STAMPED CONCRETE PATIOS: HOW-TO, PROS AND CONS, AND MORE

Updated June 21, 2023

Since there are around 30.2 million small businesses in the US, it's crucial that you find creative ways to make your own company stand out.

Stamped concrete patios are a great way to attract customers and other businesses to your brick-and-mortar location.

They're visually appealing and provide an outdoor space for browsing, eating, socializing, and meeting with your employees.

But what are the other benefits of a stamped concrete patio? How can you create these designs on your own?

That's what we're going to talk about here. Read on to learn all about stamped concrete patio designs and how you can express your brand with one!

BENEFITS OF STAMPED CONCRETE PATIOS

Stamped concrete patios have plenty of benefits and very few disadvantages for your business.

EASIER MAINTENANCE

For starters, they are often used as an alternative to other flooring materials such as wood and brick. Because concrete is far easier to maintain than these options, it is much less time-consuming and more cost-efficient.

All you need to do is scrub your concrete surface down periodically. There's no need to fight against wood-eating bugs or decay between the cracks in paver patio bricks. Because of this, a concrete patio is also longer lasting than other patio materials.

INEXPENSIVE INSTALLATION

In addition, stamped concrete flooring is inexpensive both to design and install.

While laying down a wood plank floor or laying out concrete pavers is an arduous and costly process, all you need to do to get a stamped concrete patio is set down some concrete and stamp it to look just the way you want it to.

PROMOTE YOUR BRAND IMAGE

What's more, stamped concrete is an individualistic and fun way to express what your business has to offer. It's unique, much like your products and services.

In other words, because you can stamp concrete in so many different ways, your patio flooring can be expressive while relating closely to your brand messaging.

CONCRETE PATIO IDEAS AND STYLES TO THINK ABOUT

But what styles can help you to express your business's needs and values?

STRAIGHTFORWARD AND SERIOUS

Let's say that you have a clean and no-nonsense brand that's all about being professional and getting things done without a hitch.

There are stamped concrete options that provide this overall feeling to those that enter your business. Geometric patterns such as squares and rectangles show that you're functional and care about efficiency.

ARTISTIC AND CREATIVE

However, if you prefer to show off the fact that your brand is fun and relatable, more organic patterns may be right for you. One of the biggest business applications of stamped concrete patios is in outdoor dining areas at eateries.

If this describes your situation, you'll want a fun and welcoming pattern that people can associate your cafe or restaurant with.

Natural stone patterns are perfect for these situations, as are cobblestone textures that provide cozy country vibes.

MORE IN-DEPTH STAMPED CONCRETE PATIO IDEAS

There are even ways that particularly committed businesses can have their brand name or a simple logo stamped onto their patios.

Note, however, that this is a more expensive and time-consuming process per square foot than the options mentioned earlier!

HOW TO CREATE A STAMPED CONCRETE PATIO

Stamped concrete can usually be broken down into five types: brick, stone, slate, wood, and textured (cobblestone, tile, etc.) But how difficult is it to get a stamped concrete pattern in one of these styles?

Believe it or not, this is actually a relatively simple task! Plus, since the stamping process is the same no matter what type of concrete you want, you only need to learn how to undergo it once.

Most business owners should contact a professional to stamp their patios, but if you're an up-and-coming contractor or ambitious DIYer, here's what you need to know.

LAY DOWN THE BASE CONCRETE

After you decide what sort of stamped concrete you want, you'll need to lay down the base of your patio.

Here's how to do that:

• Prepare the surface by creating forms from wood, metal, or plastic and then laying them out around the desired area in the appropriate configurations.
• Lay out reinforcements that will keep concrete strong and help it to retain its shape.
• Mix the concrete.
• Pour concrete carefully onto the areas you're working on.
• Even out and level the concrete once it's on the ground.

It really is that simple!

ADD YOUR PRIMARY COLOR

There are multiple ways to add color to the base layer of concrete. The first and most common method is to mix coloring into the concrete during the grinding process before pouring. This ensures that the concrete will have a uniform color.

Because the color is part of the concrete's foundation in this scenario, it will never fade or come out. Chipping and scratching the concrete also won't damage the color.

OTHER ALTERNATIVES

Some people prefer to use dry-shake color hardeners since they come in many bright colors. They make the surface denser and less porous but are much more labor-intensive and expensive to lay down.

Additionally, this is only surface-level coloring, so unlike the former option, gray concrete may show through when the outer surface gets scratched or chipped.

You can also stain the concrete after it is in place. If you choose not to stain concrete right now, this is a good way to repair small areas of chipped or faded concrete in the future.

UNDERGO THE STAMPING PROCESS

Concrete should be stamped within an hour or two of pouring for optimal results. This is long enough that the stamp will set, but not so long that it will be too hard to emboss.

At this point, the concrete stamping is pretty straightforward. You or the contractor that you hire will have already made the stamp you need. It will be coated in the secondary color that you've already chosen.

As a business, it's a good idea to make this secondary color the same as your logo, website, or other branding symbols. This will create an even deeper connection between your brand and your company's outdoor living space.

Whichever color you pick will generally be applied to the stamp in the form of a powder or liquid release agent. These products ensure that there will be no sticking of the stamp to the base coat and that the color will be simultaneously subtle and pronounced.

At the time of application, the stamp will be pressed down over the base concrete in order to create the pattern that you want.

Don't forget to use a floor grinder to smooth out everything and seal your concrete when you're finished!

GET STARTED

Now you know the benefits of stamped concrete patios, as well as the steps that experts go through to make these designs a reality. That means it's time to learn more!

Request a demo of our product to see what we have to offer. Onfloor Technologies experts are happy to show you how our concrete-laying machines and tools work so that you can have an easier time stamping your patio.

We also are happy to answer any lingering questions that you have about stamped concrete, so feel free to reach out ASAP!