Ever look out at your backyard and think it needs an upgrade? Stamped Concrete or Stained Concrete can change the look of your outdoor space, but Stamped Concrete and Stained Concrete are not always a weekend DIY job. If you live around Traverse Mountain in Lehi, Utah, you know our soil can be very difficult to work with once it dries out and bakes in the summer sun.
Before you grab a shovel, Majestic Concrete Solutions wants to talk about what goes into a Decorative Concrete project. You need a plan for drainage, grading, and layout. If water pools near your foundation, you are asking for trouble down the road. Take time to measure twice and mark out your lines clearly for your Stamped Concrete or Stained Concrete project in Lehi, UT.
What You Can Tackle Yourself
If you are handy, you can handle the prep work for Decorative Concrete. Breaking up old, cracked concrete with a rented jackhammer saves you some cash. You can also handle the site excavation, hauling away old debris, and setting up basic wooden forms. Just make sure your forms are square and have a slight slope away from your house. Getting that pitch right keeps rainwater where it belongs.
When to Call the Pros
Pouring, stamping, and coloring are a different beast entirely. Concrete waits for no one. Once the truck rolls up, the clock is ticking. At Majestic Concrete Solutions, we see DIYers panic when the concrete starts setting up faster than expected on a hot July afternoon in Utah County. Stamping requires precise timing and muscle. Mess up a stamp pattern or let the surface dry too fast, and you are stuck looking at a botched job for the next 15 to 20 years or more. Coloring and antiquing also take a steady hand and an eye for how the product cures.
After the Pour
Once the work is done, curing and sealing are important. Do not skip the sealer, especially with our freezing winter freeze-thaw cycles in Lehi, UT. Keep foot traffic off it for 2 to 3 days, and hold off on heavy vehicle loads for at least 5 to 7 days. Give it a good wash every spring, and apply a fresh coat of sealer every 2 to 3 years to keep your Decorative Concrete looking sharp.