Decorative Concrete Installation

A concrete patio or sidewalk doesn't have to be plain and drab. You can add a more decorative touch to make it more appealing. Decorative concrete installation generally includes stamping the surface to create a pattern such as brick or stone and staining it to give it a more natural or colorful look. The process for installing decorative concrete is very similar to that of basic concrete installation.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel
• Stakes
• Twine
• Gravel
• Level
• 2-by-4 boards
• Circular saw
• Drill
• 3-inch screws
• Cement
• Concrete releasing agent
• Concrete stamps
• Plastic sheet
• Concrete stain
• Water
• Garden sprayer
• Tape

Instructions

1. Dig out the area where you want to pour the patio or sidewalk. It is best to mark the area with stakes and twine to create straight lines to follow. Add 3 inches to the length and width dimensions of the space to make room for the wood frame that needs to be constructed. Use a flat-edged shovel to dig so that you can create a relatively flat surface. Dig down 4 inches for gravel, plus another 2 for most of the concrete. Some of the surface will be above ground.

2. Spread 4 inches of gravel and compact it. Check it with a level to ensure it is fairly level.

3. Build a frame around the space. Measure and cut 2-by-4s to fit inside the opening. Drill 3-inch screws through the boards at the corners to connect them, and set the frame into the opening.

4. Tap stakes in the ground around the frame. Set the stakes every couple feet on the outside of the frame and use more screws to connect the top of the stakes to the frame.

5. Mix cement as directed and pour it into the frame. Use a trowel to push it around and get it into all the corners. Let it dry for a while. If you prefer not to stain the concrete later, you can mix tint with the cement before it is poured. Follow directions for the tint, and ensure that you don't over-color the mix.

6. Test the cement frequently to determine when to stamp it. Press your finger into the cement. When the imprint no longer fills with water or fills back in with cement, the surface is ready.

7. Spray a concrete releasing agent on the surface to allow you to remove the stamps after they are installed.

8. Press the stamps into the cement, starting in one corner. Press in firmly. Start a second row once the first is in place. After the second is down, pull up the first row and use those stamps to start the next row. Continue until you have stamped the whole surface.

9. Let the surface dry slowly. Cover it with plastic to keep the water from drying too quickly. Let the surface set for a week.

10. Mix a concrete stain with an equal portion of water in a garden sprayer. Spray the stain on the surface in a light mist. Try not to go in a back-and-forth direction to keep it from looking uniform. If you wish, tape the stamp lines before spraying so they aren't stained. This will give the appearance of gaps or grout lines.

References

• Concrete Ideas: Stamped Concrete Overview
• Concrete Ideas: Concrete Patios