Decorative concrete?

[NewGuyG35]

I was wondering if decorative concrete is stamped on top of the old slab, or do they need to pour new cement in the area. I have a driveway that I would like to do something to it.

Something like this would be pretty neat.

[jwrape]

I beleive they pour a thin coat ontop in most cases.

[NewGuyG35]

Oh good. Then it's probably not that expensive.

[MEXTEP]

My friend did his back-yard and outdoor bar in concrete..flippin sweet.

[caly2121]

Typically they pour all new concrete.... when I worked with a masonry contractor we never poured a thin coat on top. I believe the concrete needs to be 4+ inches in order to do this.

Only confusion I have it the picture you have given us is not stamped concrete. That is a paver driveway such as you'd find on the EP Henry website http://www.ephenry.com/ You can tell because the bottom right side would be difficult to replicate the colors like this (they messed up the pattern of the pavers, possibly ran out of a particular color or the guy was a bit of a hack and didn't know you can cut the things).

[forced347]

There is stamped asphalt and stamped concrete....concrete needs to be laid fresh. They can stamp asphalt if it has never been seal coated. Pavers always win.

[redwillow]

yeah, total failure on the corner in that picture... and i agree that looks like laid pavers not a concrete pattern job.

[NewGuyG35]

So can you do stamped asphalt on top of a driveway?

[nghiars]

how high of a drive way do you want? How much asphalt will need to be laid down in order for it to adhere well?

[NewGuyG35]

Here's the house that I'm currently buying. It has a pretty big u shape drive way and I want to make it look better. I'll leave it alone if it means I have to tear off the entire thing just so I can put the patterns but if I can just put it over the current slab then I'll do it.

[caly2121]

I'm about 98% positive that everything will have to be torn up no matter which route you take. In the 4 years I worked with a masonry contractor it was always tearing up the original and the repouring everything.

[JOKER]

nice house


Seems to be in a rough shape tho.

[grifter91]

You never want to pour over its a bad way of doing it. Concrete cracks very easily if its not thick enough and if there isn't rebar in it as well. I have been around heavy construction and concrete for almost 10 years now. Fresh pour is always the way to go.

[NewGuyG35]

Oh well. I'll just keep it for now. It's no big deal but eventually I'll get it replaced.

[Doc_Yizz]

Stamped (and tinted) asphalt looks very nice, until the tint (and the stamping) wears away in high traffic areas..... The driveway in the pic looks nice as it is, with the small tile accents.