by Jared Falk

Created on: June 10, 2009   Last Updated: June 14, 2009

Stamped concrete is gaining more and more popularity in the home improvement industry as well as in the commercial construction industry. From backyard patios to driveways to casino entrances, stamped concrete is the newest and most cost-effective way to beautify what used to be plain gray concrete. The art of stamping is not something the typical do-it-yourselfer can just pick up, it takes a professional to do a really good job. So where do the professionals get their tools for stamping concrete? Let us discuss some places to look as well as places to be cautious of.

If you are a beginner, buy used stamps. You can easily find contractors who are willing to sell their old stamps. You probably don't want to invest a lot of money in new stamps when you are just starting to practice; settle for used. Quality stamps are made to last through harsh conditions and be reusable while keeping their original texture and rigidity. Make sure to look over the stamp for any holes, tears, or flaws for those might show up on the concrete after being impressed. A typical used stamp at eight to nine square feet should not cost more than $150 each. Craigslist or other websites similar to it are also great for finding used stamps

If you are a professional, go to a dealer. The best places to get stamps are not the big-box stores because the employees don't know what they are doing usually. The smaller outfits who sell primarily to contractors have more knowledge, higher quality products, and pretty competitive pricing. Stamp sets, depending on how much material is used to produce them and the freight involved, can cost anywhere between $400 and $900. What is also important is that these stores sell the necessary accessories for doing the job, like release agent, chisels, and sealer.

You can also buy new stamps off the Internet from sites like eBay. Be careful, though, even though the prices can be pretty low, you get what you pay for. Cheap materials can easily puncture or tear, and the texture may be poorly produced where it looks like the stamp was manufactured instead of the natural look.

The more popular stamps are the ashlar slate pattern, random stone, or cobblestone. Texture skins are also popular and easier to use since there are no straight lines to follow. Keeping these basic stamps in your inventory is key to giving people choices for their concrete. Some good quality brands to look for are Proline Concrete Tools, Matcrete, or Artcrete; since they don't sell direct, look for their dealers in your area.

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