Vertical Concrete Stenciling
Stencils offer a variety of pattern options for vertical concrete surfaces. One contractor spruced up two office buildings, mimicking the look of slate on one and using vinyl stencils with an overlay to create a faux brick surface on the other one.
by John Strieder

Suppose a real estate speculator buys an old tilt-up warehouse, hoping to fix up the dingy structure and turn it for a tidy profit. The to-do list will most likely include replacing those plain concrete walls with a finish that is more appealing. And for help with the vertical concrete facelift, the developer will probably turn to a decorative concrete contractor — someone like you. How will you get it done?

Sure, you could attach slabs of slate or bits of brick to the walls and call it good. But you could also provide a result that looks just as good for less money — by stenciling the look of rocks or bricks onto the walls instead.

Rod Scott, president of Concrete Surfacing Systems Inc. in Sacramento, did just that for a developer who hired him to spruce up two office buildings for resale.

Scott's crew mimicked the look of 18-inch-wide pieces of slate on a 15-story concrete building in downtown Sacramento. The developer had attached authentic slate at the ground-floor level but turned the top 14 over to the concrete team. Not only was the stencil and overlay job cheaper than rock, Scott says, it was easier and safer: "Stencils are not going to fall and hurt people."

For the second structure, a 4-story building that was four blocks long, Scott's team used custom-cut vinyl patterns with an overlay to build a faux brick surface on the sides.

Heather Monroe, senior operations manager for Decorative Concrete Impressions LLC, has noticed an uptick of interest in stenciled applications, including on vertical surfaces. "The appeal of using stencils for the contractor is that they are easily promoted and offer the customer a variety of pattern options," she says.