Stamped Concrete

Tips from Real-Estate-Agents.com

by Kathy Maynard, reprinted courtesy of ServiceMagic.com

Q: You had an article about decks--wooden ones. My deck and surrounding patios are stamped (Bomanite) concrete in a Spanish tile pattern. The driveway is in the fishtail pattern.

We are researching how to bring back the original terra cotta color and then seal it with a sealer that won't be slippery to walk on when it rains.

A: Thanks for your inquiry. According to the stamped concrete expert I contacted, it is possible to strip the old sealer off the stamped concrete and clean it with chemicals to restore the original color. Most experienced concrete contractors should be able to handle this for you, even if they don't have experience with stamping because it is really a finishing issue.

However, sealer is going to be slippery when wet. One way to alleviate this is to put some fine sand in a gunney sack and sprinkle it sparsely over freshly applied sealer. Then once that first coat of sealer is dry, apply another topcoat of sealer over the sand. Done correctly, the sand should be almost imperceptible.

To locate a reliable concrete contractor, visit ServiceMagic.com and join as a member (it's free). Fill out a service request to be matched you with the ideal service professional in your area.

Good luck!

Kathy Maynard

Stamped Concrete Walls

There are three ways to create stamped concrete walls. The first would be to stamp the walls flat and tilt them up, bolting them into a poured concrete footing. The second would be mixing color hardener with an acrylic bonding agent and water to form a paste, which is then applied to the face of the wall, much like plaster. The third way is to apply the stamps (molds) to the inside of the formwork, pour colored concrete, vibrate and remove the formwork once the concrete is cured.

-- Tips courtesy of Service Magic