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If you are searching for the perfect surface for your patio, driveway, or garden area in Ripley that is low maintenance, highly customisable, and cost-effective, pattern imprinted concrete could be the perfect choice for you. Here at Terraform Driveways in County Ripley, we can help you find the perfect pattern imprinted concrete patio that will suit your property and your personality.
Pattern imprinted concrete, also known as stamped concrete, is a decorative concrete surface solution that is suitable for a wide range of outdoor areas, including large areas. It is created by installing a full-depth concrete slab that is coloured and textured while the concrete is wet. The patterns often mimic block paving and other types of stonework and there is a wide range of colour options.
First of all, the area is excavated to around eight inches thick with an MOT Type 1 aggregate, which is then compacted to four inches. The concrete is then poured onto the sub-base.
The freshly poured concrete is then treated with the desired colour. This is done by applying a colour hardener to the wet concrete. This is a powdery mixture that achieves the dual-job of creating the colour within the concrete and hardening it at the same time. After the colour hardener, an antique release agent is often added. This is a secondary colour that is used to create the realistic colour patterning you would expect from real stone.
Then the patterning can begin. A patterned mat is laid over the wet concrete. This mat can be in a wide variety of different designs that can mimic many different types of brick and stonework. The pattern imprinted concrete surface is then left to dry after which it can be used.
There is a lot of choice when it comes to the patterned mats for a concrete imprinted patterned driveway or patio.
This is a very popular choice for pattern imprinted concrete. It is designed to mimic ashlar stone, so has square and rectangular stone shapes in varying sizes and in an interlocking pattern.
The colour is often grey with darker highlights to mimic the ashlar stone texture.
This is another popular option and the pattern is designed to mimic regular brickwork in a herringbone arrangement. It is often done in grey but can also be in reds, browns, or buffs.
The pattern of this pattern imprinted concrete creates a surface that looks just like the traditional cobblestones. It can be suitable for concrete driveways because, although it looks like cobblestones, it doesn't have the associated uneven surface.
These cobblestones can be in London, Old English, farmyard styles, and more.
Crazy paving hasn't completely gone out of fashion. Pattern imprinted concrete can recreate this look, with a random pattern of irregularly sized stone shapes. This can create a fun look for a driveway, patio, or even the paths around your property.
This pattern can make the entrance to your property, concrete driveway, or patio area really stand out. It is an eye-catching pattern with repeating fans of stones.
You can bring a taste of Europe to your pattern imprinted concrete driveway or patio with a Spanish tile pattern. These are often terracotta-coloured, grey, or a variety of colours and it can be a striking look for your property.
Believe it or not, but you can actually get stamped concrete patterns that can mimic the look of timber decking but without all of the maintenance. This tends to have exposed wood grain patterns running the length of the plank edges and in wood colours. This is a great option to create a low-maintenance patio that still looks warm and inviting.
There is a wide range of colours available for pattern imprinted concrete driveways and patios. You can choose greys, pinks, reds, blues, and browns in several different shades. For a full list of the colours we offer, get in touch for a quote.
When it comes to concrete driveways or concrete patios for your property, there is a tendency to think that they might look boring or uninspired. The major benefit of pattern imprinted concrete driveways or patios is that the finished texture is attractive and interesting, but there are also some other benefits as well.
Pattern imprinted decorative concrete driveways and patios are very easy to maintain and this wouldn't always be the cause if you were to use the natural products that the pattern is imitating.
To maintain patterned concrete patios, driveways or paths, you really only need to sweep and/or pressure wash them. You will also need to apply a sealant once every two to four years to make sure that the colour stays true.
It is also generally cheaper than other high-cost surface options. This is partly due to the lower labour costs because it takes less time, and partly due to concrete cost compared to the cost of other materials. And they are relatively durable and long-lasting, especially considering their lower cost.
There is a wide selection of colour choices and different textures and patterns for you to choose from. You can make your garden or new driveway completely your own by having complete control over exactly what you want the final finished surface to look like.
If you feel like adding some artificial grass later on to give your garden a green feel, this can easily be installed over a pattern imprinted concrete driveway or patio. And you will not need to worry about moss or weeds growing through the grass.
Patterned concrete driveways and patios are often compared to block paving because they do create a similar look. If you're trying to make a decision between which option is right for you, let's take a look at how they measure up.
A pattern imprinted concrete driveway or garden area will generally cost less than the equivalent square metres created in authentic materials, such as brick, slate, stone, or wood. The materials themselves will cost more than concrete, and the labour costs will be higher because blocked paving tends to take more time than patterned concrete driveways or patios.
Both block paving and imprinted concrete driveways and patios are relatively low maintenance and will require mainly sweeping and power washing to keep them clean.
With that being said, both have some other maintenance that will need to be done on top. Imprinted concrete will need to be resealed every two to four years. Whereas with block paving, there is a much greater risk of weed growth between the bricks or stones.
There is much less opportunity for weeds and moss to take hold in concrete simply because there are fewer gaps.
Block paving does generally last longer than imprinted concrete, and that is reflected in the associated high cost. One issue that block paving can have which doesn't happen with pattern imprinted concrete, however, is that the bricks and stones can start to sink and move around, especially on driveways that have heavy vehicles stored on them.
On the other hand, imprinted concrete driveways and patios can be prone to cracking, especially if crack control joints haven't been installed. Crack control joints are planned cracks that are created in the concrete to allow for natural movement, including during the freezing and thawing process, that would otherwise crack the concrete.
The installation process for pattern imprinted concrete driveways, patios, and paths is much simpler and quicker than for block paving. While both require the excavation and creation of a sub-base, this is then filled cement and other aggregates for concrete paving.
Whereas for block paving, the step after the sub base has higher associated labour per square metre because each brick or stone will have to be individually laid. So you can expect minimal disruption from the installation of imprinted concrete in your new driveway or garden.
Block paving is considered to be permeable. This means that when it rains, the moisture will naturally pass through the paving and drain away. Imprinted concrete, on the other hand, isn't naturally permeable. So you would need to have a drainage solution installed on your property to allow the moisture to drain away.
A pattern imprinted concrete driveway or garden patio is relatively difficult to repair when compared to block paving. This is because it is almost impossible to do any patchwork without leaving a trace. Any new concrete that is added will always look at least slightly different to the original installation.
With block paving, on the other hand, the individual bricks, stones, or tiles can be taken up and put back quite easily.
You can achieve similar aesthetics with block paving and pattern imprinted concrete to suit both a new driveway and patio. For block paving, you would need to be able to source the correct bricks or stones in the colour that you want.
For imprinted concrete, you would need to source the correct patterned mat, but you do have easier control over the colours.
Tarmac is made of tar mixed with broken stones. It is a good option for a driveway and places that have heavy traffic because it is a flat surface that has a good amount of grip all year round. It is usually dark but you can have some choice over the colours.
Like imprinted concrete, tarmac is very low maintenance and is unlikely to have outbreaks of weeds or moss. And it does tend to be a cheaper option. It is also one of the most durable surface solutions available.
When it comes to patios, however, tarmac isn't often the ideal solution. This is mainly due to the aesthetics. You have very little choice over different designs and it tends to look quite industrial, which isn't the look many people are going for to suit their patio or the entrance to their property.
Out of the two, imprinted pattern concrete driveways, paths, and patios are better at creating a personalised and interesting look to your house or property.
Do you have a driveway or patio that is crying out for a new look? Get in touch with us today for a free no-obligation quote and we can help you to create the perfect pattern imprinted concrete patio to suit your property and your style. We are an established company who are skilled at installing pattern imprinted concrete driveways, patios, and paths, and we will be able to work with you from start to finish so you can enjoy your new outdoor area in no time.
Again, this will depend on the size of the job. The cost of pattern imprinted concrete is a combination of the cost of the materials and the cost of the labour needed to install them. The cost can also be impacted by other factors, including: