Care guide

How to Care for Stamped Concrete

What to do in the first days, the first winter, and every year after to keep a stamped patio, pool deck or driveway looking the way it did the day we sealed it.

Care guides: Stamped concrete · Broom finished & floors · After a reseal · All guides

Download the printable PDF

What to Expect

Some color variation is normal and part of the handcrafted look of stamped concrete. Most darker or blotchy areas even out within the first few weeks. If they haven't after 30 days, let us know.
Hairline cracks are normal in concrete, and control joints are cut to guide where they form.

The First Days After Installation

Foot traffic: wait at least 24 hours.
Furniture: wait at least 72 hours.
Hot tubs, sheds, and other heavy items: wait at least 7 days (28 days preferred).
Cars: wait at least 7 days. Heavy vehicles (trucks, RVs, trailers, dumpsters): wait 30 days. Allow extra time in cool weather.
For the first few weeks, avoid turning your steering wheel while your car is stopped on the concrete.
Concrete takes about 30 days to fully cure, sometimes longer depending on moisture and weather.

Read this before the first snow

Winter Care

NEVER use ice melt on concrete that is less than 12 months old. Sand is always the best choice for traction.
After 12 months, if ice melt is absolutely necessary, use Safe Step Mag Chloride 8300 only. Use about 1/4 cup per square yard, spread evenly, and don't pile it up. Never use rock salt, calcium chloride, or any melt containing ammonium.
Road salt drips off cars onto driveways and garage aprons. Rinse these areas when temperatures allow, and give everything a good rinse in the spring.
Use plastic shovels only. No metal or metal-edged shovels, and no metal ice choppers.
Raise snowblower skid shoes or switch to poly skid shoes, and don't drag equipment on the surface. If you use a plow service, ask them to use a poly or rubber blade edge.

Everyday Care

Do not drag furniture across the surface. Use hard nylon glides on furniture legs.
Avoid rubber feet, rubber-backed mats, and flowerpots sitting directly on the surface, as they trap water and discolor the sealer. Use pot feet and move items occasionally.
Rust stains concrete. Keep bare metal off the surface, and sweep up fertilizer granules right away (most fertilizer contains iron).
Clean up oil, gas, and solvent spills quickly, as they soften the sealer.
Never set a fire pit directly on the concrete; use a raised stand. Use a grill mat and lift it periodically.
Pool decks: rinse off pool water splash-out and keep chlorine and pool chemicals off the concrete.
Adjust sprinklers so they don't spray the concrete, and clear wet leaves in the fall to prevent staining.

Sealer

Your sealer should be reapplied after the first winter, because the first coat soaks into the new concrete.
After that, reseal about every 2 to 5 years. Driveways, pool decks, and areas in full sun may need it sooner.
We recommend an anti-skid additive in the sealer, especially on pool decks, steps, and walkways.
Call us to schedule your resealing. If you plan to reseal yourself, ask us which sealer we used first. A different type of sealer, or coats applied too thick, can cause whitening and peeling.

Cleaning

Pressure wash gently: a wide fan tip (25 or 40 degree), and the wand at least 12 inches from the surface. Never use a turbo or 0-degree tip.
No pressure washer? Use diluted Simple Green and a soft-bristle brush, then rinse with a garden hose.
Never use muriatic acid or harsh solvents.

Stamped Overlays

Overlays can take up to 8 weeks to fully cure.
During this time, colors may look blotchy and uneven. This is normal and should even out.
If colors have not evened out after 8 weeks, please let us know.

Any questions? Feel free to reach out.

Questions about something specific on your concrete? Send a photo to distinctivestoneandconcrete@gmail.com or call (315) 676-0005 and we'll tell you what you're looking at.