Imprinted concrete patios

[sammmo]

I'm thinking of having a new patio laid and was thinking of having Imprinted coloured concrete. I was wondering if any Abers have had this on their property and if so is there any drawbacks with it ie does it get slippery and can you use a power washer on it?

[joggerjayne]

If it's one big piece of concrete, with a printed pattern ... isn't it prone to cracking?

Isn't it safer to lay separate slabs, or flagsones, or whatever they're called ... so they can move a bit, without any damage?

[Clanad]

Here in the western U.S. we've had the imprinted concrete done and it's lasted for several years. It has an imprint that makes it look like a large piece of stone with grain, dips and such. The nice touch was that the concrete guys also colored it. It's a terracotta color with some streaks of black that look very nice. Highly recommended. By the way, a city near us has been using the textured and colored concrete on the street dividers. Theirs looks like basketweave or maybe brick...

[The Builder]

Who'd have thought JJ would know so much about concrete ;o)
What a girl :o)))
They lay the concrete in "bays" ......... that's sections with an expansion joint between each one, so they're not all "joined up".
It does seem to be popular in California, and becoming more widespread here. It looks a tad artificial for a while, but eventually weathers to look more "natural"

[The Builder]

I like the sound of that, Spacey. I'll bet that looks good too.

[follyfancier]

one of my neighbours had theirs done but it gets very slippery when it rains

[sammmo]

Yes SC that does sound good. thinking about it this is the same stuff as they put on the floor of caesars palace shopping mall so I know it isn't slippy when its dry..clanad does it get slippy when its wet or is it like normal concrete to walk on?

[sammmo]

thanks sc i think it must be the sealer that makes it look shiny..is it alot more expensive than block paving?

[joggerjayne]

Well, I could hardly be expected to know about "expansion joints" could I.

I thought my answer was quite sensible.

=0(

[Clanad]

Sorry, JJ... been away for two days.... answer is no... it isn't any more slippery than regualr concrete, since the coloration is "imbedded" in the cement as it's mixed... it isn't a layer on top of the concrete. If you chip the concrete, say, at the corner, it would still be the same color inside of the chipped area... One can pick any number of colors... I've even seen back...

[crapmemory]

These driveways look quite nice. Do they lay them in such a way that grass and weeds don't grow through?