Driveways - Decorative Concrete Driveway - Stamped Concrete Driveways by the Certified Decorative Concrete Driveways Installers at Concrete Forever.com

At Concrete Forever.com Architectural Concrete Contractors our custom stamped concrete driveway
are comprised of 564 lbs of pure portland cement per cubic yard, which translates into the highest strength
concrete mix for residential use in Texas. The concrete (or specifically, the cement in it) needs moisture to
hydrate and cure (harden). When concrete dries, it actually stops getting stronger. Concrete with too little water
may be dry but is not fully reacted. The properties of such a concrete would be less than that of a wet concrete.
The reaction of water with the cement in concrete is extremely important to its properties and reactions may
continue for many years.

How do you color the Concrete? Once we've perfected our custom decorative concrete driveway or patio
mix, we then pour the concrete, a powdered dye (color) is mixed onto the surface and/or an admixture mixed all
the way through the wet concrete and trowelled in. Then a second color (also known as releasing agent) is cast
on the surface. Before the concrete hardens a set of rubber molds (stamps) are used to imprint textures into its
hydrating surface. The result will look like slate, cobblestone, brick, marble, or many other materials.

Why is the base so important?   Concrete is a mirror image of what it is poured over. (Or the quality thereof)
Without an adequate base (usually 2-4 inches of compacted rock, sand, gravel or road base) Decorative
Concrete Driveways can settle, separate and develop uneven surfaces.

Can stamped concrete (decorative concrete) be found in commercial settings? Absolutely, stamped
concrete Driveways, Patios and Parking lots can be found throughout the world and at many distinguished
hotels, casinos, resorts, etc. A famous example would be Disney land and DisneyWorld.

Why is decorative concrete (stamped concrete) more expensive than traditional concrete?   Recently, I
have received inquiries into the cost of decorative cement work in comparison to traditional concrete work. Let
me describe the two concepts... Traditional cement driveways (also called concrete driveways ) is what you
would find around older homes. Examples would be a plain smooth or brushed finish concrete driveway, curb or
sidewalk. Rarely were there any designs unless a creative driveway contractor carved shapes into the concrete
while it was still wet. The process for installing this type of concrete is a fairly simple one, perfected by many...
Not so perfected by many as well...

Under the best circumstances it involves little ground preparation, setting forms and the pour. Finishing would
require some tamping, floating, troweling and usually brooming the surface. Although this can be tedious work it
is normally a simple process when completed by an experienced concrete driveway contractor or concrete patio
contractor.

Decorative concrete driveways (Concrete Stamping for driveways) is a relatively new concept but really
goes back many years. You may have seen a concrete sidewalk leading into a business or mall that looked like
a rustic stone path with one or more colors. This design is becoming very popular because it is so
complimentary of landscapes and homes. Many people are even having decorative concrete finishes installed
in rooms of their homes. Kitchens are among the most common requests.

Properly finished decorative concrete driveways can look very elegant or rustic depending on what look is
desired. While decorative concrete is the most desired these days it is also the most difficult finish to perfect
and requires much more preparation, finishing, and skill. Our Installers go through a rigorous certification
process that involves a minimum 12 week training period and in many cases on the job training to perfect their
skills for many months

When the contractor actually gets to the point where the about to be stamped concrete driveway, patio or
walkway can be stamped (process to apply the decorative appearance) time is crucial. There are very limited
amounts of time for the various applications and any mistakes can leave a finish that the homeowner is not
satisfied with. Stamping Concrete is an art and I only know one other stamped concrete artisan (besides my
crew and myself) in a 200 mile radius from Houston that have perfected this ancient art. ( We trained at the
same institute)

Will decorative concrete or stamped concrete last as long as well as regular concrete?   Our product is
5-6" thick, (driveways are 6"-7" thick and patios are 5" or more) 4,000-4,500 psi concrete. Our Costly Integral
micro-fiber reinforcement and silicates transform normal ready mix concrete into an engineered concrete
composite that tends to flex and bend rather than break, split or crack. We match or exceed the normal
requirements for a strong finish that withstands years of normal use. Over the years Our Founder has
experimented with different proportions of tri-calcium silicate and bi-calcium silicate in terms of performance
variables, one important property is the compressive strength. In the fall of 2001, he developed a mathematical
model relating cement particle-size distribution to strength development. Assuming that the depth of the hydrated
layer is independent of particle diameter (which also is assumed tacitly in our cement hydration model) and
proportional to the square root of time, he was able to quantitatively predict the effects of particle-size
distribution on strength evolution. More recently, The Founder of AAA Affordable Concrete Contractors also
showed that cement fineness is an important factor influencing compressive strength, with phase compositions
becoming significant at later ages. In his study, he also revolutionized a mathematical formula for the prediction
of the compressive strength development of standard ASTM C 10914 mortar in relation to the compressive
strength required for residential use in Houston, Texas.

Simply put, When our concrete arrives on site we modify the mixture depending on the humidity, temperature,
soil conditions and application type to minimize concrete cracking and potential sedimentary displacement that
may occur with an improperly mixed batch of concrete. (these factors are never taken into consideration at the
concrete plant)

After the concrete is poured and finished the job is not complete. Clean up for this type of finish is more
difficult because of the various colors that are involved. After a day or so the contractor will have to return to the
job site to pressure wash the excess color/release for the perfect finish and look, then resin-coat and chemically
stain the concrete. Simply put decorative concrete is a much more labor-intensive process but most feel it is
worth the cost because of the unique, prestigious and elegant look.

How is decorative concrete colored? The Technicians at Concrete Forever.com use two methods to color
decorative concrete. Using the first method, color is spread onto the surface then worked into the surface using
hand tools. After the color is applied and worked into the fresh cement, a release/hardener is applied.
The release/hardener serves a duel purpose. It adds a tremendous amount of strength and it highlights and acts
as a second color, which gives the stamped pattern and overall color a defining and distinguished look. The
second method used is when the color is mixed directly inside the concrete at the concrete plant and mixed
inside the truck. The concrete is the colored throughout from the top to the bottom instead of just ¼” into the
surface.

Due to the wide array of stamped concrete patterns textures, impressions and colors available, and
the cost of stamped concrete driveways or any kind of decorative concrete in relation to the natural materials
installation, the choice of stamped concrete is becoming more popular and frequent.

Colors and patterns for houston stamped concrete are often chosen to blend with other stone or tile
elements at the residence. Complex designs incorporating steps, courtyards, and fountains can be achieved.
Stamped concrete can also be blended with other decorative concrete elements such as exposed aggregate
finishes and acid-etch staining.
It wasn’t long ago when deciding on a custom driveway or patio material was easy: asphalt or concrete. Today,
the concrete choice has expanded to include a multitude of decorative concrete options.
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