Whether it’s basking in the sun or enjoying a cold one with your mates, your patio area is the ultimate space during the long, hot summer days. So, it’s not a wild idea you would want to make it look like a picturesque and comfy area for you, your family, and your guests to lounge in. Aside from embellishing your patio with pleasant-looking furniture, you can also give the flooring a major makeover. How about turning your boring old concrete and decorating it with a simple and uniform design such as stamped concrete?
What is Stamped Concrete?
Stamped concrete is a cosmetic technique for decorative concrete that involves imprinting or stamping a pattern onto newly laid concrete with polyurethane stamps. One can also add colour after the stamping process to give the finished look an oomph. Aside from patios, one can install a stamped concrete driveway, walkway, pool deck, and even interior flooring.
Lots of people are opting for this design to install in homes and commercial spaces since it’s a budget-friendly alternative to other building or patio materials such as brick or slate. However, the design and colour will affect how much stamped concrete installation will cost. There are intricate designs that require more work which in turn will get more expensive.
What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Stamped Concrete?
Pros:
- As mentioned before, it is more affordable than natural stone, brick, or pavers. Stamped concrete can have the same finish as those materials at a fraction of the cost.
- Enhances outdoor spaces and even adds to your home value.
- Offers a wide range of pattern and colour choices. You can never run out of design ideas since stamped concrete is flexible with different types of designs.
- It’s slip resistant when treated with a non-skid additive. Anyone can walk on these pavers without the fear of slipping and falling.
- It’s also durable and long-lasting so you don’t need to worry about regular expensive maintenance. It can definitely withstand harsh environmental elements, strong forces, and heavy foot traffic. You can expect it to last for years. It’s also easy to maintain especially when it’s applied with a sealant. A sealant is important to avoid the water from penetrating the concrete.
Cons:
- While stamped concrete is a budget-friendly installation, it might be tricky to do on your own. You need a professional concrete finisher to do this job for you.
- While it’s durable, stamped concrete is not perfect. Expect that it can develop minor cracks due to the elements.
- Depending on the colour and design, your stamped concrete patio needs periodic cleaning and resealing to maintain its immaculate look. However, doing these things won’t take up much of your time.
- If you live in an area where it snows, concrete (in general) can be damaged by freeze/thaw cycles and deicing salts.
- If the patio installation is done poorly, the floor may develop ridges. The imperfections will show up in between the stamped spaces ruining the entire design in the process.
- Repairs can be difficult if it’s damaged greatly. You might need to install a new stamped concrete floor if the damage is beyond reparable.
- Your concrete floor may develop ridges due to faulty stamping. This frequently happens when the installer needs to use two stamps or should adjust the stamp to suit a larger patio. The distracting imperfections will show up in between the stamped spaces ruining the entire design in the process.
Stamped Concrete Patio Ideas
Not sure what design you want to incorporate in your stamped concrete patio flooring? We have some ideas for you:
Ashlar Slate
This pattern uses a mixture of rectangular shapes with the appearance of cut stone, especially when combined with earthy colours. Basically, this mimics a stone concrete design.
Brick Design
A patio stamped to look like a brick is a great traditional look without the cost of brick installation. With this pattern, you will be able to mimic either a traditional red brick or a more modern-looking design.
Random Stone
For a more organic look, these patterns are created to give an appearance of naturally occurring stone. The randomness of the pattern makes for a more eye-catching design.
Wood Stamped Concrete
The wood plank-stamped concrete patio design is highly sophisticated and beautifully complements your surrounding area. Wooden planks are used to stamp the concrete to create a woodwork floor appearance.
Stamped concrete is long-lasting if it is maintained properly thereby requiring very little on your part. If you like the appearance of pavers or another substance but are on a tight budget, you will find stamped concrete ideal as a low-cost option.
