Some useful construction tips to stamp & pour a colored concrete patio

This construction video tutorial from Odell Complete Concrete youtube channel, provides brief information for starting up your next concrete patio project.

In this video tutorial you will learn how to pour and stamp colored concrete toward a concrete patio that is made with Belgium slate texture mats.



The video will demonstrate the normal method for grading exact levels for concrete, forms and placing the concrete down whereas applying all the typical tools in completing the concrete work.



Various steps are associated with stamping concrete which should be executed in quickest possible time. While going to employ a decorative coating or stain to solidified concrete, the whole stamping process should be completed prior to arrange the fresh concrete. To complete the job efficiently, the contractors should be knowledgeable, organized, and well prepared. To deal with the large projects, it is necessary to diagram the stamping layout beforehand, organize the stamping tools and prepare to start the work, and ensure there are sufficient labor at hand for accomplishing the job.



Some vital tips for stamping

• If a new stamp pattern is applied for the first time, it is suggested to use the tools on compacted sand prior to employ them in concrete.
• Get rid of pattern repetition, particularly with patterns that duplicate natural materials like stone or slate. A random composition will appear as more pragmatic.
• To obtain superior result, just precondition or coat your stamp mats with some of the release agent to have extra bond breaking to produce a clean imprint.
• To get a random antiquing outcome, employ a very small amount of powdered release to the surface of the concrete and then spray the liquid release above the top of it. The liquid liquefies the light layer of powder to drop fine accents once the surface is stamped.



• Ensure the release agent is compressed efficiently into the concrete by the stamp so that it can’t be washed off the surface devoid of leaving the required color.
• Occasionally examine the alignment of the stamps each pair of rows with a string line as stamps may shift as much as 1/4 inch per row, specifically on sloped areas.
• On various occasions, you have to stamp up alongside a vertical surface, like a wall or a column. Utilize a floppy mat and texturing to bend or flex up against these surfaces.
• Verify that the person walking on and moving the stamps is wearing clean boots or work shoes without containing any pebbles, mud, or other debris. Unavoidably, these contaminants will turn out on top of the stamps and drop onto the fresh concrete surface while elevating the stamps.
• While utilizing a powdered release, significant time can be saved by sawcutting the contraction joints prior to eliminate the release. It facilitates you to take out the release residue and the dust generated from sawing in one step.

Importance of Concrete sealants and hardeners

This educational construction video tutorial is specifically created for home owner, business owner, contractor, finisher as well as improving your knowledge about concrete.

This video is presented by John, co-founder of Concrete Genius. In this video John covers some vital topics in concrete construction which range from type of concrete sealant applied in concrete, concrete hardener and concrete densifiers.

Concrete should sealed with a powerful sealer as concrete is an absorbent material that quickly consumes liquids. In freeze-thaw weathers, the enlargement of frozen liquids can devastate the surface of unsealed concrete. Besides, oil, salt, fertilizer, and other household chemicals can affect the color as well as impair the unsealed concrete.



One can apply various sealers independently with the use of simple tools, like a paint roller of pump-up sprayer. These comprise of acrylic-resin sealers, reactive penetrating sealers, 50%-solids epoxies and 50%-solids urethanes. To apply high-quality sealers like 100%-solids epoxies, polyaspartic urethanes and polyureas, professional guidance is necessary with special tools and application techniques.

Concrete Sealant

Concrete hardener can enhance the abrasion and chemical resistance in concrete and considerably make the strength of the concrete surface. Besides, it solidifies the concrete and reduces dusting and pitting.