Stamped concrete is the highest-skill finish work we do, and the difference between a stamped slab that looks like real stone and one that looks like a fake patio mat comes down to three things: the right pattern for the space, the right two-tone color, and the cure-and-seal step that most contractors short-change.
Patterns we pour in the Umpqua Valley
We carry a working set of patterns that fit Oregon homes. Slate, ashlar, random stone, wood plank, brick. If you have seen a pattern somewhere else, bring us a photo and we will tell you straight whether it makes sense for your space.
- Random stone and ashlar slate, the most-requested pattern
- Wood plank for modern farmhouse exteriors
- European fan for circular patios and courtyards
- Running bond brick and herringbone for traditional homes
- Saw-cut tile and border treatments to combine with broom finish
Color, the part most contractors get wrong
Integral color goes in the mix and runs all the way through the slab. Surface color powder (the release agent) gives the secondary tone that makes the pattern read as stone instead of stamped concrete. Skip the release powder and you get a flat, single-color slab with a pattern on it. We do not skip it.
Sealing and maintenance
Stamped concrete in the Pacific Northwest needs a quality acrylic or urethane sealer applied after curing, then re-sealed every two to three years to keep the color and resist the mildew that comes with our wet shoulder seasons. We seal every stamped pour we do and tell you exactly when to re-seal.