GA 30144
Become a Professional Installer of Stamped Concrete
Concrete stamping is one of the hottest home improvement projects lately. This could be a very good business to get into right now. Hacing a new driveway made to look like slate is much cheaper than really doing it with slate and it takes a fraction of the time. Your costs to start this home-based business is anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000 and you only need 3-5 people in a crew to complete most jobs. These projects aren't just for new concrete projects, either. You can spruce up an old faded patio or add to an existing one. The possibilities are endless. Learning the art of concrete stamping and coatings will require an investment of time in order to master it. But, if you are seeking to start a home improvement business that is in demand and has the potential to generate lucrative profits, concrete stamping is one of the best bets.
If you wish to become an expert professional installer or distributor of decorative and stamped concrete overlay products, get the required training in stamping decorative concrete and start servicing customers today!
I did find one instruction program that you can buy. You can click on the book to find out more about it.
If you wish to become an expert professional installer or distributor of decorative and stamped concrete overlay products, get the required training in stamping decorative concrete and start servicing customers today!
I did find one instruction program that you can buy. You can click on the book to find out more about it.
Stamped Concrete Books
Concrete Stamping Video
Here's a video of TONS of stamped concrete projects to help you decide what you might want to do in your own home.
curated content from YouTube
Concrete Stamping Safety
Knee Pads and Respirator Safety Gear - A Definite Must
Stamped Concrete - Simple to Elaborate
Stamped concrete has the amazing ability to closely replicate, in both color and texture, popular paving materials such as cobblestone, brick, fieldstone and slate, to name a few.Stamped concrete may be considered a 'copycat', but is gaining respect and popularity because it's so easy to customize as it is shaped, molded, imprinted, textured and colored to achieve almost any look imaginable from the very simple to the extremely elaborate. With concrete, you're left with plain old gray...with stamped concrete colors blend with just about any landscape, existing structure or architectural scheme. It can be tailored to suit your individual design goals and budget, and be whatever you want it to be.
Just a Few More Ideas!
Great Ideas
- Concrete Network
- By imprinting patterns in freshly placed concrete, you can achieve the
high-end look of stone or brick pavement-and often at a lower cost - Stamped Concrete Assoc
- Provides helpful advice, design and idea tools, and direct correspondence to every stamped concrete installer in the United States.
- Concrete Ideas
- Contractors, Information and Ideas
- Komar
- Stamped Concrete ideas
- Elite Concrete
- The Elite Crete Systems experience and roots in the decorative concrete and flooring industry is deeper than any other company or product line today
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