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 considering work for my business. Often people think stamped concrete is totally unique of regular concrete and it's an entirely different product. This is somewhat true, however the basics of both are the same and they are usually specified exactly 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 also have the same design strength.

Regular concrete is your everyday concrete used 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 bottom that is usually rebar or wire mesh. The concrete is specified to a desired thickness which is created for its application. For example, 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 within 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. 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 are the same except the finishing steps. The concrete can be colored which is usually put into the mix. It 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 find the concrete really smooth. We use air entrained concrete in 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. 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 is 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 is not much difference between your two other than what they appear to be on the surface. https://www.losangelesconcretecontractors.net/ think stamped concrete is simply not as durable as regular concrete and that is just not the case. The only thing that could make it less durable may be the texture of the stamped concrete. Within an environment that gets snow, stamped concrete will get damaged by snow removal equipment like snow plows.

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Pub: 29 Nov 2023 02:27 UTC
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