How Long Does a Stamped Concrete Driveway Last? Comprehensive Answer
How Long Does a Stamped Concrete Driveway Last?
A stamped concrete driveway generally lasts for 25 – 30 years. Structurally, a stamped concrete driveway is primarily a standard concrete driveway. The stamping and coloration are just superficial layers.
To ensure a stamped concrete driveway continues to look beautiful, as time goes by, you must reseal it every 1 – 3 years and recolor it every 5 – 10 years.
The initial steps in the installation of a stamped concrete driveway are exactly the same as those in the installation of a standard concrete driveway. The additional steps to get the stamped look starts after the poured concrete has been screed and floated.
The steps are:
- Application of Color Hardener
- Application of Release Agent
- Stamping the Pattern
- Remove Residual Release Agent
- Apply the Curing Compound
The remaining steps of sawing the Control Joints and sealing the driveway after full curing is similar to that followed for a standard concrete driveway.
How To Make a Stamped Concrete Driveway Durable?
For maximum strength & durability, a stamped concrete driveway must be installed on a solid, stable soil support system.
Soil Support System
The soil support system below the concrete slab, not only takes the load of the vehicles but also prevents ground movement from damaging the concrete slab. There are 5 steps involved in building up a good soil support system.
STEP 1 – Subgrade: is native soil tamped to a firm finish. In case the quality of the native soil is not very good, improve it by adding a couple of inches of good quality top soil or treating it with cement or lime.
STEP 2 – Geotextile: prevents the migration of crushed stone or gravel from the sub-base into the subgrade.
STEP 3 – Sub-base: should be 4” – 6” thick and made up of several layers of compacted crushed stone or angular gravel.
STEP 4 – Base: should be 2” thick and made up of a layer of pea gravel topped by a layer of coarse sand.
STEP 5 – Vapor Retarder: prevents ground moisture from permeating into the concrete.
For more information on soil support system preparation for a concrete driveway check out my article Best Base for Concrete Driveway? (A Quick Look!).
Concrete Mix Quality
A solid soil support system is a good start for achieving a long lasting stamped concrete driveway. The next step is to use a high quality concrete mix.
Factors that you must keep in mind are:
- Do not compromise on the compressive strength of the concrete mix. Use concrete with a compressive strength of 3500 psi in warm climates and 4000 psi in cold climates. Higher strength is required to deal with stress caused by freeze thaw cycles.
- A water to cement ratio of 0.50 or slightly less is required for achieving required compressive strength.
- The compressive strength also depends on the cement to aggregate ratio. A higher ratio typically means higher strength concrete.
- Use crushed stone aggregates of size 1” or less. A mix of Crushed Stone 57 and Crushed Stone 67 is a good option.
- Pour concrete that has a Slump of 4” – 5”.
- Keeping Air Entrapment of 6% in cold climates helps lower stress of freeze thaw cycles.
- Keep the slab thickness at 6” or more. Reinforce it with steel rebars.
For more information on concrete check out my article on What Type of Concrete for Driveway is Best? (Simple Guide!)
How Do I Clean Stamped Concrete?
Regular cleaning of a stamped concrete driveway will go a long way in increasing its life and keeping it looking as good as new for many years. The cleaning process is quite simple really.
Make sure to sweep or vacuum your stamped concrete driveway at least once a week. This will remove dust and yard debris such as dried leaves and broken twigs. If yard debris is not cleared the natural secretions will stain the driveway.
You should remove the buildup of slime and grime at least once a month. It is of course better if you can do it every fortnight.
Rinse the driveway with water using a garden hose. Mix some dishwashing soap with water in a bucket. Spread the solution on the driveway using a squeegee. Use a soft brush to scrub the spots with dirt buildup.
You may need to use a commercial degreaser to get rid of stubborn oil stains and grease marks. Finally use the garden hose with the water flow at high pressure to clean off the soap solution from the driveway.
Should I Pressure Wash Stamped Concrete?
You can pressure wash stamped concrete. Just do not over do it. Pressure washing depletes the topical sealer coat. In my opinion you should use the pressure washer only once in a year.
The best time to pressure wash a stamped concrete driveway is in fall. Pressure wash to get the driveway squeaky clean and the reseal it. Your stamped concrete driveway will be well protected against the winter snow and ice.
Here are a few tips regarding pressure washing your stamped concrete driveway:
- Use the pressure washer only occasionally, ideally just once a year.
- Keep the pressure washer at a low setting.
- Maintain a healthy distance between the jet nozzle and the stamped concrete surface.
- Keep the wand moving continuously.
An even better option is to use a pressure washer with a surface cleaner attachment. The cleaning is more controlled and less messy.
RECOMMENDED PRODUCT
The Best Pressure Washer Surface Cleaner for Your Driveway & Patio
The pressure washer surface cleaner is an attachment for pressure washers that let you clean concrete driveways, patios, etc. without having to worry about abrading or gouging the concrete surface.
Here is the Pressure Washer Surface Cleaner I recommend.
EVEAGE 16.5” Pressure Washer Surface Cleaner
Power Washer Surface Cleaner with 2 Extension Wand, Stainless Steel Housing Power Washer Accessories with 2 Replacement Nozzles, 4000 PSI,EP001-1
How Often Do You Need to Reseal Stamped Concrete?
A topical sealer is necessary to protect any concrete slab from water penetration. In case of the stamped concrete driveway the sealer also locks in the color and protects it from UV radiation.
Topical sealers get depleted by wear & tear, pressure washing and weathering. Typically, stamped concrete patios and decks need to be sealed every 2 – 3 years. However, a stamped concrete driveway may need to be resealed every year due to abrasion from car tires.
Homeowners with stamped concrete driveways should check the effectiveness of the topical sealer every fall.
It is quite easy to do this. Clean a small piece of the stamped concrete driveway with a wet rag and let it dry. Place a few drops of water on that spot.
If the water beads up, the sealer is still effective and there is no need to reseal. However, if the water drops get absorbed in the concrete, the sealer coat has depleted and is no longer effective. It is time to reseal.
Wait for 1 – 2 days after pressure washing to give time to the driveway to dry out. Sealers do not bond with concrete that is still wet. You will also trap the moisture under the sealer coat.
Apply 2 coats of the sealer using a spray or a roller. Give a gap of 24 hours between the 2 coats. Do not walk or drive your car over the freshly resealed stamped concrete driveway for at least 48 hours.
RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS
The Best Sealers for Your Concrete Driveway or Patio
A topical sealer is essential for protecting concrete surfaces from water permeation that can damage the concrete from within and compromise its lifespan.
I highly recommend Foundation Armor Concrete Sealers. Pick the one that best meets your aesthetic and application preference.
How Do You Bring Stamped Concrete Back to Life?
In spite of regular cleaning and annual resealing a stamped concrete driveway will start to look dull and jaded after a few years. The colors used for highlighting the texture begin to fade due to UV radiation from the sun.
You can bring your stamped concrete driveway back to life by applying tinted sealer. Choose the color and tint intensity carefully. It is a good idea to test out the tinted sealer on a small patch before applying it on the entire driveway.
A more time consuming but longer lasting alternative is to remove the existing sealer, re-stain the stamped concrete and reseal.
Thank you very much for reading this post. I do hope you found it informative and helpful.
