Best Practices for the First 30 Days with New Concrete

The first 30 days with new concrete are significant ones. How a homeowner takes care of a freshly laid driveway, patio, walkway, or otherwise sets the tone for the life of this outdoor element. With the following care tips and attention to detail, motivated homeowners can keep any stamped concrete installation strong, beautiful, and lasting for years.

Start with Stamped Concrete

When you need to upgrade a driveway, patio, or walkway, plenty of materials can make this project come to life. Many homeowners, however, opt for stamped concrete over traditional materials.

Stamped concrete is a beautiful, versatile option embossed with the preferred pattern, texture, and color to complement or blend in with your home. The finished product can resemble stone, slate, brick, wood, or other materials, meaning decorative choice is only as limited as the imagination.

Advantages of stamped concrete include the following:

Longevity: Stamped concrete can last for decades and still look new, especially when the first 30 days with new concrete are careful and deliberate.
Damage-resistant: This material is difficult to damage, but should a problem occur the concrete is also easy to repair without disturbing the unique pattern.
Continuity: The design continuity is present to create a cohesive full project that looks good anywhere outside your home.
Drainage: It’s awful to have a driveway or concrete area with puddles and other water problems. Stamped concrete can be designed with slopes and drainage to help stop thtese issues.
Temperature regulation: If it’s cold outside, the driveway won’t be freezing. If it’s hot, you can walk across it in bare feet without getting a burn.
Non-slip: The textures of stamped concrete offer great traction and reduce the danger of slips and falls.

Ready a Care Routine

To ensure the longevity of stamped concrete, proper care is critical. If you do not feel like you’re ready to commit to regular maintenance of this type of cement, have a conversation with your contractor about your habits, lifestyle, and what material might be the best for your family’s outdoor space.

Many people are surprised to discover that stamped concrete requires a little extra maintenance in the first 30 days with new concrete to minimize scratches and stains, prevent chips, reduce seal disintegration, and help the material settle.