Stamped Concrete, Exposed Aggregate & Concrete Sealing
What is Stamped Concrete/Exposed Aggregate?
Stamped concrete is basically the same as regular concrete, but with a bit more pizzazz thrown in.
What makes Stamped Concrete so Expensive?
Simply put; The labor. Once the concrete is poured and finished, depending on the size of the job, there are about 5 more arduous steps left to complete. Think about that, 5 more steps generally means 5 times the amount of work.
Exposed Aggregate
Exposed aggregate is similar to concrete, though not entirely the same. The finishing process is also different. Once the concrete has been poured and finished, a special chemical is poured over the concrete, covered with a tarp and left for about a day. The tarp is removed and the concrete is pressure washed to reveal a top layer of pea stone gravel, hence called Exposed Aggregate.
Concrete Sealing
Sealing concrete is essential to having a good looking and long lasting stamped concrete/exposed concrete. While it is slightly more expensive than sealing an asphalt driveway, it is worth the price. Concrete sealing is not the same as staining the concrete, as seen in the picture above, it doesn’t change the color as much as it restores the vibrance and contrast of the existing colors.
