Imprinted Concrete Driveways Coventry

There are many different stamp designs along with concrete colourings which allows for such a wide selection of design options. Interestingly some of the most favoured designs are the most traditional. Cobblestones are very popular and provide a great example of where modern innovation in materials and processes can meet modern needs i.e. provide a low maintenance drive which can still seamlessly blend in with older period properties. Tile and brickwork are also popular choices but with many subtle variations including curve or circular patterns you can end up with a final design which is quite bespoke to you.

Whilst Pattern Imprinted Concrete provide some fantastic features and benefits it should also be remembered that these do come at a cost. Also since this is a sealed, solid concrete structure there is nowhere for rainwater to drain through. Therefore drainage and water run off will also need to be taken into account as will the potential for concrete to expand on hot days. So, just a for concrete there is likely to be a requirement for some expansion joints to be included. Whilst every care is made to make these as inconspicuous as possible by colour matching they will be visible to your trained eye, due to the smooth and uniformed appearance of the rest of the driveway.

Also since this primarily a surface treatment process, should any damage occur corrective action is likely to involve a professional rather than an DIY quick fix!

This is one of the more expensive driveway options and when we provide a general cost this is always with the caveat that this is an average with individual quotes ranging above and below to bring this average figure. As always you should expect some economies of scale if you have a large area but individual ground aspects will influence your individual price. So in terms of an average - costs in the region of £150- £170 per m2 for a small 40 m2 driveway would give you a start point. Clearly stamped concrete will be more than standard concrete as there are additional processes and materials involved. The other factor which can add additional costs is the need for adequate drainage or water runaways. Unlike resin and block paving, where water can run through gaps and drain naturally over the whole area, pressed concrete is formed as large solid impermeable blocks of concrete - so when it rains there needs to be somewhere for this water to go as you won't be happy getting out of your car and getting into a large puddle! So depending on the natural slopes of your ground and where this could allow you excess water to go may lead to further work being carried out to deal with this.

That said - you can still see why so many people still decide to pay a little more to install an imprinted concrete driveway. It has a striking kerb appeal and definitely plays a part in the valuation of your property plus since there is so little maintenance - what is there not to like from a prospective buyers perspective?

As already mentioned maintenance of patterned concrete is fairly minimal. Brushing off debris is a relatively easy affair as there are no actual joints between cobbled prints - except for the expansion joints. The expansion joints should be the area you pay most attention to, ensuring that debris does not build up in there to allow weeds and algae to take hold on it . Should you be a little lax in keeping on top of this, cleaning with a pressure washer is fairly straightforward as long as you take a little care over the closeness and pressure settings of the jet spray; especially at the expansion joints.

To maintain that clean bold sheen, we would recommend that every four years you arrange for a reapplication of a solvent-based acrylic sealant. Follow these tips and you will have a fantastic looking driveway for many years.