stamped concrete

Decorative stamped concrete with its’ artistic palette of colors is created with a variety of concrete stains, dyes and acrylic sealers. Remember that you are dealing with transparent colors and not paint on a paint chart. To maintain the visual appearance of your installation, it should be sealed on a regular basis. We recommend re-sealing the surface the season following installation and after that every one to four years depending upon traffic and use.

SALT DESTROYS YOUR STAMPED SURFACES—-DO NOT USE!!!!!
Salt and other types of chemical de-icers will destroy concrete surfaces that are not maintained with a properly installed sealer. We only recommends a special acrylic sealer that forms a strong barrier over the surface of the stamped concrete. This acrylic sealer must be well maintained to ensure that the colors in the stamped concrete surface are protected.Generally, there are two categories of sealers for exterior concrete: film-formers and penetrants. Penetrating sealers tend to offer the best protection from moisture absorption. Regardless of the sealer you use, be sure it’s applied according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Stamped concrete because it is a special textured surface can scratch from abuse. We recommend using a broom or plastic shovel to remove snow. Do not use steel bars to chip away ice. If a snow plow or blower is used, be sure to place rubber underneath the skids to elevate the steel blades and protect the stamped concrete surface.

The nature of any concrete is that it will crack. Concrete may also develop hairline cracks outside of the joints. This can be normal and expected. Most of the time the hairline cracks are so small that they will go unnoticed and they will not cause any structural problems. We will give the homeowner the option for saw cutting to control joints.

As everyone has seen at some time, regular grey concrete is very susceptible to staining. As part of our stamped concrete process we incorporate an acrylic sealer that helps seal and protect the surface from stains such as oil and fertilizer. This protective barrier also provides extra UV protection for the color. It is designed to last one to four years depending upon the usage, exposure to the elements and abrasion of foot or vehicular traffic.

Certain solvents can penetrate the sealer on the stamped concrete surface and break it down. Often a solvent spill will evaporate without damaging the surface. Solvents that can harm the surface include acetone, xylene, lacquer thinner, and paint thinner. If these are spilled on your stamped concrete, do nothing. Simply let them dry and evaporate. If the sealer is effected another coat of sealer should be applied to remove the blemish caused by the spill.