Is Stamped Concrete a Do-It-Yourself Project

Is installing stamped concrete a do-it-yourself project? Well the short answer is NO!  Do you consider yourself a weekend warrior who loves taking on small projects around your home?  Stamped concrete is not one of those projects that you want to take on alone.  The main reason for this statement is that when it comes to stamped concrete you only get one chance to get it right, so you are better off leaving it to the professionals.  When it comes to concrete, especially stamped it is very unforgiving as well as expensive when it comes to the materials as well as time.  Unlike other do-it-yourself projects like plumbing or carpentry, concrete does not come apart and you cannot come back to finish it tomorrow if you run out of time. 

Here are four main reasons why stamping concrete is not a do-it-yourself job that you want to start:

The Basics

There are many different factors that make stamping concrete better when it is left to the professionals.  The most obvious factor being the basics of placing concrete, which can be considered an art in itself, proper sub base preparation is essential.  Sub base preparation often includes 2 to 4 inches of stone or sub base material that in fact needs to be properly compacted.

The next step is dealing with forming, not only does this step require the proper form material, but a great understanding of elevations as well as slopes.  If the proper slope is not maintained you could end up with puddling and/or standing water issues.  As already stated concrete is permanent and so will these low spots, as well as they will be very difficult to repair.

The Placement  

If you were to talk to any concrete professional they would tell you that placing as well as finishing concrete is considered as much of an art as it would be considered a technique.  It takes many years to get a grasp on just the basic of concrete, let alone become good at it.  By taking it to the next level of concrete placement and add stamping into the mix, now you have just increased that learning curve by another three to five years. 

Coloring Issues  

With the growth of colored concrete on the rise, and the ability to purchase colored concrete from most ready mix companies, ordering and receiving colored concrete is probably the easiest step in the whole process of stamping concrete.  It is all the other factors that are involved such as making sure the color comes out correctly that can make this job hectic. 

The Stamping Process 

Keep in mind that a good stamped concrete job looks great, while on the other hand a poor or even fair stamp job just looks horrible.  The most intolerant part of stamping concrete is the actual stamping. You may just be able to get away with a poor finish or even poor placement, but when it comes to the imprinting process it is permanent as well as being very expensive and difficult to repair.  The stamp itself can cost you thousands of dollars if you were to purchase them, even hundreds if you were to rent. 

If you want to have the beautiful look of stamped concrete around your home, speak with us here at Unique Crete Designs. We can go over a design, placement and the process with you, so you can have a beautifully finished stamped concrete look.