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Textured rollers provide the look of a stone surface,
while a grinder (top right) helps create convincing grout
lines. Rubber form liners (above) give an authentic look
to the edges of the concrete steps (left). |
Skins are much thinner than
mats, so they can be curled at the edges to fit into tight spots.
They don't mate because they're designed to produce random textures
rather than repeating patterns. Concrete
is usually stamped after it has been colored and floated and
is firm enough to bear weight. The color can be integral or
applied as color hardener. Texture is applied by laying the
stamps on the concrete and tamping them into the surface.
The stamps are lifted, and the process is repeated over the
entire slab. Release agents are often applied to prevent the
stamps from sticking and pulling up the surface layer when
they're removed. Using a pigmented release agent allows you
to put additional colors on the slab.
According to the manufacturers, color
hardener should be troweled or floated into the surface before
stamping, but I've seen concrete stamped right after the color
hardener was applied.
Stenciling. Stenciling is a simple
way to put brick or stone patterns on the surface of concrete
slabs. Unlike pattern stamping, stenciling allows you to produce
a wide array of patterns with little in the way of specialized
equipment.
Stencils come in rolls and are made
by punching openings through long strips of water-resistant
paper. Strips of stencil are placed on freshly floated concrete
and embedded in the surface by rolling. Next, color hardener
is applied and floated into the slab. Texture can be added
by embossing the surface with textured cylinders that look
like oversized paint rollers. When the concrete is hard enough
to bear weight, the stencils are pulled up and discarded.
The exposed areas will be colored and textured, but the parts
that were under the stencil will be the same color as the
original mix. The uncolored areas look like grout joints and
are slightly lower than the areas that are colored.
Stencils come in a variety of
patterns, including ashlar, cobble, brick, and flagstone.
Borders and curved patterns such as circles and fishscales
are also available, and it's possible to order custom-made
stencils for logos and the like. Cost varies by pattern, but
most stencils go for 30¢ to 60¢ per square foot.
According to the manufacturers, stenciling takes less skill
than stamping and is easily learned by anyone who knows how
to do standard flatwork.
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