Stamped concrete by Split-Rok Construction, New Jersey's Artistic stamped concrete, colored concrete and patterned concrete contractor Lakewood NJ

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Contact Information:

Contact: Ted Mechnick

Split-Rok Construction
825 Brook Road
Lakewood, New Jersey 08701

Phone: (800) 352-7826
Fax: (732) 730-9548

HOW TO SELECT A STAMPED CONCRETE CONTRACTOR

By Ted Mechnick

Split-Rok Construction Company

Stamped Concrete is a product that can achieve the natural look of stone, brick, slate or cobblestone using colored stamped concrete. Generally these installations can cost 50% less then the conventional application, which would be laying the material in a bed of mortar over a concrete slab.

Today we can create almost the same effect using concrete that has been colored and stamped with the desired impression and once completed can be sealed to keep it looking great for years.

After being in the business of installing concrete for the past 25 years and stamping concrete for 16 years, it has become clear to me that people who are choosing to have stamped concrete installed make their decision to use this product with little or no information and, therefore, are limited in their decision making process.

As in other instances of purchasing decisions there are differing schools of thought as to how to select the best product for the best possible price. Most of us proceed through the decision making process simply by shopping price, talking to friends, reading reports on the item we would like to purchase, etc.

Although these are good ways to feel comfortable about your purchase, they alone are not enough to insure that the stamped concrete that you are going to have installed will be done properly.

In this article I will give you ten guidelines that need to be addressed in selecting a stamped concrete contractor (or in most cases any kind of contractor related to work on your home). These ten items are what I believe will cut your chances dramatically of getting a bad job.

A good stamped concrete job might cost more than a conventional concrete job, but the benefit is the increased value to your home. I know that these guidelines will help you select a qualified Stamped Concrete Contractor. It is my hope that you will use these guidelines to make your selection, so that the stamped concrete you have installed will look and perform as it should for many years to come.

1. ACI CERTIFICATION

Ask the contractor giving you the estimate whether they have an ACI Certification and if so what is their certification number. ACI (American Concrete Institute) is the standard used in the industry to measure the degree of skill a particular concrete contractor has. Generally speaking a contractor with this certification knows the proper way to install concrete in accordance with ACI specifications to insure a good long lasting installation. Architects and engineers are now starting to make the use of ACI Certified contractors a requirement for those persons installing concrete on their projects.

2. WARRANTEE

Ask what type of warrantee you will be given. What does it cover and for how long. A common warrantee is 1-2 years covering defects in workmanship due to poor installation practices. General problems that occur are cracking (which I will address later at length) settling, and pealing. These are directly related to poor installation practices and can be avoided if the contractor you hire is both skilled and knowledgeable in the installation of stamped concrete.

3. HOW LONG IN STAMPED CONCRETE BUSINESS?

Be specific. Ask how long the contractor has been in the Stamped Concrete business. Although I have been in the concrete business for the past 25 years (and I can prove it) I have been stamping concrete for 16 years. My experience installing concrete for 15 Years prior to learning how to correctly stamp concrete helped me understand the process more easily but only experience taught me how to address the different problems associated with stamping concrete.

4. LOOK AT COMPLETED PROJECTS?

You will be spending a good deal of money for your Stamped Concrete patio, driveway, walkway etc. so why not take the time to look at completed projects such as the one you want to install (old and new) so that you can get a better idea how your project will look and how well it will stand the test of time. This is why stamped concrete that is installed properly is renowned for Its ability to withstand the test of time.

5. HOW WILL CONCRETE BE REINFORCED?

To insure that you lessen the chances of cracking it is recommended that reinforcing be used. Wire mesh suspended in the center of the concrete is the typical type of reinforcing used. Although this way of reinforcing will generally prevent a crack from spreading it does not effectively reinforce against a crack from occurring. Reinforcing rods 3/8” or 1/2” in diameter in my opinion are a better way to reinforce since they do more to prevent a crack from happening.

Some stamped concrete contractors are using what is called fiber in the concrete and claim that it will reinforce the same as steel. It is my belief that the best possible installation is one that uses both steel rebar and fiber in the concrete.

6. WHAT STRENGTH CONCRETE WILL BE USED?

The type of concrete to be used and the way it is designed is probably one of the most important aspects of good concrete installations. Typically 4,000 PSI type I concrete is used. There is specific information regarding the placement that is very lengthy to go into but to keep it simple. Concrete should not be poured wet or on extremely hot days. These two
practices do more to reduce the concretes strength and lifespan more than any other improper methods of mixing and pouring.

7. WHAT TYPE OF COLORING METHOD WILL BE USED?

There are two types of coloring methods typically used in stamping concrete. One is cast on surface color hardener, which is what it implies. It is a color with a hardener, which brings your surface strength to approx. 7,000-8,000 PSI. (Pounds per square inch). Since the surface is where the Stamped Concrete has most of its wear occurring it makes sense that this is where you want the most durability.

Benefits of this method:
1. Should a crack occur it can be easily fixed and in most cases fixed in such a way that it cannot be seen.
2. Less fading of color.
3. No color differential of concrete.
4. Additions to concrete are less noticeable.
5. Most of all, this method insures better surface strength.

The other way of coloring is integral coloring. It is my opinion, that although this system is widely used in the concrete industry, it has its problems.

Bad Points:
1. Integral color must be strictly monitored when adding to concrete load .
2. You can mix color in one load of concrete and then on the second or third load be off in the amount of water added, which will give each load a different color.
3. The size of each load being different can cause color differential. These can, by themselves or collectively give each load once dried and cured a different color. This does not happen with color hardener. The biggest problem I have with this method is that you can never repair a flaw successfully since you can’t recreate the same conditions that the initial concrete was poured.

The contractors that use this method claim that if you chip the concrete you will not see the underlying cement but will see colored concrete. This is untrue since along with colored concrete you will see the aggregate (stone) used in the concrete. The concrete chipped due to lack of surface strength, and who wants to look at a chip anyway, when that chip could be corrected if color hardener was used.

8. WHAT WILL BE USED TO PREVENT SLIPPING?

It is now possible to cut down on the slippery nature of Stamped Concrete with the use of slip resistant materials that can be added at the time of sealing. I prefer to use two coats of UV protective sealer one of which contains a slip resistant material. Caution is always needed when walking on any exterior surface but in using these products it’s my belief that slipping is cut down dramatically.

9. HOW WILL CHANCES OF CRACKING BE ADDRESSED?

Although concrete is the best performing product, you can see by what has been explained previously that its not just a matter of pouring and finishing but addressing properly what we know could happen. Excessive water (as stated in Item #6) is one of the greatest causes of cracking. As the water is evaporating from the slab it shrinks and as a result a random crack can occur.

This occurrence should be addressed by controlling the amount of water used and by cutting control joints in the slab in accordance with ACI specifications, which dictates the location that the control joints should be placed in relation to thickness of slab and length and width. Some contractors place physical expansion joints that can detract from the appearance dramatically. It is for this reason I feel that joints should be cut in.

10. WHAT WILL BE THE THICKNESS OF THE CONCRETE SLAB?

My opinion is based on what works and what does not work:

Driveways should be installed in a residential setting 5-6” thick and walks and patios 4” thick. This is a standard to follow, but, thicker slabs may be required where heavy loads are going to be used or ground conditions are not good. Also the use of a 4” compacted gravel base may be required where a clay condition or wet condition is found.

Stamped Concrete can be used in a wide range of applications for walks, driveways, patios, walls, etc. If you have looked at stamped concrete project and thought that it was not so great, you probably were looking at a stamped concrete project that was installed by an under-qualified Stamped Concrete Contactor. Please take the time to shop for the best contactor to do your job.

Concrete Repair & Restoration

Is your concrete dull or faded? Does it need resealing? Do you wish you could repair your worn or damaged stamped concrete? We may be able to bring your concrete "back to life" Call us today for an evaluation.

This homeowner picked the wrong contractor the first time, don't let this happen to you.

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Design Assistance:

We also offer design assistance. If you are out of our service area, you may want to read the information on our "How To Choose a Stamped Concrete Contractor" page. It could be the difference between a great job or a problem. Just click on the "Select A Contractor" Link.

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