Why experience matters

Once or twice a year I get a phone call about a stamped concrete project done by another contractor that went wrong that "needs to be fixed". Usually, the job was attempted by a contractor who was trying to do stamped concrete for the first, second, or third time.

When considering who you choose to contact when looking to hire a concrete company, it is important to consider what type of concrete contractor you are hiring.   Concrete companies that are geared toward doing concrete walls and foundations are probably going to be the best at those types of projects.  Concrete paving projects like commercial parking lots and gas stations are normally done best by small commercial contractors.  When it comes to decorative concrete projects like concrete staining or stamped concrete, it is usually done best by an experienced decorative concrete company. Experienced decorative concrete contractors will be able to identify your needs and figure out how to best achieve that result from having hundreds of hours executing similar projects in the past .

Many concrete companies may advertise stamped concrete services. The simple fact is that if they don't spend a lot of time doing that type of work, it's very hard to truly become an expert at it.

Stamped concrete is a highly specialized service that has a significant learning curve and there are many nuances that only stamped concrete companies that have completed hundreds of stamped concrete projects will know. That experience makes a huge difference between a project looking good or bad.  A small mistake can ruin the entire look of the project. Concrete stamping is a skill set that is learned over time and is executed using specialized tools and techniques, combined with artistry. Being able to solve problems while the concrete is wet is a crucial skill for a great final product.

Many times, an inexperienced contractor will bid a project for less money because he does not realize the time, steps and manpower necessary to do the job correctly.

Superior results for stamped concrete begin well before the concrete arrives. Having enough manpower on site and having all the products necessary may seem obvious for all trades but it is absolutely essential for a product that gets hard in a matter of hours. After the concrete arrives, the need to for experience continues. An inexperienced contractor may mix the integral color incorrectly in the truck, either by using the wrong quantity or by not ensuring that the color is mixed thoroughly, leaving streaks and uneven color. 

Some projects require more than one load of concrete. Without the proper mixing technique, an inexperienced contractor may end up with a large color contrast between pours.

Use of admixtures to delay the set of concrete from one load to another is often necessary to make sure all concrete remains soft enough to stamp throughout the project. Knowing how fast a crew can stamp is crucial for using these admixtures and it is piece of the puzzle only experience brings.

Once the concrete is poured, finishing the concrete completely in a continuous manner is necessary.  Returning to finish edges or missed areas will result in a slab with different coloration in those areas.  Concrete finished by an inexperienced decorative concrete

contractor may show where the release powder was thrown out, then finished in. Not only is this bad for the concrete but it creates a very odd and visible look.  The concrete is darker in those areas, and it is obvious every place the finish was applied.

Even after the concrete has been placed, experience becomes essential when washing the stamped concrete off. Dark areas must be scrubbed, and sometimes lighter areas must be antiqued to achieve as consistent of a look as possible.