| Stamping concrete driveways and patios One can create the look and texture of brick, slate, tile wood and natural stone with a stamped concrete driveway, walkway, porch or patio. Concrete stamping is an affordable, durable alternative to using paving stones around a structure. Decorating an exterior with stamped concrete is a good way to increase the value of your home or business by adding a customized look to the exterior. There are many different stamp patterns available for decorative concrete applications. Random Stone, Brick Runningbond, London Cobblestone, Ashler Slate and Pacific Boardwalk are just a few examples of the patterns that are available. These concrete stamps are sold in a variety of sizes, shapes and thicknesses. There are also many different types of coloring systems, such as dry integral, liquid integral, and shake-on dry pigment color. Using Shake-on dry pigment color If a broadcast concrete color or "shake-on" color is used, a solid color may be applied or colors may be mixed for a "swirl" effect in the concrete. One type of shake on color is a color hardener, which strengthens the surface of the concrete. This "hardened" surface will be more resistant to wear over time and less likely to fade. Shake-on, dry pigment color may be applied to the concrete by "broadcasting" it onto the surface. The shake on pigment is then floated into the concrete to achieve the desired color shade. Floating the concrete too much will cause a fading of the base color. If the color begins to fade while floating, more pigment may be broadcast to bring back the correct shade to the concrete surface. If using more than one shake-on color, a second color may now be applied to accent the base color. Using integral concrete color Integral color is another form of concrete coloring that may save time and is easier to apply. The pigment is in concentrated form and usually contained in a bag that can be tossed directly into the concrete mixing truck. Integral color for concrete is available in liquid concentrate or dry pigment form. The pigment will color the concrete inside the drum, alleviating the need to "float in" the color. When it has mixed long enough, the concrete should all be a consistent color. Not all concrete suppliers will allow integral color to be placed into their mixing trucks, so keep this in mind when ordering concrete for the job. After the concrete is floated, the base color may be accented by the use of a different color in the form of shake-on dry pigment. Using a powder antiquing release agent After the concrete is in place and colored, before stamping, you must apply a release agent. A release agent is designed to keep fresh concrete from sticking to stamps and texturing tools, and there are a few different types that can be used. Clear liquid release agents may be sprayed on and powder release agents are to be broadcast much like shake-on dry pigment. A powder antiquing release agent imparts a two toned color effect into the concrete in addition to acting as a bond breaker. The color of the antiquing release agent usually contrasts with the base color in the concrete. For example, one could use a dark release to contrast with a light base color or use a light release to contrast with a dark base. This antiquing release agent will "stick" in the grout lines and deep texture of the concrete once the stamp has been applied. The residue left by the antiquing release agent can be pressure washed or acid washed off once the concrete has set. Stamping the Concrete When the concrete is colored and release agent has been applied, you are almost ready to stamp the concrete. If the concrete is set up enough to support you, stamping may begin. Concrete stamps will vary in size, depending on which pattern you have chosen. The size of the job, as well as how many workers you have, will help determine how many concrete stamps you will need. A thinner, more flexible stamp (of the same pattern) will be used around edges and up against walls if needed. These super-flex versions of the main pattern concrete stamp are usually a little less expensive and may or may not have handles. Concrete stamps of the same pattern will interlock when placed on the concrete to provide a consistent look and design. You should begin stamping from one edge and "leap frog" the stamps one after the other. A tamping tool may be required to apply pressure on top of a stamp to imprint the design. A seamless texture skin or "touch up mat" may be used to "fill in" an area of the concrete that could not be textured with the primary concrete stamps. If you are stamping against a building or in tight corners, a seamless texture skin will keep the entire concrete surface consistent. As mentioned above, the antiquing release agent (if used), may be washed off when the concrete has set (1-3 days). You should also seal the concrete when it is convenient. Using a high quality acrylic concrete sealer will not only provide a glossy appearance and bring out the rich color, it will protect the concrete from mildew, mold and many other organic stain producers. VIEW MATCRETE CONCRETE STAMPS VIEW ALL PRODUCTS |
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