Concrete Stamps:

Does a client have a limited budget? A stamped overlay might be a cost-effective solution when Italian marble isn't an option. "Overlays offer the advantage of near infinite color and design, oftentimes at a fraction of the cost of alternative installations of stone, granite, marble and slate," observes Mike Duarte, technical director at Versatile Building Products in Carson, Calif.

Need to enlarge a patio or refinish a concrete floor without removing the existing slab? Overlays make it possible. Clark Branum, area manager for Seattle-based Rafco Products-Brickform, reports, "A lot of times overlays will be used in remodel or retrofit situations, so you can achieve color and texture without using traditional materials such as concrete or stone or tile."

For versatility, overlays are winning a growing number of fans. "You can do overlays anywhere: inside on the 15th floor as well as outside… and you don't have to worry about concrete trucks," says Janine Lutz, chief operating officer of SuperStone Inc. in Miami.

Contractors who are familiar with stamping concrete should be able to make the transition to stamping overlays pretty easily. Many of the tools are the same, or similar, and a few slight modifications in technique can be mastered with a little practice.

Companies referenced in this article:
Rafco-Brickform
SuperStone
Skookum Floors USA
Specialty Concrete Products
Versatile Building Products