Stamped Concrete and Regular Concrete - What's the Difference Between Them?

I'm a concrete contractor and I talk to many people out estimating and looking at work with my business. Often people think stamped concrete is totally different than regular concrete and it's a completely different product. That is somewhat true, however the basics of both are the same plus they are usually specified the same, when used in exactly the same application. For example, if stamped concrete or regular concrete is used for a driveway, they'll generally be the same thickness and also have the same design strength.

Regular concrete can be your everyday concrete found in sidewalks, driveways, patios, roads, and anytime regular pavement is constructed. It's generally positioned on some type of gravel or native soil base that's compacted. The area is then formed with lumber or manufactured forms. Reinforcement is normally installed in the base that is usually rebar or wire mesh. The concrete is specified to a desired thickness which is created for its application. For instance, a driveway that handles car and light trucks is usually poured four inches thick. The concrete mix is also specified that is usually a 4000 psi mix here in areas which have severe winters. That's the strength the concrete reaches in 28 days. Concrete is placed, striked off, bull floated then gets a non slip finish, just like a broom. After that, the concrete is cured with either water and burlap, or the easy way with a membrane forming curing compound.

Stamped concrete is very similarly placed to regular concrete. Generally all the steps will be the same except the finishing steps. The concrete can be colored that is usually added to the mix.  Concrete Contractors Las Vegas  is also colored with a color hardener, but most contractors use an integral color. After bull floating is when things the procedure changes with stamped concrete. Some contractors go one step further and trowel the concrete to obtain the concrete really smooth. We use air entrained concrete inside our area due to harsh winters, which isn't said to be troweled so we usually just get it smooth as possible with a magnesium bull float. After the concrete sets to a desired hardness, the concrete is imprinted with the rubber like stamps. A release agent which is an antiquing colored release, or liquid release agent can be used to keep the stamps from sticking to the concrete. Some contractors will put curing paper on the concrete to cure it till the next day when the concrete will be washed and sealed with a higher gloss sealer that is also a membrane forming cure.

So to summarize stamped and regular, there isn't much difference between the two other than what they appear to be on the surface. Lots of people they think stamped concrete is just not as durable as regular concrete and that's not the case. The only thing that could make it less durable is the texture of the stamped concrete. Within an environment that gets snow, stamped concrete will get damaged by snow removal equipment like snow plows.