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Getting a new driveway will give your home a whole new look, and it can also help to increase its value. You can expect a new driveway to add 5% to 10% to your property's price. But it also has to be something that you're happy to live with and something that is reasonable to install. A pattern imprinted concrete driveway (also known as stamped concrete) can tick all of these boxes but it is also important to be aware of the potential problems that can go along with this type of driveway surfacing.
What Is A Pattern Imprinted Concrete Driveway?
Pattern imprinted concrete is most often compared to block paving because it creates a similar look but they differ dramatically in how they are installed. Rather than placing individual blocks, an imprinted concrete driveway is laid all in one go.
First, a layer of concrete is poured into a suitable sub-base to create a flat and even concrete slab. Some colour hardener is applied to give the desired colour effect, and then the pattern is imprinted onto the concrete driveway. This patterning is achieved through the use of a pattern mat. These mats come in a wide variety of different patterns that can give a pattern imprinted concrete driveway pretty much any look that you want.
The Advantages Of Pattern Imprinted Concrete
Before we move on to the potential problems associated with pattern imprinted concrete, it's a good idea to have a reminder of why you would be choosing this driveway surfacing option in the first place.
It Is Quick And Inexpensive To Lay
When compared to other driveway options, such as block paving, pattern imprinted concrete can be much cheaper per square metre and it can also take much less time to lay. This is because, rather than painstakingly laying individual blocks, the imprinted concrete driveway is poured out and laid in one go. So you will end up saving quite a bit on labour costs, which will bring the average cost of your driveway right down.
There Are lots Of Design Choices
There is a huge range of different pattern mats available to create pattern imprinted concrete driveways. So you can pick and choose exactly which look you want just by picking out the pattern that catches your eye. These can include ashlar stone, crazy paving, cobblestones, herringbone brickwork, tiling, slate, and many more.
Not only do you have plenty of choices for the pattern, but you also have complete control over the colour of your imprinted concrete driveway. With this type of driveway surfacing, you can truly customise your driveway to suit your property and your style.
It Is Less Prone To Sagging
A common issue that comes up with block paving is that the blocks can start to sag in areas where weight is regularly applied. With a solid concrete base, as you find with pattern imprinted concrete, this is less likely to happen because there aren't those weak points between the blocks. So your driveway is more likely to be able to withstand the daily rigors that it is subjected to without showing the signs of it.
It Is Easy To Maintain
One of the big pluses of pattern imprinted concrete driveways is just how easy they are to maintain. They are less prone to moss and algae than block paving because there aren't as many gaps for the plants to grow through. To maintain your pattern imprinted concrete you should make sure to sweep any accumulated debris away, power wash it or hose it down when it's dirty, and you will also need to apply gloss sealer every two to four years. The sealer is important because it helps your patterned concrete driveway to maintain its colour.
It Can Be Used In A Variety Of Settings
You aren't just limited to pattern imprinted concrete for your driveway. You can use it for a variety of different settings around your property. It can be used around pools, as a path, or for patios. But do see later where we discuss the slipperiness of patterned concrete for a driveway or patio when compared with other surface options.
The Problems With Pattern Imprinted Concrete
While there are many advantages to installing a pattern imprinted concrete driveway, there are definitely some potential problems and pitfalls that can go along with it as well. Let's take a look at some of the most common pattern imprinted concrete problems.
It Can Be Almost Impossible To Patch Repair
With something like block paving, if any part gets damaged that part alone can be patch repaired without having to touch the rest of the driveway. This isn't the case, however, with pattern imprinted concrete. Because it is all one piece, there is no way to repair one section of the driveway without it ruining the entire look. This is a problem with plain concrete but with patterned concrete it is even harder to match the colour and texture of the surface, as well as the existing pattern. So when you have any damage, the whole driveway will usually need to be re-done.
This can also be a problem if you have any utilities or drainage underneath your driveway that will need to be accessed so that it can be repaired or installed. It will require the entire pattern imprinted concrete driveway to be re-done or you will end up with a very obvious piece of concrete where the work was completed.
It Is Non-Permeable
Permeable driveway surfaces allow rainwater to drain through the surface and into the ground below. Concrete block paving is permeable because of the gaps between the blocks but pattern imprinted concrete is not. This means that, without a proper drainage system, you would be likely to find water pooling on the surface which could lead to other problems such as cracking.
Permeable driveway options are favoured quite heavily, including when it comes to planning permission. You don't usually have to apply for planning permission for a permeable driveway but you will have to for a non-permeable one, like pattern imprinted concrete, if you are using it to create a new driveway. If it is an established old driveway that you are recovering, you may not need to.
If your concrete driveway isn't sloped, you will also need to install a drainage solution to redirect the water away from the driveway surface. This will help to prevent surface water from gathering on your driveway.
It Can Be Prone To Cracking
There is no doubt that concrete is prone to cracking. And this is can be a particular problem for printed concrete driveways because it is one large slab of concrete. To mitigate this, professional installation will usually include crack control joints. Crack control joints are deliberate cracks created in the concrete, usually set along the lines of the pattern so that they are barely noticeable. With these installed, if there is any pressure that would cause cracking, this will go along the crack control joints rather than the rest of the surface so it won't be as obvious that a crack has occurred. It is also important that the sub-base is installed to the correct depth to be able to take the weight of the vehicles that will be above it.
There Is A Chance Of Exposed Aggregate
Pattern imprinted concrete requires that the concrete mix be a perfect consistency. A common issue when it comes to concrete mixes is when there is too much aggregate. This can leave exposed aggregate concrete on the surface. This isn't always a problem depending on what the concrete surface is used for, but for a printed concrete driveway it can be disastrous. There is no way to fix this issue after the fact and it can only be re-done.
It Will Need Regular Resealing
While imprinted concrete driveways are generally low maintenance, they do require some effort to maintain. And one of these is the application of a concrete sealant every two to four years. If the sealant isn't applied regularly, then the colour can deteriorate quite quickly. It will also make the concrete less hard-wearing. You will see in the next section that applying sealant can be a balancing act between maintaining the colour and preventing damage in the concrete and not making the surface too slippery.
It Can Be Slippery
When compared with block paving, imprinted concrete can be very slippery. This is for a couple of different reasons. First, it doesn't have the naturally edges that block paving does so there is less friction for your feet to catch on. Second, the concrete sealer that needs to be applied can create a slippery surface. Third, because imprinted concrete isn't permeable, surface water can be quite common.
Of course, this isn't as much of a problem in the summer months as the winter months because you don't need to be worried about ice in the summer. But even when the surface is just wet and not icy, it can still be slippery.
For this reason, you are much less likely to see a printed concrete patio than you would a driveway. Whereas other concrete flooring, such as block paving, can work well for both a driveway or patio because they are much less slippery than imprinted concrete surfaces.
There Is A Lack Of Long Term Durability
Imprinted concrete just isn't as durable as other driveway (or patio) options, such as block paving. You can expect concrete block paving to last up to 20 years whereas stamped concrete driveways typically last up to 10 years.
This is because they are less able to spread the wait because the stamped concrete surface is one single slab rather than being lots of smaller slabs stuck together. These blocks can move ever so slightly to distribute the weight of your car or because of ground movement underneath without causing any structural damage whereas concrete flooring that is made of a single slab can't do this so the pressure doesn't dissipate so easily, which can lead to damage.
As we have seen, it is also much harder to repair a pattern imprinted driveway than it is a concrete block paving driveway (or patio) so when there is some damage such as a large concrete crack, the entire concrete floor will need to be replaced. This can mean that the initial saving of using patterned concrete over other driveway options gets eaten up by the cost of repair sooner down the line.
There Is A Chance Of Poor Pattern Application
At first it may seem that imprinted concrete surfaces require less skill to install than other driveway options, but don't be fooled. Just because they take less time to lay, that doesn't mean that there is less skill involved for patterned concrete driveways than more time-consuming options.
One of the areas that is most likely to fall down is the application of the pattern. This has to be completely perfect if it is going to result in the desired look for your outdoor space and it is also partly why it isn't a DIY job.
There are a few different areas where pattern application for an imprinted driveway can go wrong. This can include starting in the wrong place which can lead to a situation where a mat is dropped on top of an existing pattern which will then have to be redone. Another issue can be uneven pressure placed on different mats so that the overall pattern isn't uniform. Or the mats might not line up properly so that the existing pattern doesn't seamlessly merge into the next mat that is applied. Problems can also occur where there are parts of the driveway design that can mae the mats difficult to lay, such as steps.
This is why it is vital to ensure that you use a reputable company who can guarantee that your patterned concrete will be applied properly, the first time.
Some People Don't Like Its Appearance
When it comes to concrete problems, you might not immediately think of the aesthetics but it can be a sticking point for a lot of people. While you can achieve a huge variety of looks with pattern imprinted concrete, it is never going to look exactly like the type of paving it is emulating. It is important to think about how important it is to you for your driveway to look as authentic as possible to avoid getting disappointed with the completed work.
You also can't play around with the way your driveway looks after it has been installed. The final pattern and colour is the design that you are going to have to live with unless yuo want to re-do all of the concrete. With other driveway options is can be possible to make little tweaks after the surface has been installed.
There Is A Risk Of Blooming
This isn't a problem with the concrete itself but is instead a problem related to the sealant and it can be a problem both when the driveway is first installed and when it is re-sealed. If moisture is trapped between the sealant and the concrete, they may not adhere to each other properly in that area. Over time, this can lead to patches of discolouration in the concrete where the moisture stopped the sealant being applied properly.
Because of this, you do have to be careful when you choose to re-seal your pattern concrete driveway so that you can be sure of doing it at a time when it isn't wet. Many people choose to re-seal in the summer but, of course, this isn't always possible.
It Can't Be DIY-ed
With many driveway or patio surface options, it is possible to DIY at least some of the installation or repair, if not all of it. This really isn't possible with patterned concrete. Installation really needs to be completed by professionals because it requires specialist tools and the expensive pattern mats, and repairs need to be carried out by professionals for the same reasons.
It Isn't Suitable For Very Heavy Traffic
At first glance it may seem that imprinted concrete would be perfect as a durable surface for roads but it doesn't hold up well to very heavy traffic. This won't matter too much for many domestic properties, but if the driveways have lots of comings or goings or have vehicles that are heavy using them, there is a chance that it will start to crack much more quickly.
Is Imprinted Concrete Worth It?
We have gone through a lot of the problems associated with patterned concrete driveways but that doesn't mean it is always the wrong decision to have one installed. It is still a popular choice for many domestic properties, including driveways and patio areas, and many homeowners who have this type of driveway installed are more than happy with the completed work.
With that being said, knowledge is power and if you are aware going into the project of the types of problems you might encounter, this can help you to plan. For example, many of the issues can be avoided by ensuring that your driveway is installed by a reputable professional who is experiences in these types of driveways.
The Bottom Line
Patterned concrete driveways are a relatively new design that have become increasingly popular, and there are lots of reasons why. They are quick and easy to install and they cost much less than many other types of driveways. You also have a lot of choice over the design. But they do come with their own set of problems. They are difficult to repair, don't last as long as some other choices, and they can be slippery. If, on balance, you think that a patterned concrete driveway is the right choice for you, then making sure that you find the right professional for the job is key to getting the final result that you want.