Are you wishing your patio or yard was more inviting and well-designed for relaxing or entertaining?
The driveway is now ready and waiting for concrete pour. This usually involves a crew of several people working fast to fill the forms and finish the surface. To ensure slab movement and breaking at controlled times, the finishing crew must also make sure that sufficient expansion joints are created across the surface. A slab can become fractured randomly from natural settling and shifting if it does not have adequate expansion grooves.
Stamped concrete requires very little upkeep, unless it has been misused. Poured concrete can crack under consistent heavyweight and may wear down. It is not the best option for patios with large pieces of furniture or driveways.
Concrete manufacturers experimented with decorative concrete techniques from the 1890s. Brad Bowman (considered to be the "father” of modern concrete stampeding, invented and patents new methods for making concrete that looks like flagstones and other non-concrete substances in the 1950s. He used wooden stamps with multiple concrete pieces that could be imprinted at once.
Stamped concrete can be combined with other decorative concrete elements including exposed aggregate or acid staining.
Rebar is required for driveways that are expected to bear a large load or to see a lot of traffic. The contractor will place rebar or wire mesh as a grid in the concrete forms. Next, the concrete is poured onto top to create a reinforced surface. Rebar is an additional $1-$3 per square foot because it requires additional labor and materials.
You can also use stamped concrete in combination with other decorative concrete elements like exposed aggregate and acid staining.
Stamped concrete creates the appearance of brick, stone, and wood. Concrete can be poured into molds with varying designs to make any type of pattern.
Concrete prices can vary depending on the concrete type you choose. While most driveways come in plain gray concrete, it is possible to make the driveway more attractive by adding a stained or stamped finish. These decorative features can be expensive but are a nice feature. A stained driveway is $6-12 per square foot; a stamped driveway is $8-15
Floating the concrete is an important part of the final process. The concrete has been poured and smoothed. After that, the finishing crew uses a variety tools to smoothen the concrete's surface. They draw the cement and other fine particles to the surface via capillary action, creating a smoother, more attractive surface. How smooth the surface will be will depend on how much floating there was. This is why it takes a lot of skill to do so. Too much floating can cause the slab to crack and weaken, while too little can leave it with an industrial appearance. A skilled crew can also apply decorative finishes and colors on the slab's surface.
Stamped concrete often has a more slip-resistant surface than conventional concrete because it is textured. But, stamped concrete can be slippery if it has been wetted or if a film forming sealer is applied. You can increase the slip resistance of stamped concrete if it is going to be used in high-traffic areas like an entryway or pool deck. Talk to your contractor if there are any questions.
Concrete driveways can last between 25 and 50 years depending on how well-built they are and how well maintained. A basic concrete driveway that is laid on a gravel foundation by a professional crew can be purchased for $4-10 per square foot. A 16 x 38 driveway will cost you $3900. This is compared to $6 per square feet on the national average. If you choose to have the driveway stamped or colored, these costs could nearly double. You will pay slightly more for the removal of an old slab.
Outdoor driveways should not be made of polished concrete as it is slippery and can cause slippage. Poured concrete driveways come in a variety of finishes, including a broom, textured or an exposed aggregate finish. Installing a plain finish will cost you $6-8 per square foot. However, other basic finishes can be purchased for $8-12.
If you are looking for unique design elements that coordinate, staining your driveway may be an option. Staining can add texture and depth to your concrete and attracts the attention of anyone who sees it. The cost to stain a driveway is approximately $6-$12 per square foot. It can be done while the concrete is still moist.