Using decorative concrete will provide you with a variety of colors and patterns to choose from, combining a beautiful presentation with a durable, long lasting surface.
“Nothing surprises people more than when they see all of the options available with stamped concrete for walkways, floors, patios and even driveways. The choices of colors coupled with the available patterns provide more options than the average homeowner could ever use. Any look you want to create for you home can be accomplished with stamped, decorative concrete,” says Steve Rose of Wisconsin Decorative Concrete.
A Break From Tradition: No Breaking, Grass or Maintenance
There is no doubt stamped decorative concrete offers a classic good look without the great expense of using actual stones for paving. In addition to being more economical than actual stones, such as slate or cobblestone, it is a solid surface. In other words, it is much less susceptible to heaving of the individual stones or breaking of mortar from freezing and thawing ground through the seasons. Besides longevity, you won’t have any grasses or weeds growing between stones, making maintenance much easier.
Colorful Choices
One neat feature of stamped concrete is the flexibility of the coloring options — over 20 different accent colors are available. When coloring your concrete, there are two color applications—the base color and the accent color.
The base color is added after the concrete has been placed in forms. The base color is broadcast across the surface of the concrete and worked in with finishing tools ensure the base color is uniformly distributed across the surface.
The base color serves two purposes:
- it gives the surface of the concrete a main color.
- it increases the strength of the concrete surface from 4000 PSI to approximately 7000 PSI creating a beautiful concrete that will stand the test of time.
When the concrete has set to the point where the molded pattern mats can be applied to the surface, the accent color (also known as the releasing agent) is applied to the surface.
The accent color also serves two purposes:
- It is used to give the textured surface a more realistic look by accenting all the joints and raised surfaces of the textured concrete and acts as a releasing agent so the concrete will not stick to the pattern mats.
- and, the accent color can highlight the base color and your surrounding landscape.
Patterns For Every Need
In addition to the color selections, a large number of patterns are available to create a distinctive look and feel for your patio, walkway or floor. Examples of patterns include:
- Wood Planks
- Slate Tile
- Quarry Tile
- European Fans
- Old Brick Herringbone
- Flagstone
- Ashler Stone
- Cobblestone
- Pacific Boardwalk
- La Habra Ashler Slate
- French Granite
- Texas Sea Shell
Using stamped concrete gives homeowners the chance to have their patio or driveway a focal point of decoration and landscaping instead of something that you have to build around,” says Rose. “What can be better than something that’s affordable, looks great, and is more durable than more expensive options?”
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