I'm a concrete contractor and I talk to many people out estimating and looking at work for my business. Many times people think stamped concrete is totally different than regular concrete and it's really a completely different product. That is somewhat true, but the basics of both are the same and they are usually specified exactly the same, when used in exactly the same application. For example, if stamped concrete or regular concrete can be used for a driveway, they will generally be the 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 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 which is usually rebar or wire mesh. The concrete is specified to a desired thickness that is designed for its application. For instance, 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 placed, striked off, bull floated then gets a non slip finish, such as a broom. After that, the concrete is cured with either water and burlap, or the simple way with a membrane forming curing compound. Stamped concrete is very similarly placed to regular concrete. Generally concrete driveway will be the same except the finishing steps. The concrete is also colored which is usually put into the mix. It can also be 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 obtain the concrete really smooth. We use air entrained concrete inside our area as a result of harsh winters, which isn't said to be troweled so we usually just obtain 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 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 be washed and sealed with a higher gloss sealer which is also a membrane forming cure. So to conclude stamped and regular, there is not much difference between the two apart from what they look like on the surface. Many people they think stamped concrete is just not as durable as regular concrete and that is not the case. The only thing that could ensure it is less durable may be the texture of the stamped concrete. In an environment that gets snow, stamped concrete can get damaged by snow removal equipment like snow plows.
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