Author: Sundek of PA

Sundek of PA is a decorative concrete company serving Philadelphia and the surrounding areas, offering a wide range of top services and products to help you.

Stamped Concrete Pros & Cons: Weighing Your Options

Decorative concrete has become a national sensation because of the many options it presents despite being an economical alternative to other flooring materials. But just like any story, there is a good and bad side to it. It is important for homeowners and commercial establishments to know these two sides to give them the proper expectation and to help them decide whether concrete stamping is the thing for their home or commercial space.

stamped concrete driveway Philadelphia

Pros of Stamping Concrete:

  • Better Aesthetics – It is a known fact that stamped concrete offers a large selection of patterns and designs to choose from. You can make it look like natural stone, brick, pavers, cobblestone, wood, and more. You can even have a custom design made especially for you. You can even choose the colors that would go on it and make it complement the exterior theme of your home.
  • Easy Installation – Compared to the material it is being substituted for, concrete overlays are a lot easier to install because you just pour and spread the overlay mixture and stamping can begin. Other flooring materials, on the other, need to be installed piece by piece. Some may even require a complete concrete overhaul.
  • Economical – In a nutshell, stamped overlays are a lot more affordable than natural stone, brick, and even pavers. Although it does look expensive, it costs less and lasts long enough to make the investment worthwhile.
  • Low Maintenance – If you ever had real stone or bricks installed before, you know how weeds can grow in between units and how they can become uneven as time goes by. This will never be an issue with a stamped surface because it is one continuous piece of concrete overlay. Not even joints or scorelines could make it high maintenance.

Cons of Stamped Concrete:

  • Simulates Aesthetics Only – Concrete stamp patterns may make an overlay resemble an expensive flooring material but it can only mimic its visual features, not its durability or any other good features. Natural stone is known to be very durable and a stamped version can not replicate that.
  • Cracks – Just like most concrete, it is prone to cracking. However, the cracking often depends on the old concrete slab it is applied on. If there is an existing movement or crack under the overlay, then it is most likely for the top layer to crack at one point. But if the old concrete is in good condition and the subgrade has been properly prepared and compacted, cracks could be minimized.
  • Color Retouching – There may come a time that the custom stains or colors on a stamped concrete surface would fade away, chip off, or peel. It can be retouched but do not expect the contractor to get it exactly as it was. There may be quite a difference but then it isn’t a total disadvantage if it still looks decorative.

Originally Published Here: Stamped Concrete Pros & Cons: Weighing Your Options

Stamped Concrete Pros & Cons: Weighing Your Options

Decorative concrete has become a national sensation because of the many options it presents despite being an economical alternative to other flooring materials. But just like any story, there is a good and bad side to it. It is important for homeowners and commercial establishments to know these two sides to give them the proper expectation and to help them decide whether concrete stamping is the thing for their home or commercial space.

stamped concrete driveway Philadelphia

Pros of Stamping Concrete:

  • Better Aesthetics – It is a known fact that stamped concrete offers a large selection of patterns and designs to choose from. You can make it look like natural stone, brick, pavers, cobblestone, wood, and more. You can even have a custom design made especially for you. You can even choose the colors that would go on it and make it complement the exterior theme of your home.
  • Easy Installation – Compared to the material it is being substituted for, concrete overlays are a lot easier to install because you just pour and spread the overlay mixture and stamping can begin. Other flooring materials, on the other, need to be installed piece by piece. Some may even require a complete concrete overhaul.
  • Economical – In a nutshell, stamped overlays are a lot more affordable than natural stone, brick, and even pavers. Although it does look expensive, it costs less and lasts long enough to make the investment worthwhile.
  • Low Maintenance – If you ever had real stone or bricks installed before, you know how weeds can grow in between units and how they can become uneven as time goes by. This will never be an issue with a stamped surface because it is one continuous piece of concrete overlay. Not even joints or scorelines could make it high maintenance.

Cons of Stamped Concrete:

  • Simulates Aesthetics Only – Concrete stamp patterns may make an overlay resemble an expensive flooring material but it can only mimic its visual features, not its durability or any other good features. Natural stone is known to be very durable and a stamped version can not replicate that.
  • Cracks – Just like most concrete, it is prone to cracking. However, the cracking often depends on the old concrete slab it is applied on. If there is an existing movement or crack under the overlay, then it is most likely for the top layer to crack at one point. But if the old concrete is in good condition and the subgrade has been properly prepared and compacted, cracks could be minimized.
  • Color Retouching – There may come a time that the custom stains or colors on a stamped concrete surface would fade away, chip off, or peel. It can be retouched but do not expect the contractor to get it exactly as it was. There may be quite a difference but then it isn’t a total disadvantage if it still looks decorative.

Originally Published Here: Stamped Concrete Pros & Cons: Weighing Your Options

Understanding the Products & Process of Colored Concrete

Colored concrete has been a decorative design choice for architects and concrete installers since the early 1950’s and continues to grow in popularity today, leading all other market segments of concrete construction. In addition to residential driveways and commercial building entrances, contractors now use colored concrete for patios, swimming pools, basement floors, walkways, garden walls and flowerbed edging, as well as pavers, masonry blocks and stucco. The ideas are limited to one’s imagination.

To become an expert in producing beautifully colored decorative concrete projects requires an understanding of:

color theory
different processes for coloring concrete
use of each process
factors affecting the final color
1. Integrally Colored Concrete

Integrally colored concrete uses natural or synthetically manufactured iron oxide pigments. Available in powder, liquid and granular form, the smaller iron oxide pigment particles cover the larger cement particles when added to any cement-based mix to create color that is uniform throughout the concrete. Iron oxide comes in four colors: black, red, brown and yellow. The blending together of these basic colors produces a variety of other colors. Cobalt and chromium oxide are used for blue and green pigments.

Integrally colored concrete will not fade over time, but will change due to efflorescence, pollution, dirt and traffic. Typically a good cleaning and sealing will bring back the original color.

Natural Versus Synthetic Pigment

Chemically the same — iron oxides in both are lightfast and UV stable
Natural pigments are less expensive
Limited color range for natural pigments versus more color options with synthetic
Natural pigments produce warmer colors — synthetic pigments produce vibrant colors
Natural pigments do not have the tinting strength of synthetics
Water to Cement Ratio

Critical factor in producing consistent color
Added water permanently changes concrete, typically lightening the final color
Use a surface evaporative control agent instead of water to slow the hydration of concrete in hot windy conditions, or if the concrete surface is drying out
Gray Cement Versus White Cement

Use color samples instead of color charts to determine desired color
The gray color of cement mixes with the pigment to make the final concrete color, usually darker earth-tone shades
Not all shades of gray concrete are consistent — maintaining batch-to-batch consistency by using gray cement from the same lot
Proper curing is required to produce consistent color — use a matching colored curing compound or color wax that are non-yellowing, blush resistant or for decorative concrete
To obtain a truer or lighter color, use white cement, a more expensive option
How to Save Concrete with Inconsistent Color

Hide color with one or two coats of a tinted sealer
Higher solids water-based sealers are more opaque
Lower solids solvent-based sealers are higher in gloss level
Change slightly varying color with a translucent water-based penetrating stain or a topical acrylic stain
Fix inconsistent color with a polymer modified thin section topping, available in any color that can be finished to look like concrete

2. Acid Stained Concrete

Acid-based chemical stains permeate concrete to give it a rich, luxurious color with luminous, translucent tones that can’t be achieved with any other process. Depending on the surface they are applied to and the application techniques used, acid stained concrete can look like polished marble, tanned leather, natural stone or stained wood.

Concrete stains are semi-transparent, soaking into existing concrete to enhance what’s already there, and will not hide cracks, blemishes, texture issues or an underlying color. Proper surface preparation is critical for full color penetration, including the cleaning of dirt, grease, glues, coatings, curing membranes and sealers.

Acid-Based Chemical Stains Versus Water-Based Acrylics

Acid stains react chemically with the concrete, etching the surface, a permanent color won’t fade, chip off or peel away
Acid stains are ideal for producing earthy tones like tans, browns, terra cottas and soft blue-greens
Water-based acrylic stains also penetrate the concrete to produce permanent color and are available in dozens of standard colors, offering an alternative to earth tones
Both can be applied to new or old and plain or integrally-colored concrete
Both are ideal for revitalizing dull, lackluster surfaces
Both have excellent UV stability and wear resistance
Both can be used on interior or exterior concrete

3. Concrete Dyes

Concrete dyes do not react chemically with concrete, so the color that you see applied is the finished color. Tinting strength and penetration will vary depending on the characteristics of the concrete. Because concrete dyes are available in almost any color, they can expand a project’s color palette, creating subtle effects not possible with other coloring agents, or fix problems with acid stain applications.

Dyes can be used with acid stains to provide accent colors, color layering and depth. Used alone, they can be layered for an artistic variegated effect. Dyes are either water-based or solvent-based, in solution, powder or liquid concentrates.

Water-Based Dyes:

come in mix-yourself and ready-mixed basic colors
can be diluted for less saturated color
create a pastel, watercolor look, ideal for color layering
create faux stone or weathered stone effects
evaporate slowly and will leave rings if allowed to pool

Solvent-Based Dyes:

come in primary and secondary colors, mixed to form other colors
can be diluted for less saturated color
produce bold colors when used at full strength
create dramatic looks
evaporate rapidly and require a deft touch
can be hazardous to work with; prevent vapors from igniting
Concrete dyes behave differently than stains because they don’t bond to concrete. They can be applied like stains using airless sprayers, brushes, rollers and sponges, but an understanding of color theory is required to mix colors successfully. Dyes are not as resistant to ultraviolet light as acid stains and are more like to wash away, so they require a UV sealer when used indoors or outdoors.

 

See Full Article Here:https://runyonsurfaceprep.wordpress.com/2014/09/03/understanding-the-products-process-of-colored-concrete/