Stamped Concrete in Evergreen Park With a Natural Stone Look

Stamped concrete is concrete that has been colored and pressed with a texture while it is still workable, so the finished surface resembles slate, flagstone, cobblestone or brick. Because it is poured as one slab, there are no individual pieces to shift and no sand joints for weeds. How is it done? The foundation of good stamped work is the same as any slab: excavation to firm soil, compacted stone, forms set to a slope that carries water away and reinforcement inside the concrete. Then the decorative steps begin. Color is either mixed into the concrete or spread over the surface. A release agent is applied, which keeps the stamping mats from sticking and leaves a second shade in the recesses for depth. When the concrete has firmed to just the right point, the crew lays the mats and presses the pattern in, working edges and corners by hand with smaller tools so the texture reaches the forms. The joints follow grout lines in the pattern, so they vanish into it. Once the slab has cured, the excess release is washed off and a sealer is applied to finish the job, deepening the color and helping the surface resist water and stains. Before all of this, we bring samples so you can compare patterns and colors against your house in natural light.