Posted on May 23, 2019
The global market for decorative concrete is expected to grow with a CAGR of approximately 6.2%, as more ingenious ways to incorporate it into urban spaces are adopted.
As a durable and versatile building material, stamped concrete serves as a modern flooring choice – especially for home owners looking to add depth to their floors without stretching their budget.
Let’s see how the versatility of decorative concrete makes it an excellent choice for your house.
What Is Stamped Concrete
Stamped concrete is a variant of concrete, textured and dyed to give the illusion of patterns resembling bricks, slate, stone, and wood. Available in a multitude of finishes, it serves as a cheaper and sustainable alternative to bricks or natural stone. Stamped concrete is also a pleasant change from laying lackluster, traditional concrete in your living spaces.
Stamped or decorative concrete is usually tinted by two procedures, either by the use of integral coloring method, or by using a color hardener. In the former technique, color is mixed into the concrete to give it a natural hue, while in the latter, color is sprayed on top of concrete during the early stages of the finishing process.
Stamped concrete has mid-range compressive strength, usually between 3000 to 4000 psi, and lasts at least 25 years if well maintained. It is very versatile, and can be used for various decorative or practical uses in homes. Popular uses of stamped concrete include flooring options for pool sides, outdoor kitchens, specialty gardens, counter-tops, stone walls, driveways, and patios.
How to Incorporate Stamped Concrete into Your House
Stamped concrete is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also practical and affordable. Here are a few popular designs of stamped concrete that can be used in a residential setting:
Antique
Antique stamped concrete design includes realistic shadows, making it the perfect choice for spaces with a traditional feel. Extra hues splashed across the stamped flooring also highlight the texture and accents on concrete, enhancing the depth of the room.
Cobblestone
Cobblestone stamped concrete mimics the natural hand cut design of cobblestones, cleverly imitating the pattern of irregular and rounded corners found in nature. This design is formed with a random interlocking pattern, making it suitable for outdoor staircases or entryways.
Wood
Faux wood stamped concrete captures the feel and texture of wooden planks – down to the tree rings present in the design. Ideal for maintaining the thermal mass of the flooring, it is a great option for both indoor and outdoor spaces.
Red Brick
The rose hued design of red brick stamped concrete perfectly imitates the appearance of bricks. Hence, this stamped concrete design creates the same look and feel of real red bricks, and is ideal for entryways and driveways.
Sandstone
This light colored, large stone design is perfect for adding a touch of elegance and charm to patios and pool sides. With a random interlocking design copied from real hand-cut sandstone, this design elevates the visual appeal of your flooring. Its faux rough texture and smooth edge, make it suitable for outdoor use as well.
Why Choose Stamped Concrete
Stamped concrete provides various benefits to home owners – here are some reasons you should opt for stamped concrete in your home:
Easy Maintenance
The surface of stamped concrete is even, smooth, and easy to walk on. All this makes it cheaper to maintain. Cleaning stamped concrete also requires minimal effort, especially since a protective seal guards it from damage.
A mild soap is sufficient to keep the surface in pristine condition. It is also less likely to crack, thereby preventing weeds from sprouting from the ground.
However, stamped concrete is not immune to erosion caused by extended exposure to oil spills, harsh chemicals, hot tires, or sharp objects. Hence, you will need to reseal the surface every once in a while.
Versatility and Designs
With a variety of designs, hues, and shapes, stamped concrete can mimic natural wood and stone, making design possibilities endless. It can be easily added to any living space to amplify the look and feel.
For both indoors or outdoors, stamped concrete can be molded into any texture, color, finish, and print of choice. In fact, it has a high mobility factor, and can be hand-blended on site.
Cost Effective
Although the cost may depend on the nature of materials and coloring style being used, stamped concrete is a cheaper alternative to natural wood and stone. It allows home owners the flexibility to enhance their living space on a budget.
The installation of stamped concrete is also stress-free, especially as the mixture can be poured and stamped over surfaces without requiring extraction of existing flooring. This saves on the cost of having to pull up old flooring.
A simple single colored design can cost as low as $8 per square foot, while hand painted premium varieties can cost up to $18 per square foot. In contrast, using natural stone, slate or even marble could cost up to a whopping $28 per square foot!
Durable
Stamped concrete is a great choice for home owners looking for aesthetically pleasing designs and a durable material. This is because stamped concrete has a denser surface than conventional concrete, due to the use of color hardeners which form protective layers. This greatly elongates the life of stamped concrete.
Do you know? Well maintained stamped concrete flooring can last up to 25 years!
A coat of sealers on top also defends against natural wear and tear or harsh chemicals such as those found in industrial strength cleaning products.
Stamped concrete is a suitable choice for homeowners looking to experiment with style. Whether chosen for style or practical purposes, stamped concrete provides home owners a wide range of choice, within an affordable budget!
To learn more about concrete and how you can use it to beautify your interiors and exteriors, contact us today.