Stamped concrete is an old material, concrete with a great new look which makes it far more attractive for many uses today. Stamped concrete can simulate many other materials such as tiles, cobblestones, wood, and stone. It can be impressed with a variety of textures and is then usually colored to further add to the similarity of the material it emulates.

There are circumstances where clearly the most superior material is concrete in terms of strength and durability but is not preferred due to its appearance. A walkway made of concrete can be seamless, not subject to buckling or separation as cobblestones might be, but far less attractive than a stone walkway. Stamped concrete allows the homeowner to have the beautiful walkway they desire but also have the strength of concrete to make it last.

Concrete that has been stamped has been around a long time. It is only recently that advances in coloration and texture imprinting have made it truly a viable choice for the discerning owner and builder. In the past it was a less than satisfactory solution used by those who simply had to have concrete as opposed to other materials and it was quite obviously aesthetically substandard.

Today concrete that has been textured and colored is still concrete with all its strengths but it also is much more pleasing to the eye. This material is beginning to be common not only in businesses but in upscale homes. While a stamped concrete walkway might look similar to another material such as natural stone or cobble stones it has few of the same weaknesses of this material which make frequent repairs necessary.

The stamping process for concrete isn't an easy do it yourself project. It requires specialized equipment and skill and is a multistage affair. While pouring concrete is relatively straight forward and almost anyone can do it, the stamping and texture impression process is almost always strictly a job for the skilled professional.

With this process, concrete is poured as usual but in a very thick layer more than 4 inches. Colors are often added to concrete in the mixer, if not then they are applied after the concrete is poured. A release agent is applied to the surface of poured concrete, this will allow the texture mats to placed on the concrete impressed and then release without removing the concrete.

Once the concrete dries for about 24 hours the release agent must be washed off the surface. After the concrete dries a clear sealant is applied to preserve the color and texture of the stamping. This might seem like a very complicated process and it is, but when durability is a must but aesthetics are also desired there is no substitute or competition for this type of concrete.

While colored and textured concrete can't compete in terms of looks with the real thing such as cobblestones or flagstones it has undeniable advantages. This old material has a fresh and exciting new look thanks to some great advances in recent years. Sometimes improvements in old products are as exciting as brand new materials.