You may be amazed at the look of stamped concrete and how it can replicate pavers, planks, and various other elements. For this reason, you might consider getting it done for your driveway.
However, creating this style of concrete is more involved than pouring a simple grey slab. It involves various stages. Here's an outline of the stamped concrete process so you know what to expect on your property.
Pouring the Concrete
First, the concrete will need to be poured into place. The contractors may put wire mesh inside to make the slab strong enough for a driveway. That way, it will have no trouble carrying the load of your vehicles.
They'll wait until the concrete has the right plasticity before starting the stamping process. If the concrete is too soft, it won't hold the mould shapes, whereas if it's too hard, it won't be pliable enough to take on the texture designs.
Applying Colour Hardener and Release Agents
Before using the stamping mats, the contractors apply a colour hardener and release agent. Hardeners give the paving colour and also densify the concrete. They're typically shaken on top. Different colours can be combined to create a mottled look that's perfect if you want the driveway to mimic natural stone. The release agent stops the texture moulds from sticking to the paving and they can give it colour as well.
Stamping
Assuming the concrete is set to the right degree, the stamping process starts. The stamping mats come in many patterns. For example, you might opt for cobblestone, ashlar slate, running bond brick, random stone, or European fan design. The moulds are pressed into the concrete. Once they're lifted, the designs on the stamps are imprinted on the driveway. Many stamped styles have faux paver joint lines that can be manually touched up to look realistic.
Creating Control Joints
A crucial part of a concrete driveway is the creation of control joints. These deep impressions are functional rather than aesthetic. They encourage any cracking that may happen to follow the control joints. This will look better than random cracks across your driveway, as they'll be less noticeable. The control joints can be impressed into the concrete when it's plastic, just like the stamped pattern. Or the contractors can wait until the paving sets and use a saw to manually cut them into the surface. Even though the process is involved, once it's finished, you can enjoy stunning decorative results.
Contact a concrete driveway contractor to discuss your driveway.
