Saturday, July 6, 2019

Installing Stamped Concrete Patios Macomb

By Brenda Hughes


Whether you're selling your house or just looking to improve it, upgrading your patio or driveway is a great way to do it. The new styles that are available can provide such a nice addition that the work it takes is definitely worth it. There are many steps to take in order to prepare the place before the concrete is poured. Having stamped concrete patios Macomb gives you a long-lasting and beautiful addition that will be the envy of the neighbors.

Staring out the area must be compacted. Construction workers have a machine that is heavy and specifically designed to compact the soil until is almost as hard as cement. This must be done at the start to make sure there is no chance of sinking of any part of the site. The next part is building the forms to hold the mix. These are made from wood and are held in place by stakes. Finally, putting gin reinforcement bars will help keep the mix in place and strengthen it.

Once the preparation is complete it is time to pour the concrete. This process is typically done by contractors depending on the size of the space. The large cement truck will be brought in with enough prepared mix and poured directly into the forms. For a smaller job, they may bring a mobile cement mixer. For doing this yourself, you'll want to be sure to mix enough concrete to get the job done at one time because there is a limited time to do the stamping before it hardens.

Smoothing and finishing the concrete is the next step. With this step, the workers will use various tools to spread the mix out evenly and create a nice smooth surface. For sidewalks and regular driveways, a special tool is used to create the nonslip surface. Those won't be used in this case. This is also the step where coloring the surface will happen.

Before the cement hardens, they must finish stamping. This process has to begin as soon as the smoothing is done. Several large molds will be placed next to each other. The workers will walk on them and use tamping tools to press them down into the mix. One gets moved and they can continue the process until the whole surface is stamped with the pattern.

Once the molds are removed the mixture has to be cured and sealed. This includes making sure there is just enough moisture for the concrete to achieve maximum hardness. The seal they apply will help protect it from the elements. Cold weather, rain, snow, heat, and direct sun exposure can all cause damage and the sealant helps protect it. They can be resealed from time to time for added protection over the years.

At the beginning of the process and throughout, special joints will be placed in order to help keep the patio from eventually cracking. Unlike the forms that will be removed after the mix hardens, these joints will stay in place. They allow the patio to expand and contract in cold and hot weather without cracking or buckling.

Having a nice looking patio adds to a home. The enjoyment of having something that looks so nice makes bar-b-ques and other family events feel great. The value this adds to the home is also a nice point when it's time to sell the house.




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