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Stamped Concrete DIY

Is it a do-it-yourself project?

By Chris Sullivan, ConcreteNetwork.com Columnist

Artesano Decorative Concrete Gaithersburg, MD

Artesano Decorative Concrete in Gaithersburg, MD

The short answer is NO! Before I go any further I have to confess that I am a weekend warrior, and I love doing projects around the house. There is not much I won't try to tackle myself, so making the statement that stamped concrete is NOT a DIY project does not come lightly from my lips. One of the main reasons I preach that stamped concrete needs to be left to the professionals is that you only get one chance to get it right. Concrete, especially stamped concrete, is unforgiving and expensive in terms of materials and time. Unlike carpentry, plumbing, or electrical work, concrete does not come apart, and you can't come back tomorrow to finish if you run out of time or patience.

Here are four reasons why stamping concrete is not a do-it-yourself project:

Concrete Basics
Concrete Placement
Concrete Color Issues
The Process of Stamping Concrete

For those DIY'ers brave enough to still want to try stamping concrete themselves after reading my attempts to talk you out of it...the job is not done. In fact, the curing, cleaning and sealing processes typically cause more issues then the previous steps outlined above. I am all about the bottom line, and the bottom line is that stamped concrete is not a DIY-friendly practice. Don't be fooled that by watching a 5-minute "how to" DVD or video, or checking out the many tutorials on YouTube.com, that you are prepared and ready to stamp, as these provide just enough information to really get you in trouble. My advice is plain and simple: stamped concrete is better left to the professionals.

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