Stamped Concrete in Parma, OH

Stamped concrete is ordinary concrete that gets colored and pressed with textured mats while it is still workable, leaving the pattern of flagstone, slate, cobblestone or brick. Search data for the area shows people looking specifically for stamped concrete contractors in Parma, and stamping makes sense on a patio or front walk where you want something nicer than plain gray without the cost of laying stone.

It is still concrete underneath

A stamped patio cracks for the same reasons a plain one does: a weak base, missing joints, or water that freezes in the slab. The pattern does not change any of that. So the work under a stamped slab is the same as for any of our pours: compacted stone base, reinforcement, air-entrained concrete and planned control joints. We hide joints in the pattern lines where we can so they blend in.

What winter does to stamped surfaces

The Cleveland Hopkins weather station averages more than 60 inches of snow a year, and winter temperatures swing above and below freezing. Stamped surfaces have more texture than a broom finish, so they hold water and salt in the grooves. Without a good sealer that water freezes in the surface, and the color and texture start to wear. That is why sealing is part of every stamped job we do, and why we recommend resealing every two to three years.

Patterns and colors

• Ashlar slate: rectangular stone shapes, a common choice for patios
• Random flagstone: irregular stones with a natural look
• Cobblestone and brick: good for borders, walkways and driveway bands
• Wood plank: textured boards, used for patio areas next to the house

Color goes in two ways. Integral color is mixed into the concrete so it runs through the slab. Broadcast color hardener goes on the surface for richer color, and a contrasting release agent adds the darker tones in the grooves that make the pattern read like real stone.

Where stamped concrete fits

Patios are the most common use. Front walks and porch landings come next, especially on brick homes where a slate or brick pattern ties into the house. On driveways, many homeowners choose a plain broom-finished field with a stamped border or apron band. That keeps cost down and puts the pattern where it shows without giving cars a large textured surface to grind salt into.

Signs an existing stamped surface needs work

• Color faded to a dull or patchy gray
• Sealer peeling or turning white and cloudy
• Small chips along joint edges or in the grooves
• Cracks that cut across the pattern

Faded or cloudy surfaces can often be cleaned, recolored and resealed. Cracked or sunken stamped slabs usually need the affected sections replaced.

Upkeep

Sweep and rinse regularly. Use a plastic shovel blade in winter and avoid deicing salt the first season. Reseal every two to three years, or sooner if water stops beading on the surface.