If you are considering using stamped concrete on your next landscaping project, you should bone up on the subject a bit before jumping into the mud (concrete guy’s term for ‘concrete’).
The very best way to do this is to go to the World of Concrete in Las Vegas. I
know. You are laughing. World of Concrete? Yes. It is the leading edge of everything that has to do with
concrete and you will be amazed. I
invited my sister to attend one year when it was held in Orlando, nearer her
Florida home. She was blown away
by the counter tops, the stamped patios, and the color. She was going to just drop into the
show and do her little brother a favor by saying how nice it was. She stayed the whole day. Over 75,000 people go to this trade
show each year. If it is new and
has to do with concrete, it is happening at the World of Concrete.
Stamped concrete is a project for advanced
do-it-yourselfers. You really need
to talk with contractors, get prices, weigh the savings vs. the risks and labor
of doing it yourself.
I can’t vouch for or recommend the company, but I have to
send you to http://www.concreteforever.com/
to see a wonderful gallery of concrete stamping and color jobs. Just click on the thumbnails to see
more detail.
The following two articles should give you the confidence to
attempt a stamped concrete job:
http://www.articlesbase.com/diy-articles/stamping-concretedo-it-yourself-and-save-money-468720.html (if you use a cart-away
trailer rather than a readymix truck, you have better control over your
color) and http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080330130224AAN30RShttp://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080330130224AAN30RS (not too much info but a good
start at some of the things you need to do)
This article covers everything from stamped concrete to
overlays to color to stencils:
http://www.extremehowto.com/xh/article.asp?article_id=60181
One good resource with a nice chapter on stamped concrete is
from Sunset, “Complete Masonry Book.”
Look for it at your library or you can get it at most booksellers and
home improvement stores (Amazon link - http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Masonry-Techniques-Decorative-Materials/dp/0376015950/ref=si3_rdr_bb_product)
What ever you do, be sure to look at lots of stamped concrete projects, find out who did them and talk with those people. Done right, stamped concrete looks great and lasts as well as any surface.