A stamped concrete patio is the ideal attractive flooring for any outdoor entertainment area, offering the homeowner the charm of an indoor floor with all the toughness and weather resistance of exterior concrete.
Exactly what is stamped concrete patio?
Stamped concrete is concrete that is patterned and has a texture applied to it or is embossed to resemble another material such as brick, slate, stone or various other patterns and textures.
Stamped concrete is generally used for driveways, sidewalks and pool decks, but more and more homeowners are visualizing a new patio with a stamped concrete finish. Imagine a brand new patio with the look and feel of natural stone, or the texture and color of slate. The ability to mimic other building materials from stamped concrete makes it an ideal option for your new patio, along with significant savings for this type of project—sometimes up to 50 percent lower than the natural slate or limestone installation costs.
The best thing about stamped concrete is the low maintenance involved. There’s no settlement during its lifetime which can cause uneven areas and there are no grout lines or joints that may open allowing grass and weeds to develop.
What does stamped concrete look like?
When a homeowner is considering an addition to their home such as a new patio, one question that may spring to mind is what does stamped concrete look like?
When it comes to the look and feel of stamped concrete, it seems as if the sky is the limit. There are more than 100 patterns available for the homeowner to choose from.
Stamped concrete is intended to look like something it isn’t—natural stone, brick, slate, etc. It is, therefore, the job of your contractor to mimic the material and make it look as realistic as he can. Attention to detail can either make or break the project. However, choosing the right stamped concrete contractor who knows how to install good formwork, use suitable color choices, pay attention to detail at the joints, correctly seal the concrete and perhaps color individual areas, can make all the difference between a job that is okay and one that is sensational.
One advantage of a stamped concrete patio is that it can be poured in any shape or size you desire, within reason, to fit your available space, and you can choose the design that best fits your home and landscaping. You should bear in mind that when choosing a pattern and color, the color should be representative of the material it is going to mimic. You should always choose patterns and colors that are realistic.
Once you’ve chosen your desired pattern and color, your contractor will pour the concrete and when the concrete is firm enough, the flexible polyurethane stamps, roughly two feet square and an inch or two thick are placed on the slab, one after the other, creating the desired finish. A releasing agent is used to facilitate the removal of the stamps as the worker moves over the area. When the entire area has been covered, the stamps are removed and the concrete left to harden.
The whole area is washed to remove any left-over releasing agent and the surface is left to dry completely. Once dry, a clear sealer is applied to protect the surface and enhance the color and appearance.
Nortex Fence & Patio offers high-quality, meticulously poured and finished patterned and stamped concrete for residential and commercial properties. We are a locally-based BBB Accredited business serving north Dallas County, Denton County, and Collin County. We often build in: Dallas, Plano, Frisco, The Colony, Allen, McKinney, and the surrounding areas. Our standards are high, our workmanship is masterful, and our reputation is excellent.
Hopefully this information has whetted your appetite, and you’re ready to take matters one step further to have a stamped concrete patio laid, and be the envy of your neighbors.
To find out more about the beautiful, affordable, and low-maintenance options offered by using stamped concrete for your property, complete our contact form to get started.