I'm a concrete contractor and I speak to many people out estimating and looking at work with my business. Many times people think stamped concrete is totally unique of regular concrete and it's an entirely different product. That is somewhat true, however the basics of both are the same and they are usually specified the same, when used in exactly the same application. For instance, if stamped concrete or regular concrete is used for a driveway, they'll generally function as same thickness and also have the same design strength.


Regular concrete is your everyday concrete used in sidewalks, driveways, patios, roads, and anytime regular pavement is constructed. It's generally positioned on some form of gravel or native soil base that's compacted. The area is then formed with lumber or manufactured forms. Reinforcement is usually installed in the base which is usually rebar or wire mesh. The concrete is specified to a desired thickness that is created for its application. For instance, a driveway that handles car and light trucks is usually poured four inches thick. The concrete mix is also specified that is usually a 4000 psi mix within areas which have severe winters. That is the strength the concrete reaches in 28 days. Concrete is placed, striked off, bull floated then gets a non slip finish, just like a broom. After that, the concrete is cured with either water and burlap, or the easy way with a membrane forming curing compound.

Stamped concrete is quite similarly placed to regular concrete. Generally all of the steps are the same except the finishing steps. The concrete is also colored that is usually put into the mix. It can also be colored with a color hardener, but most contractors use an intrinsic color. After bull floating is when things the process changes with stamped concrete. Some contractors go one step further and trowel the concrete to obtain the concrete really smooth. bulk epoxy resin use air entrained concrete inside our area because of the harsh winters, which isn't said to be troweled so we usually just obtain it smooth as possible with a magnesium bull float. Following the concrete sets to a desired hardness, the concrete is imprinted with the rubber like stamps. A release agent that is an antiquing colored release, or liquid release agent is used to help keep the stamps from sticking to the concrete. Some contractors will put curing paper on the concrete to cure it till the next day when the concrete will be washed and sealed with a higher gloss sealer that is also a membrane forming cure.

So to summarize stamped and regular, there is not much difference between the two other than what they look like on the surface. Many people they think stamped concrete is just not as durable as regular concrete and that is just not the case. The only thing that could ensure it is less durable may be the texture of the stamped concrete. In an environment that gets snow, stamped concrete can get damaged by snow removal equipment like snow plows.