Is is possible to make plain and boring concrete into a beautiful creation that reflects your unique tastes and styles. By using the method outlined below, you can make stamped concrete by stamping a design into wet concrete, also called mud. You can even add color to make the designs look more real and to better reflect your tastes.
You can buy concrete stamps or you can make one of your own design. There are a wide range of patterns and designs available but it can be nice to make one of your own so that you get exactly what you want. To start, you must have a sample of the material that you want to make a stamp of. Seal one side of the sample that you want to use for the pattern. The sealant will need to dry before you continue.
Place your sample on your work space in a well ventilated area and use carpentry shims to level it out. Spray the sample with aerosol stamp release to keep the rubber from sticking to it. Mix the liquid rubber according to manufacturers directions and pour it onto the mold in the center. It is better to pour several thin layers rather than one thick layer. When the rubber is set, release it from the mold and it is ready to use.
The area you want to stamp should be as level as is possible. Make sure to clean the area completely. Use a cleaner with a degreasing agent in order to remove any grease that may be on the surface. Allow two or three days for the area to dry before going to the next step.
Put a little liquid bonding agent into a plastic paint pan so that it is easily available. Use a rolling paintbrush to spread the agent evenly all over the area. Give the agent enough time to dry so that it is tacky to the touch.
Prepare some concrete, or mud, and begin to spread it onto the surface with the bonding agent already on it. You want the mud to cover the entire area and to be about three eighths of an inch thick all over it. Use a trowel to make sure that the mud is smooth. Wait about thirty minutes before beginning the next step.
Take your stamp and line it up straight on one corner of the surface. Once it is lined up the way you want it, press it down evenly and steadily into the mud. Pull the stamp up carefully making sure that you do not tip or slide it. Examine the design to make sure it came out correctly and if so continue to stamp the entire area. If it did not come out correctly, use the trowel to smooth the mud back out and try again. Allow the area to dry for three to five days depending on the size once you have finished stamping everywhere you need to stamp.
This method could easily make your plain and boring concrete beautiful and pleasing to the eye. The process is easy to follow and it should not be difficult to find a pattern or design that suits you. This process can help remake any surface into whatever you want it to be.
Love the look but don\’t want the work? Elite Concrete has won back to back HomeStars awards in 2008 and 2009 for their beautiful stamped concrete work. Servicing Toronto, GTA, Markham and Woodbridge – Elite Concrete is there for all your stamped concrete services.