Stamped Concrete with James Belville. Decorative concrete has become popular in the decorative concrete industry. The ability to mold, cast or stamp concrete into almost any desired shape or texture, is appealing to the residential and commercial property owner. Concrete Secrets Stamped Concrete instructional videos and dvds incorporate the latest in 3 - Dimensional texture stamping concrete mat patterns, colored concrete hardeners and release agents on a 1100 sq. ft steel reinforced stamped concrete driveway. This Decorative concrete video can also be used in stamping concrete patios or slabs. Step by step instruction how to Set grade, Form setting, dirt grading, compaction, expansion placement ordering concrete, pouring concrete, rodding, tamping, bull floating, edging adding colored concrete hardeners, adding, release agent imprinting texture mats, saw cutting control joints, calking control joints, dust proofing, eliminating oil spots, sealing decorative concrete, stamped concrete, add the wet look. Concrete Secrets Stamped Concrete videos and dvds, provides you with all the decorative concrete how to concrete information to install decorative concrete driveways, sidewalks, patios or slabs Driveways, sidewalks, patio, slab, concrete finishing, concrete tools, decorative concrete stamp, pouring concrete, pour concrete, with maximum color, durability and strength. Cement past, aggregate, sand and water make up the receipe. Stamped concrete patios and stamped concrete driveway, steps and pools using concrete stamp patterns, color hardener and colored release are exciting stamped concrete ideas using colored hardener in dry or liquid form. Colored hardener very often stains concrete surrounding decorative rock landscape so precaution is needed to contain the spread of color, by keeping areas around the project protected, precautions are needed from dry shake stamped concrete coloring. Adding color hardener into the Ready-mix truck at the plant or job site will greatly reduce the spread of unwanted staining. Working a color hardener in the concrete surface by broadcasting two thirds of the recommended amount over the area, then work the color by floating, bull float and mag float, followed by the remaining amount color hardener is a preferred concrete practice. A liquid colored hardener can be sprayed, then worked into the concrete mix. Using a liquid hardener, broadcasting color workability to surface area is increased. Stamped concrete color combination can be used to dramatically impact an architectural look of any stamped concrete driveway, stamped concrete sidewalk, stamped concrete patio, concrete slab, entry walk or pool deck. Set time before stamping concrete can be reduced or accelerated. Soil moisture content, water to cement ratio, humidity, wind, atmospheric temperature, slab thickness, mix design, finishing techniques are all set time factors. The amount of time imprinting stamp pattern increases when: soil moisture content increases, humidity increases, wind decreases, atmospheric temperature decreases, slab thickness increases, water to cement ratio decreases and plastersizer ratio to concrete mix. (Plastersizer effects color pigment, refer to use of plastersizer with color pigment product data sheet). Concrete stamping tools are purchased or rented in full sets of eight with one floppy matt. Floppy mats are manipulated around corners, columns and forms imprinting stamp pattern design. Texture mats are just that, texture. Stamping tool texture mats are randomly placed next to each stamp mat then stamped using a tamp to imprint texture. Stamped concrete combines colored concrete, texture and expression to any desired area around the home or business. Stamped concrete expression of any area around the home or business, done correctly will enhance the value, not to mention buzz from family and friends. Combining color hardener with stamp patterns and colored release agent which is used to antique concrete. Stamp patterns and grout lines add depth and definition to concrete around the home or business and is why stamped concrete has become so popular. Color charts for color hardener are available. Colored hardener is worked in the top matrix of the concrete slab by broadcasting or adding it to the concrete truck to be mixed. (Notify Ready-Mix plant if color will be added at job site). Color release agent is used to darken grout lines, antique the stamped concrete slab and release the stamp, keeping the stamping tool from sticking. If antiquing is not needed for the stamped concrete project, a clear release liquid called Bubble Gum is applied to the stamping tool and concrete surface making the stamp tool stick resistant. Stamping tools should be applied to a concrete surface when concrete holds your body wieght while standing on the stamp tool. After incorporating color, edging and floating, connect each stamp tool as close as possible to each other while tamping in the imprint.

• published: 10 Jan 2011
• views: 217488
• author: David Lee