Stamped concrete uses stamped concrete as a functional tool for construction yet as an aesthetic modification to a building, specifically as a decorative enhancement to the overall structure, including walls, floors, driveways, and outdoor patios. Stamped concrete’s most prominent feature is its imprint of unique, original artistic designs known as stamping. In addition, stamped concrete has gained wide popularity as an art form among homeowners who pride themselves on the beautification of their homes. Some homeowners even try to add some stamped concrete elements to their lifestyle, such as car flooring that bears their initials.
There are different ways on how to decorate your home with decorative concrete, such as in the form of stamped concrete paint. Stamped concrete paint is composed of water-based colored pigments that are added to a premixed mixture. The pigments are initially distributed into the concrete through a roller or a brush before they are slowly added into the mix through a mixing process. This is then set upon a heated roller that rolls out the pigment in a sheet-like form. The roller provides the thickness needed as well as protection for the color. This then sets on a timer-set cooling mechanism to dry up completely before being used again.
One particular style of stamped concrete patterns includes brick stamping, which comes in plain brick and pattern brick. Plain brick is made of a rigid material such as gravel. This then gets embedded with colored pigment. The color can range from the typical brick color to the blue color of salt.
Pattern brick is made of smaller bricks, and they can vary from the regular sizes of regular sized bricks. These are embedded with different colors, which are mixed using a mixing method similar to the way that coloring additives are mixed. These have an interesting effect when laid on stamped concrete pavers. As the brick is laid down over the pattern, the lighter colored sides will first appear, followed by the darker ones.
It is best to plan your color scheme before starting to lay out the patterns on the ground. Once the patterns are complete, you should lightly sand the area so that no extra damage will be done to the stamped concrete. Before the color mixes are mixed, you should decide if you want to use lighter or darker shades of any of the colors. Usually, lighter shades are used for lighter colored concrete pavers, while the darker ones are used for the darker colored ones.
When laying out patterns for stamped concrete, you should also consider other factors such as maintenance and durability. The types of pavers that are used for this type of installation usually come with limited life spans. It is important to choose durable pavers, because they will last for a long time and can withstand very high traffic. Low-priced, but low in quality players may not last as long as the more expensive ones, which are made from materials with a longer life span.
For maintenance and durability, homeowners may also consider using natural stone materials for their stamped concrete. Since the texture of these materials tend to crack and fade over time, homeowners may want to invest in durable pavers to avoid having to replace them every few years. If you prefer to use textures that will not crack and fade, it is recommended that you choose stamped pavers made from materials that have a low level of acidity.
Installing Stamped Concrete requires you to follow the specifications outlined by the manufacturer. You should consult the installation manual for proper steps to take before beginning the installation process. This will help you prevent mistakes that could cost you more time and money. You will need to have a level floor, a level surface, and the proper tools to make sure that you create a pattern on your newly installed decorative concrete. Because it is such a special project, you should only attempt it if you are properly prepared and knowledgeable about all of the necessary precautions. It can be an extremely rewarding experience, but one that requires plenty of planning.
