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

I'm a concrete contractor and I talk to lots of people out estimating and considering work for my business. Often people think stamped concrete is completely unique of regular concrete and it's a completely different product. This is somewhat true, however the basics of both are the same and they are usually specified the same, when used in the same application. For instance, if stamped concrete or regular concrete can be used for a driveway, they'll generally function as same thickness and have exactly 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 form 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 which is usually rebar or wire mesh. The concrete is specified to a desired thickness that is created for its application. For example, a driveway that handles car and light trucks is normally poured four inches thick. The concrete mix can be specified that is usually a 4000 psi mix within areas that have severe winters. That's the strength the concrete reaches in 28 days. Concrete is positioned, striked off, bull floated then gets a non slip finish, such as a broom. From then on, 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 of the steps will be the same except the finishing steps. The concrete can be colored that is usually added to the mix. It is also colored with a color hardener, but most contractors use an intrinsic color. After bull floating is when things the process changes with stamped concrete. Some contractors go one step further and trowel the concrete to achieve the concrete really smooth. We use air entrained concrete in our area because of the harsh winters, which isn't said to be troweled so we usually just get it smooth as possible with a magnesium bull float. Following the concrete sets to a desired hardness, the concrete is imprinted with the rubber like stamps. A release agent that is an antiquing colored release, or liquid release agent can be used to help 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 undoubtedly be washed and sealed with a high gloss sealer which is also a membrane forming cure.

So to summarize stamped and regular, there isn't much difference between your two apart from what they appear to be on the surface. Many people they think stamped concrete is just not as durable as regular concrete and that is just not the case. The only thing that could make it less durable is the texture of the stamped concrete. In  Additional info  that gets snow, stamped concrete will get damaged by snow removal equipment like snow plows.