Concrete Stamps

Decorative stamps can be used in conjunction with concrete pigments to make concrete almost any color, texture, or shape. There are many different stamped concrete designs available so you can definitely achieve the truly unique look that is right for you.

Stamped concrete is fade resistant and maintenance free. If made and treated properly, it should never need to be re-colored or stained.

The committed DIY enthusiast who has experience working with concrete can learn how to stamp concrete to create a unique textured surface for a floor, patio, sidewalk, driveway, or counter top. If you already have a concrete surface that you want to add texture to, you can add a surface to it of 2 inches or so depth and then use stencil topping to add the texture you want.

While there are a number of standard concrete stamps that you can buy pre-made, you can also have them custom made. A custom made concrete stamp may have a monogram, floral design, or seal, for example.

While a concrete stamp can cost $100 or more, for large areas, stamped concrete is more cost effective than other types of flooring and can be made to any color and finish that you want.

How to Stamp Concrete

The first step to creating a textured concrete patio over an existing plain concrete patio slab is to create the lumber forms and mix a new batch of concrete sufficient to add a 2 inch layer over top of the existing concrete.

Since you're going to be stamping the concrete, you'll add a special bond polymer that will prevent oozing once the concrete is initially set. This allows the new surface to be stamped into it.

Pour the new layer, then apply powder color hardener using the "dry shake" method, which is similar to sowing seeds.

Next, smooth the surface with a magnesium bull float Shake on a second layer of powder color hardener. This time smooth the surface with a Fresno broom float.

After the new slab top coat is initially set, you apply the color release agent. Texture stamps won't work otherwise.

This powder prevents mats from sticking to the concrete.

It takes about 3.5 lbs. of release agent per 100 square feet. It should be brushed onto the mats as well.

With a uniform layer of mold release agent between the concrete and the mats, you'll get optimum texture from the stamps without concrete trying to squish up through the stamp face. It's time to stamp your concrete.

You may wonder how to stamp concrete so that the pattern will be aligned properly.

To do this, use a string line to guide your stamping so that the blocks line up correctly.

You will typically have two or three slightly different block stamps. The stamps themselves will be made of different colors so you can easily tell them apart.

Place the first stamp, then tamp it down with a tamper.

Place the next stamp and do the same thing.

The idea is not to place two of the same stamps twice in a row so that you'll get more of a textured pattern.

You can stand on the stamp you have just done while you place the next stamp. Then you can stand on the new stamp and pull up the old one. Once you have stamped the whole surface, wait for it to reach its initial set, and then pressure wash it.

On your clean, stamped patio apply two coats of concrete sealer to make it last. This will help your color and texture patterns (and the result of your hard work) to last indefinitely.

Concrete Stamping Do's & Dont's

Here are a few dos and don'ts for using concrete stamps to create textured surfaces.

Do make sure the stamped concrete is properly jointed to keep cracking under control. Joints must be cut to a depth of one-quarter of the slab thickness or more. In some cases you can integrate the joints into the pattern lines made by the concrete stamps so that they are less noticeable.

Do use the proper water to cement ratio to create a mix that will stand up to the conditions your stamped concrete will be exposed to, whether it's simple wear from foot traffic on an indoor concrete floor or whether it's freezing, thawing, and salt in colder climates.

Don't forget about reinforcement. Particularly for driveways and other heavy use surfaces, reinforcement from welded wire mesh or a grid of rebar is necessary to hold the concrete together and prevent cracking.

If anything, this is more true for stamped concrete than plain because cracks in stamped concrete can seriously detract from the beauty of a stamped concrete surface.

I hope that I have succeeded in showing you what is involved with concrete stamping. If done correctly, it is a beautiful alternative to costly paving bricks with much less maintenance.

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