Stamped Concrete: Examining The Pros And Cons

Having a good exterior is just as important as have a good interior for your house. Now when we talk about the exterior area, we are also talking about the extra yard space and patio that you have. A good outdoor living and sitting area can enhance the overall look and appeal of your home. Now you can choose to keep your entire outdoor area either completely green by keeping it natural, or you can turn it gray by getting stones, steps, and floors made. However, the best option is to opt for a mixture of the two. Having some concrete and sitting area and then having it be surrounded by greenery makes for a great combination and is something a lot of homeowners opt for. 

Now, when we are talking about transforming our outdoor living area you want to make sure that you always go for the right choice in materials or else you will end up having to spend money on repairs and replacements sooner than you would have liked. Yes, wood and stone make for great accompaniments to your outdoor living setup, but it is wiser to avoid going for either of the two completely. 

Concrete is a commonly used material and is considered to be one of the foundations of buildings and structures, and it can be incorporated well into your outdoor setup as well. Of course, you might find yourself feeling reluctant to use standard concrete since it does not look visually appealing on its own. However, by opting for stamped concrete you can change the way your concrete looks. You can always consult with your outdoor contractors and landscaping professionals for more information regarding the use of stamped concrete for your outdoor living space. In case you happen to require concrete contractors, you can always reach out to the experts at Hoosier Concrete Contractors and book a consultation where you can address your concerns. 

If you are not familiar with stamped concrete, then like the name suggests, it is essentially concrete that is stamped in to mimic the look of stone, slate, brick, and tile, etc. Stamped concrete also goes by the names of imprinted and textured concrete. Stamped concrete can make for a good addition to your patio and outdoor living area and if you still find yourself with questions, you can keep on reading below for the pros and cons. 

The Pros

• The best thing about stamped concrete is the fact that it is very affordable. Concrete in general is cheap and readily available, and the same rules apply to its stamp variant. You will find that stamped concrete is more affordable than other options like tile, bricks, stones, etc. So if you are a little tight on money then stamped concrete is the way to go. 
• Stamped concrete will not be limited by design pattern or color. It can mimic various materials and it can do in a wide color palette, which gives you even more choices to choose from. 
• Stamped concrete does not require a lot of maintenance, in fact, you barely have to do any sort of upkeep once you have got the sealant applied to it. 
• Concrete is known for being a durable material and stamped concrete happens to be just the same.  It will be able to deal with weather changes and it will last a long time. 
• Stamped concrete can mimic the look of other materials well so it will help to bring some life into your outdoor setup and experience. 

The Cons

• Stamped concrete can be tricky to deal with, and it is not something you should be handling on your own if you do not have the knowledge or experience of handling it. This means that you cannot turn this into a DIY project and you will have to hire an experienced professional and have them do the job for you. 
• While we have mentioned that stamped concrete does not require maintenance, it still needs a regular coat of sealant on it. You might have to get the sealant re-applied once a year depending on how quickly your previous coat begins to wear out. Apart from the use of sealant you also have to give it a quick wipe over and clean now and then. 
• Stamped concrete can begin to crack, and it can crack because of several reasons like sudden external trauma, bad mixing, and then cracks created by the changes in temperature and pressure throughout the year. 
• Once stamped concrete does get damaged, repairs can get tricky and it would not be easy to isolate and fix just a small area. So repair work for stamped concrete will always be extensive and will cost you a decent amount of money depending on the extent of the damage and how much concrete needs to be removed and redone.