To the weekend warriors out there setting their eyes on a DIY stamped concrete project, this article is for you. DIY projects can be fulfilling once they are completed successfully. However, there’s a lot of frustration when it comes to difficult improvement projects. One of these difficult projects would be DIY stamped concrete. Don’t take it lightly when we say that getting down and dirty with stamped concrete isn’t an easy task. In this article, we discuss the different challenges present in a DIY stamped concrete project.
Challenge 1: Mistakes are Irreversible
In terms of materials and time, concrete stamping is an unforgiving task for those who aren’t professionals. Unlike other DIY projects like paint jobs and carpentry, you can’t just put it to a halt and simply come back to finish it. The mistakes you make during the process from preparation to actual stamping can’t be corrected unless you completely redo the whole thing. That’s going to waste a lot of your time and money.
Challenge 2: It Requires an Understanding of Elevations and Slope
Concrete stamping isn’t as easy as it sounds. If you imagined simply pouring on concrete and imprinting it with a pattern, just know that it will require the right materials and expertise for forming. Form materials have to be set up in a certain way. If your calculations are off with regards to elevation and slope, you’ll end up with standing water issues. Indentations can be difficult to repair in any concrete surface and you’ll end up calling a contractor anyway.
Challenge 3: Hard Labor
Do you have a ready-mix concrete truck that can pull right up to the area you’re working on? If no, then imagine how much hard labor it will take to move 150 pounds of concrete with a wheelbarrow. And that’s just for one cubic foot. Either you stick with your plan to do it yourself or pay someone to pump the concrete for you.
Challenge 4: DIY Concrete Mix isn’t Foolproof
Professional concrete contractors are well equipped with the knowledge of concrete mix components. This is something that most DIYers aren’t familiar with. If you think you can just go on the internet to search, even that might not be enough. Incorrect ratios in a concrete mix can lead to issues with color and compromised strength. Within the first year, you’ll expect to see the colors of your project washed out and the surface spalled.
