Stamped concrete is concrete that has been stamped or imprinted to look like brick, slate, stone, tile, wood, or various other textures and pattern. Concrete stamping has many purposes, many people can't afford to completely swap out their flooring or patios. But stamping concrete is a cost effective and beautiful solution to this common problem. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, concrete was sometimes stamped with contractor names and dates during public works projects, but by the late twentieth century the term "stamped concrete" started to refer primarily to decorative concrete produced with special techniques for use in patios, sidewalks, driveways, pool decks, and interiors.
You might be wondering, how does stamping concrete work?
Now, there are a couple of steps involved in concrete stamping,
First step is to form a clean and well defined area for stamping.
Second, you have to add color to the concrete stamp.
Third, we smooth out the concrete to get ready for stamping.
Step four, we apply a concrete release agent, then stamp the desired color and pattern.
The fifth and final step is washing the concrete and applying a sealing agent.
Commonly asked questions:
What are the right conditions to stamp my concrete?
Well there are many factors into deciding what the best conditions to stamp concrete, one is temperature. The temperature affects the stamp in many ways, but only extreme temperatures could ruin it. The best temperature range you could have for concrete stamping is somewhere between 45-85 degrees Fahrenheit. Another factor is time of day, one of the worst things you could do to your concrete is seal it during the middle of the day, the best time to seal it is first thing in the morning. As mentioned before, the time of day is important, because if you seal the concrete in the middle of the day, the concrete will be so hot it'll melt the sealant and make it bubble and pop. As you can imagine, that would ruin the stamp.
What is a rigid stamp and what is a floppy/flex stamp?
A rigid stamp is a strong stamp that people can stand on, for ease of access, and efficiency. Flex/floppy stamps are about half the thickness of a rigid stamp, and can be bent at 90 degree angles, making difficult places to reach that much easier.
There are different applications for the different mats, for example floppy mats have no handles on them and aren't rigid enough to stand on, so their primary use is to work along the edges of the concrete, in confined areas such as corners, and up against walls, stairs, and columns. Floppies are typically available in the same patterns as the rigid mats so they are super helpful for filling in areas where the rigid mats can't work, making final touch-ups super easy.
I hope you found this short article about concrete stamping helpful. We tried to cover the most asked questions we could find. As always, if we missed anything, or you have questions or concerns about concrete stamping or concrete in general, make sure to call us at (615) 437-7283. Have a great day and thank you for your business!
You might be wondering, how does stamping concrete work?
Now, there are a couple of steps involved in concrete stamping,
First step is to form a clean and well defined area for stamping.
Second, you have to add color to the concrete stamp.
Third, we smooth out the concrete to get ready for stamping.
Step four, we apply a concrete release agent, then stamp the desired color and pattern.
The fifth and final step is washing the concrete and applying a sealing agent.
Commonly asked questions:
What are the right conditions to stamp my concrete?
Well there are many factors into deciding what the best conditions to stamp concrete, one is temperature. The temperature affects the stamp in many ways, but only extreme temperatures could ruin it. The best temperature range you could have for concrete stamping is somewhere between 45-85 degrees Fahrenheit. Another factor is time of day, one of the worst things you could do to your concrete is seal it during the middle of the day, the best time to seal it is first thing in the morning. As mentioned before, the time of day is important, because if you seal the concrete in the middle of the day, the concrete will be so hot it'll melt the sealant and make it bubble and pop. As you can imagine, that would ruin the stamp.
What is a rigid stamp and what is a floppy/flex stamp?
A rigid stamp is a strong stamp that people can stand on, for ease of access, and efficiency. Flex/floppy stamps are about half the thickness of a rigid stamp, and can be bent at 90 degree angles, making difficult places to reach that much easier.
There are different applications for the different mats, for example floppy mats have no handles on them and aren't rigid enough to stand on, so their primary use is to work along the edges of the concrete, in confined areas such as corners, and up against walls, stairs, and columns. Floppies are typically available in the same patterns as the rigid mats so they are super helpful for filling in areas where the rigid mats can't work, making final touch-ups super easy.
I hope you found this short article about concrete stamping helpful. We tried to cover the most asked questions we could find. As always, if we missed anything, or you have questions or concerns about concrete stamping or concrete in general, make sure to call us at (615) 437-7283. Have a great day and thank you for your business!
