FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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IS STAMPED CONCRETE BAD?

It’s not bad. A high-quality stamped concrete will last up to 20, 30, or even 50 years with proper care and maintenance. The reason you hear so much about it being bad is because there are a lot of poor quality stamped concretes available for cheap by unlicensed contractors who typically only buy the equipment and start running jobs. The concrete sealer locks down embedded dirt and grime that might otherwise show through the surface and helps to prevent cracking and scaling which can degrade its appearance over time. You should always use a reputable contractor who uses high-quality materials – don’t go for quantity over quality – as this will help ensure your project lasts just as long as we claim!

HOW LONG DOES STAMPED CONCRETE LAST?

Concrete is a durable and long-lasting material, but it does need regular maintenance to protect the surface. Luckily, we know the best way for you to maintain your stamped concrete with minimal disruption– simply sweep and wipe it down with water twice a month.

Sweeping off small amounts of dust and dirt helps prevent buildup that can interfere with sealing or that could create an unsafe playing surface. Wiping the surface with water actually helps seal unpolished concrete. Harsh shortcuts like squeegeeing will inevitably produce less-durable surfaces as they damage both newly deposited mortar and any existing seals on the polished face of the slab.

IS STAMPED CONCRETE WORTH THE MONEY?

Some people like the idea of stamped concrete because it is an economical way to spruce up what can otherwise be a dull space. Stamped sidewalks or patios look lovely and attractive, plus they are low cost compared to tiling. There are two types of stamping; monoprint, where one colour is stamped on top of another like mosaics; and multicolour printing which deposits multiple colours at once for variable designs.

There are three drawbacks to choosing stamped concrete as an option though: It’s trendy right now so chances are the neighbours will also choose this type of finish eventually—especially if you live in a high rise or villa community.

HOW THICK SHOULD STAMPED CONCRETE BE?

Two inches is the standard for stamped concrete. Although 3 inches can be done. The reason for this, is that 2 inch will give the best coverage and non-slip properties whereas keeping concrete at 3″ will mean it’ll take less forms to build up, but you’ll lose on coverage and won’t keep the same level of slip resistance.

IS STAMPED CONCRETE CHEAPER THAN BRICK?
Yes. It just so happens that stamped concrete paving stones are almost the same price as bricks when comparing 1-2×3-IN. tile. But you could also go to 1-1/2 x 3 series, which results in an average cost of $4-$5 per square foot for paving stones (this is probably the best option if you want this material to be bumpy). These costs fluctuate depending on the size and type of materials, but you get what you pay for. For example, if brick is more expensive than stamped concrete then it’s because brick usually lasts one third longer than stamped concrete does (between 20 and 30 years).
CAN EXISTING CONCRETE BE STAMPED?

Concrete is a durable and long-lasting material, but it does need regular maintenance to protect the surface. Luckily, we know the best way for you to maintain your stamped concrete with minimal disruption– simply sweep and wipe it down with water twice a month.

Sweeping off small amounts of dust and dirt helps prevent buildup that can interfere with sealing or that could create an unsafe playing surface. Wiping the surface with water actually helps seal unpolished concrete. Harsh shortcuts like squeegeeing will inevitably produce less-durable surfaces as they damage both newly deposited mortar and any existing seals on the polished face of the slab.

IS STAMPED CONCRETE SLIPPERY?

Yes, stamped concrete is slippery because it doesn’t have a textured surface. To make the floors more slip resistant, some degree of texture can be introduced with a process called “grooming.” But first ask yourself if you want to see the ground under your floor or not. If you want less of a clean look and would rather have more variety in your flooring material, then going with a non-textured finish may be an aesthetically pleasing solution for you as well as being slip resistant.

Stamped concrete isn’t just different from other exterior materials — it has specific benefits that will please those who are on the right project for its application. Compared to asphalt or brick paving slabs, stamped concrete has been shown

DOES COLORED STAMPED CONCRETE FADE?

Yes. Color typically fades with time and weather more so on a stamped concrete surface than a typical colored cement/concrete surface.

Concrete is chemically neutral, so unlike paint, which is susceptible to leaching of atmospheric chemicals such as ozone into the coating layer, there are no chemical reactions that would affect color stability in concrete.’ Bleeding’ or migration of pigment from one slab to another through shared capillary action will also have an effect on how permanent color looks on slabs – typically from dark to light shades from the ones affected by this phenomenon. Colors may turn out less vibrant due to these effects.”

DOES STAMPED CONCRETE COST MORE THAN PAVERS?

Yes, stamped concrete is more expensive than pavers.

Many people may not realize that it costs more to install both types of coverings because stamped concrete requires a specialized and skilled installer and materials like steel and decorative inlays (like brick). Pavers allow for installation by an unskilled labourer no matter what the skill level. Pavers also require less time during the job which cuts down the labour cost for installation. This adds up to make paver installations cheaper than any other type such as natural stone such as cobblestone paving stones (although they may be prohibitively expensive depending on your location), or stamped concrete.

IS STAMPED CONCRETE MORE LIKELY TO CRACK?

Yes. In fact, concrete cracking represents a key issue for stamped concrete.

The problem of concrete cracking is due to the stresses imposed on the structure from either an uneven surface or from imperfections in the mix of ingredients. These cracks can grow and may eventually lead to total destruction at which point less resilient materials need to be installed as a total replacement which would be more costly over time. Cracks can also lead to water penetration leading to other problems such as mold and decay which will again increase costs over time.
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It’s possible for stamped floors – essentially a multi-layered composite – where there are different types of materials that might vary because their properties vary differently with respect to strength, thickness or hardness that may eventually lead cracks

HOW DO YOU KEEP STAMPED CONCRETE FROM CRACKING?

In order to avoid future cracking, get a professional to leave an elastic coating before the concrete dries.
This will seal any cracks that appeared during drying and keep them from getting worse.
An experienced entrepreneur might conceal these inlayed areas in the same way they would inlay natural stone or granite in their own designs for aesthetic reasons.

CAN YOU CHANGE COLOR OF STAMPED CONCRETE?
Typically, this is not possible to do without completely re-staining the concrete and then sealing it. You can try using a commercial product that will mask or help cover up the stain if you just want to pretty it up a little bit. Generally, these products are used for striping parking lots and other such jobs where one color does not cover all of the area, but there is often dull or stained areas that need some help. You would have to read more about these products before proceeding with anything as they may cause staining problems in areas you don’t want them on so caution should be taken by doing your research first.
HOW CAN I IMPROVE STAMPED CONCRETE?

You can improve stamped concrete in many ways. There are different patterns, textures, and colors available for casting the concrete. The important part is pouring it when you’re ready. It’s all about finishing pouring your product in time before it hardens to closely match the texture of the pattern so that once it hardens, the texture doesn’t change or get messed up.
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Removal also varies depending on what you want to do with this type of product later on down the line, but there are many services out there that will help you if you just need something removed or installed somewhere else.

IS STAMPED CONCRETE HARD TO MAINTAIN?
Stamped concrete is certainly not hard to maintain. It’s easy to clean and it resists stains, efflorescence, mould growth, moss build-up and ice deformation (which can damage asphalt). You can’t paint or dye stamped concrete but that doesn’t mean you should neglect the beauty of these patterns. Keeping your home looking its best means regularly sweeping leaves and dust off your patio/deck/walkway etc…. something almost everyone does outside their house! With proper care it will last 10+ years without any noticeable change in appearance even with foot traffic.
HOW DO YOU KEEP STAMPED CONCRETE FROM FADING?
Undercoat the stamped concrete with a sealer before applying paint. The sealer will protect the surface and help prevent the color from wearing off quickly.

“Sealer can be applied as soon as 24 hours after painting, and should be sealed at least every 10 years to maintain appearance.”
Another aesthetic advantage of sealing concrete is that it adds depth to color by hiding slight imperfections in the paint — without good scratches, you’ll usually find that colors on concrete typically look better than those on asphalt or other surfaces such as brick masonry.