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25 June 2013

A Simple Guide To Stamped Concrete

By Kathy Kaufman


Decorative paving can come in various forms. The type that can be embossed, patterned or textured in such a way that they begin to resemble natural building materials is known as stamped concrete. Samples can be found anywhere, from your driveway to the sidewalk and in a lot of other places. Whether you hire a stamped concrete NJ professional contractor or you do it yourself, it is always good to know about what you are dealing with.

With the use of several methods, the concrete can be made to look like conventional paving materials such as stone, brick, wood and many more. In designing certain patterns, unconventional stamps are required in order to realize the concept of making those patterns. Said stamps can also be utilized for special projects in the event that normal tools are unavailable for use.

This technique may be used on a wide variety of items and places. This would range from tables to walls to pool decks, but it can also be used for interior flooring as well. Despite its versatility, it is mostly used for outdoor purposes in a myriad of ways.

There are three separate procedures that makes the creation process unique in comparison to others. Base coloring as well as accent coloring are needed to influence the color of the finished product. The third one is the stamping or pattern imprinting into the cement.

When adding base color, chose one that will reflect the same color of the natural material that you are seeking to emulate. To achieve this, color hardener, a powder pigment utilized to dye the cement, may be added. The accent color can be considered a secondary color, which can be used in order to produce texture and reveal additional building materials. Applying color release can achieve this.

Pattern is needed so that the shape of the natural material is reflected. Influencing the pattern is therefore, necessary. It is made when the cement was imprinted sometime after it poured. A side note is that before polyurethane was used in the making of stamps, various metals were used instead.

Cement is a relatively durable material that can last years without visible fading if it is properly cared for. Maintenance is the usually the key and it can often rival the other forms of paving if it is installed in a correct and proper manner. Despite that, it does need the occasional touch up, especially after a few years had gone by.

Overall, the basic process is simple to perform provided all the important steps are followed. The material must be poured out into the chosen area, followed by the application of the base and accent coloring. After all that has been done, proceed with imprinting the cement for the sake of the pattern design. Afterwards, cleaning up the dried cement and the surrounding area will provide a very pleasing and professional look to the finished product.

You may hire a stamped concrete NJ professional contractor to do the job for you, if you like. If not, the job can still be done on your own, although the inexperience and lack of knowledge can be a problem. Avoid the messy mistakes and save yourself from any unwanted frustrations that can stem from all of this.




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