Discover four emerging trends in concrete stamping from ConcreteNetwork.com’s new e-book. You’ll also get insights and advice from veteran installers that will help you stay profitable in today’s market.

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Stamp Used: Proline, Old granite seamless cleft stone
Photo: J&H Concrete
Stamp Used: Stampcrete, London cobblestone
Photo: Hyde Concrete
Stamp Used: Brickform, Seamless slate
Photo: Artistic Concrete
Stamping Tools Buyer’s Guide Get tips for selecting and purchasing stamping tools Stamp Used: Proline, Arizona flagstone
Photo: Riverstone Stamped Concrete
Stamp Used: Brickform, ashlar slate
Photo: Concrete Oasis
Stamp Used: Ashlar Slate
Photo: Cornerstone Concrete Designs
Stamp Used: York Stone
Photo: Titan Concrete
Stamp Used: European cobblestone
Photo: Starburst Concrete Design
Stamp Used: Old Granite texture skins
Photo: Hyde Concrete

See more stamped projects in our stamped concrete installation gallery

Stamped concrete is more popular today than ever before, even though the technique originated on the West Coast way back in the 1950s. Why is decorative stamping now all the rage? One of the main reasons is the availability of better concrete stamp mats and concrete texturing tools that produce very realistic results. Many people can't tell the difference between stamped concrete and pricier paving materials such as natural stone, slate, or brick.

Using Concrete Stamps

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Concrete stamps are used to stamp, imprint and texture newly poured concrete. See these different stamp patterns being stamped into concrete and get tips on how to properly used concrete stamps.

If you were to flip through the pages of a decorative concrete history book, you'd probably come across old photos of the first concrete stamps. These stamps were made from cast aluminum and resembled giant cookie cutters with handles attached. Although these early tools were great for imprinting basic brick or stone patterns in fresh concrete, they didn't impart any texture so the results looked unrealistic in comparison with what you can achieve today. Now, most concrete stamps, or stamp mats, are made of durable polyurethane and molded from the real materials they mimic, resulting in stunningly authentic textural effects.

Concrete stamps are manufactured in hundreds of different patterns that mimic the aesthetic qualities of natural stone and other materials. Stamp patterns include brick, slate, flagstone, cobblestone, fieldstone, fan stone and many more. Patterns are commonly made to resemble stone yet these rubber stamps can also be made to resemble wood, rock salt finishes, broom finishes, fossils, or leaves.

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