TOP 10 MYTHS ABOUT STAMPED CONCRETE

 

#1 - Don’t get Stamped Concrete, its slippery!
Not anymore. Many years ago, a special abrasive non-skid additive was developed that now gives the sealer a gritty feel. The result?  Stamped concrete is no longer slippery! Hooray!

 

#2 – Stamped Concrete color will fade or leach out and color needs to be reapplied every year.
Not true. The color is permanent. Interestingly, colored concrete that needs to be sealed can appear to have a “chalky” or faded appearance. Once a fresh coat of sealer is applied, the concrete colors come back to life again!

 

#3 – Stamped Concrete color will flake off
Not ours. This is rare and would only occur if the installation is not done correctly. The color is permanent.

 #4 – Stamped Concrete will crack and will be ruined!
It’s no secret, concrete can crack.  However, not to worry … when installed properly, cracking potential is minimized and controlled to the point where the concrete could crack and you’ll never know it!

#5 - Pavers are better than stamped concrete
As we like to say, “No surface is perfect”! Overall pavers tend to be more expensive and have more maintenance, such as settlement, sand, and weeds … Stamped concrete tends to be the cheapest and has the least maintenance.

 

#6 - Stamped concrete shouldn’t be used in this region of the country because of seasonal weather fluctuations.
At its core, stamped concrete is regular concrete. There is concrete everywhere you look here Washington DC metro area and likely in many other more northern regions as well with no temperature related problems … That said, there are procedures and techniques that we follow in various times of the year, but overall there is no reason stamped concrete can’t be installed successfully here vs any other region of the country.

 

#7 – Don’t get Stamped Concrete … it looks shiney and fake .. it doesn’t look good with big houses …
“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”!  Many people like the look of stamped concrete better than brick, pavers, or stone. Many people like the “wet look” better, others like the dry look. Be sure you’ve seen our grouted and shaded style! Sealer is available in low, medium, and high gloss .. we can discuss these details for your project.

 

#8 - Stamp impressions are always flatter from one side to the other …
This myth suggests that because the concrete is getting harder as the stamping process is going on, that the stamps will not be able to provide the same depth of impression from one side of a job to the other. Simply said, we are aware of this issue, we can control it and this has never been a notable problem for us.

 

#9 - Color that is mixed through and through in the concrete is better
There are 2 ways to color concrete. Many believe that having the color through and through in the concrete is better. The main reason for this opinion is because most customers don’t understand “the other” coloring technique referred to as Surface Color Hardener, aka, Shake-On or Toss-On color. There are many pros and cons of both techniques. Ultimately, they are both acceptable and both provide long lasting permanent color.
Most homeowners believe through-and-through color, known as Integral color is better because it solves the problem of getting a chip and seeing through to the white concrete. This is a great theory, but in reality getting a chip in stamped concrete is very rare and also very easy to recolor if it were to happen. There are other disadvantages to integral color such as color matching and a less realistic look, and other advantages to surface color hardener such as more detailed stamp impressions, and more color selections, that most homeowners don’t understand. Let’s discuss these details for your project and see which technique is better for your job. The best, of course, is both …. Like having a “belt AND suspenders!” … but of course, will cost more….

 

#10 – Stamped Concrete doesn’t last as long as regular concrete
Not true. Provided your stamped concrete is maintained properly, most stamped concrete will last just as long as regular concrete, if not longer due to the sealer protecting the concrete. Go sealer!