How to Design a Stunning Stamped Concrete Patio, Pool Deck, Walkway, or Entryway
If you’ve Googled images of stamped concrete or searched Pinterest for concrete finishes, you’ll notice that it is also called decorative, patterned, or imprinted concrete. Whatever name it’s been given, it’s all the same thing. Rubber stamps are imprinted on freshly poured concrete. Once the concrete is poured and stamped, any highlighting or antiquing techniques are applied before it hardens. Stamped concrete can be made to mimic a variety of natural and manmade surfaces. If stamped concrete is done properly, it’s hard to tell that you’re not looking at real wood, stone, cobblestones, or bricks.
This article is meant for anyone who is interested in a:
Stamped Concrete Patio
Stamped Concrete Pool Deck
Stamped Concrete Walkway or Entryway
Stamped Concrete Driveway
So Many Choices
Whether you’re building a brand new outdoor living space or pouring a concrete overlay an existing one, creating a beautiful stamped concrete surface is a lot like baking a cake. You have to choose what ingredients you want to use to achieve the right flavor, texture, color, and overall look. When creating a stunning concrete patio or outdoor living space, it’s pretty much the same thing. If you combine all of the ingredients in the right way, the end result can be stunning. But, with so many pattern and color options, many people don’t know where to start when making design decisions. We’re here to give you a few helpful tips.
Consider the Style of Your Home and Outdoor Space
Your stamped concrete project can be designed to work with the specific architectural style of your home. For example, a brick, orchard stone, or wood plank stamped concrete design using earth tone colors would work well with a rustic or farm-style home. A classic traditional home might call for a slate or natural stone stamp design. In other words, take your current home’s look and feel into consideration before you make your pattern and color choices.
STEP 1 – CHOOSE A PATTERN OR TEXTURE
Your stamped concrete patio, pool deck, walkway, entryway, or driveway can be made to look like elements found in nature for a lot less cost than building with the real material.
STEP 2 – CHOOSE AN INTEGRAL BASE COLOR
Just as there are many concrete stamp patterns, there is also a wide array of stamped concrete integral colors to choose from. The integral color refers to the color that makes up the base of your concrete area. Color pigment is added to fresh concrete which penetrates the entire slab and won’t wear away or fade after time. The three most common integral colors of stamped concrete are shades of gray, brown, and brick red.
STEP 3 – CHOOSE AN ACCENT COLOR
Many people choose to have an accent color (or several) layered on top of the surface of their integral base color. This accent color, sometimes called antiquing, is applied to the base color after it has dried. This enhances the pattern or texture you’ve chosen as the color slips into the low areas and creases in the concrete’s surface to give the concrete pattern depth and also contributes to the realistic look of whatever material you are trying to mimic by bringing out the small details created by the stamp.
Conclusion
Stamped concrete is a handcrafted art form done by skilled craftsmen. If you’re having trouble deciding on what type of stamped concrete design you want, the experienced masons at Gruttadaurio Masonry will meet with you and help you select the perfect pattern and color choices for your particular project. Give us a call at (315) 310-7193 and let’s get started.