Fitchhart6655

I'm a concrete contractor and I speak to many people out estimating and considering work for my business. Many times people think stamped concrete is totally unique of regular concrete and it's an entirely different product. That is somewhat true, but the basics of the two are the same plus they are usually specified exactly the same, when used in the same application. For example, 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 placed on some type of gravel or native soil base that's compacted. The area is then formed with lumber or manufactured forms. Reinforcement is usually installed in the base that is usually rebar or wire mesh. Ballan Concreting is specified to a desired thickness which is created for its application. For example, a driveway that handles car and light trucks is normally poured four inches thick. The concrete mix is also 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 quite 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 put into the mix. It can also be 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 achieve the concrete really smooth. We use air entrained concrete inside our area because of the harsh winters, which isn't supposed to be troweled so we usually just get it smooth as you possibly can 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 help keep the stamps from sticking with 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 higher gloss sealer that is also a membrane forming cure.

So to conclude stamped and regular, there isn't much difference between your 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 just not the case. The only thing that could ensure it is less durable is the texture of the stamped concrete. Within an environment that gets snow, stamped concrete can get damaged by snow removal equipment like snow plows.