I'm a concrete contractor and I speak to many people out estimating and considering work for my business. Often people think stamped concrete is completely different than regular concrete and it's a completely different product. This is somewhat true, but the basics of the two are the same plus they are usually specified the same, when used in the same application. For instance, if stamped concrete or regular concrete can be used for a driveway, they'll generally be the same thickness and have exactly the same design strength.
Regular concrete can be your everyday concrete found in sidewalks, driveways, patios, roads, and anytime regular pavement is constructed. Get more info 's generally positioned on some form of gravel or native soil base that's compacted. The area is then formed with lumber or manufactured forms. Reinforcement is usually installed in the base that is usually rebar or wire mesh. The concrete is specified to a desired thickness that is created for its application. For example, a driveway that handles car and light trucks is usually poured four inches thick. The concrete mix can be specified that is usually a 4000 psi mix within areas which have severe winters. That is the strength the concrete reaches in 28 days. Concrete is positioned, striked off, bull floated then gets a non slip finish, just like a broom. From then on, the concrete is cured with either water and burlap, or the easy way with a membrane forming curing compound.
Stamped concrete is very similarly placed to regular concrete. Generally all the steps will be the same except the finishing steps. The concrete can be colored which is usually added to the mix. It is also colored with a color hardener, but most contractors use an intrinsic color. After bull floating is when things the procedure changes with stamped concrete. Some contractors go one step further and trowel the concrete to obtain the concrete really smooth. We use air entrained concrete inside our area due to harsh winters, which isn't said to be troweled so we usually just obtain it smooth as possible with a magnesium bull float. Following the concrete sets to a desired hardness, the concrete is imprinted with the rubber like stamps. A release agent that is an antiquing colored release, or liquid release agent can be used to keep the stamps from sticking with the concrete. Some contractors will put curing paper on the concrete to cure it till the next day when the concrete will undoubtedly be washed and sealed with a higher gloss sealer that is also a membrane forming cure.
So to conclude stamped and regular, there isn't much difference between the two other than what they appear to be on the surface. Lots of people they think stamped concrete is simply not as durable as regular concrete and that's just not the case. The thing that could ensure it is less durable may be the texture of the stamped concrete. In an environment that gets snow, stamped concrete can get damaged by snow removal equipment like snow plows.