Having A New Concrete Driveway Installed? Use Stamps To Make It Beautiful

If you are having a concrete driveway installed for your home, there are things you can do to make it look more beautiful. One of these things is using stamps on the concrete. Stamped concrete is done by the contractor that installs your driveway in many cases. Keep reading to learn what stamped concrete is and how it is installed on your driveway. 

Stamped Concrete

With stamped concrete, you have many colors and patterns to choose from. You can also find unique color combinations to make the driveway look even more unique. Some of the pattern types you can choose include slate, flagstone, tile, and brick textures. When you finish, your driveway will not look like concrete but something totally different. You can hire a company to custom-make the stamps for you. 

Stamped Concrete Process

The first thing the contractor will do is prepare the subgrade. This is an important part of the process because this is what provides the structure for the concrete slab. This can help prevent soil erosion and drainage problems under the concrete. 

The next step is installing the forms, which can be made of plastic, metal, or wood. The forms are then attached to stakes to keep them secure. These forms also aid in creating the proper grade or slope to allow for draining. Welded wire mesh or steel bars are installed to provide more reinforcement and to support the concrete slab. This also helps prevent cracks from forming on the concrete and increases the impact resistance.  

The concrete is then poured onto the surface, and immediately after being poured the concrete is finished and screeded to create a level surface for the stamps. The contractor then applies the color that you chose to the concrete. 

The stamping then starts and has to be done as fast as possible before the concrete starts to dry. The contractor will lay out the stamps on paper to help them know where to apply them on the concrete. Edging stamps are applied first, and each stamp will be aligned as it is being installed. The concrete contractor will also ensure the right pattern is being used. 

When finished, the contractor will wait for the concrete to completely dry and then apply a sealant to protect the stamps. This sealant is important as it will prevent fading from the sun, prevent cracks from appearing on the stamps, and allow the stamps to last much longer. 

The concrete contractor can go into much more detailed information about the custom-stamped concrete installation process.

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