For new driveways, it may be necessary to make the site ready for concrete pouring. Trees and other rocks will be removed. Uneven ground will also be leveled. Contractors will carefully grade the driveway if terrain is naturally sloped between the house and the street to ensure drainage. Site preparation may require heavy equipment, which will incur additional costs.
Concrete design is done on site so you can control the design and color. Concrete layers may include cement coloring in order to achieve the desired look.
Stamped concrete looks extremely realistic, as stamping mats can be molded from the same materials that they are intended to duplicate. Concrete contractors commonly use integral or dry shake color along with surface-applied colors to create natural-looking variations. Stamped concrete can look better than real concrete, as it doesn't harbor moss, weeds, or any other growth, and won't rot if you mimic wood planking.
Concrete isn’t the most attractive material for building, but color-etching and stamping can be done. These decorative options require more upkeep and are less durable than plain concrete.
The process of removing an old driveway requires a different type of site preparation in order to make a concrete driveway. Disrepair driveways will need to be taken apart and hauled to a dump. This big job can be done quickly by a driveway contractor who usually charges $1-$4 per square foot.
A 10-foot-by-20-foot single-car driveway could cost $800 to $1600. But a larger driveway measuring 24 by 24 feet would run on average between $2,300 to $4,000. Concrete stamped with decorative designs will result in higher costs. Concrete driveways average 4 inches thick. But, heavy vehicles and equipment may require you to increase the thickness. Concrete is usually sold by the cubic yard. Concrete is typically priced at $125-$150 per yard.
The process of removing an old driveway requires a different type of site preparation in order to make a concrete driveway. Disrepair driveways will need to be taken apart and hauled to a dump. This big job can be done quickly by a driveway contractor who usually charges $1-$4 per square foot.
As can be seen in the Pantheon, the ancient Romans used simple concrete stamping techniques. Concrete companies that received bids from the government for public works projects in the late nineteenth century and early twentieth centuries used concrete stamps with the company name and the year of concrete pouring. This created a visible historical record about when sidewalks were constructed.
Concrete prices can vary depending on the concrete type you choose. While most driveways come in plain gray concrete, it is possible to make the driveway more attractive by adding a stained or stamped finish. These decorative features can be expensive but are a nice feature. A stained driveway is $6-12 per square foot; a stamped driveway is $8-15
A border around the edges of a concrete driveway can add style and flair to it. To enhance the concrete driveway's appearance, bricks and paving stones are great options for borders. A brick or stone border can be added for $6-$15 per linear foot. These borders can be installed by most driveway contractors, or sub-contracted to bricklayers.
Stamped or textured concrete, also called imprinted concrete, is a way to replicate natural stones like brick, tile, brick, and slate. This concrete is great for beautifying patios and driveways as well as pool decks and pools. It is an affordable paving choice that requires less upkeep than other materials.
It is not uncommon for new driveways to require extra work in order to prepare the ground for concrete pouring. Trees, rocks, and uneven ground will all be removed. If the terrain slopes naturally from the house to a street, the contractor will grade the driveway to ensure drainage. The cost of any heavy equipment needed during site preparation is extra.
Stamped concrete can last for decades if it is properly installed and maintained. Stamped concrete can last longer than standard concrete in some cases. A sealer is applied to stamped concrete by contractors to protect it against wear and abrasion.
Concrete producers started to experiment with modern decorative concrete techniques back in the 1890s. Brad Bowman, the "father" modern concrete stamping, was a pioneer in developing and patenting concrete techniques that looked like non-concrete materials such as flagstone or wood. He used wooden platform stamped that could imprint multiple pieces simultaneously.