Stamped & Decorative Concrete

Beauty Meets Durability

You love the look of natural stone or brick pavers, but you're concerned about the cost and maintenance. That's exactly why stamped decorative concrete exists. We can create the appearance of almost any material, from cobblestone to slate to wood planks, using specially designed stamps and coloring techniques.

At KeenCraft Corona Concrete, we've been installing stamped decorative concrete in Corona since 2024. The technology has improved dramatically in recent years. Modern stamping techniques and color hardeners create incredibly realistic results that can fool even experienced contractors at first glance.

Why Homeowners Choose Stamped Concrete

Stamped concrete offers several advantages over natural stone or pavers:

• •Cost savings: Typically 40-60% less expensive than installing real stone or quality pavers, yet achieving a similar visual effect.
• •Lower maintenance: No individual pieces to shift, settle, or need releveling. Weeds won't grow between joints like they can with pavers.
• •Seamless surface: Provides a smooth, even walking surface that's safer and easier to maintain than uneven natural stone.
• •Unlimited design options: Combine multiple patterns, integrate borders, or create custom color combinations that wouldn't be practical with real materials.

That said, stamped concrete isn't maintenance-free. You'll need to reseal it every 2-3 years to maintain the color and protect the surface. But that's far less work than maintaining pavers or natural stone installations.

Popular Patterns and Where to Use Them

Driveways

Stamped concrete driveways can dramatically boost your home's curb appeal. Popular patterns include cobblestone, ashlar slate, and random stone. We recommend earth-tone colors like tan, gray, or charcoal that complement most home styles and hide tire marks better than lighter colors.

Patios

For patios, we often use larger slate or flagstone patterns that create an elegant, natural look. Wood plank patterns are trendy right now, especially for covered outdoor living areas where the stamped concrete provides a wood appearance without the warping or weathering concerns.

Walkways and Entryways

Smaller patterns like running bond brick or European cobblestone work beautifully for walkways. We can integrate borders or accent bands to define edges and add visual interest. For front entryways, contrasting colors and detailed patterns create an impressive first impression.

How We Create Stamped Concrete

Stamped concrete requires expertise and careful timing. Here's our process:

First, we prepare the base exactly as we would for any concrete slab: proper excavation, compacted base material, and correct grading. Then we pour the concrete and bring it to the right consistency for stamping.

While the concrete is still workable, we broadcast color hardener across the surface. This integrates color throughout the top layer rather than just sitting on the surface. Next, we apply a release agent that adds secondary color variation and prevents the stamps from sticking.

The actual stamping is where skill matters most. We press textured stamp mats into the concrete to create the pattern, carefully aligning each section and adjusting pressure to achieve consistent texture depth. Timing is critical: too early and the stamps sink too deep, too late and we can't achieve good texture detail.

After the concrete cures for several days, we wash off the release agent, cut control joints, and apply a sealer that enhances the color and protects the surface. The result is a beautiful, durable surface that will last for decades with proper care.