DIY Network

Stamped and Colored Concrete Take concrete steppers from drab to fab. From "Yard Crashers" episode DYCR-112

These are not your average concrete steppers.

Concrete doesn't have to look like a sidewalk – it's actually one of the most versatile building materials. Ahmed Hassan and the Yard Crashers crew show how to turn humble concrete into a fabulous faux stone by tinting it with multiple colors then stamping it with a Romanesque texture. These custom steppers will lead from the house straight to the copper water wall water feature, with a side path heading to the new smokeless fire table.

This high-skill concrete project is a job to leave to the pros. Scroll down to see what's involved.

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Stamped and Colored Concrete

Materials:

2 yards wet concrete 2 yards 3/4" base rock 2x4s for concrete frames screws saw screwdriver stakes color hardener concrete stamp

tamping tool string level level concrete sealer safety glasses dust mask plastic gloves shovels concrete float

	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E
	Who knew concrete could look this good?

• Get a pro onboard. Ahmed Hassan and the Yard Crashers crew strongly recommend having a pro do this ambitious project.

• Grade the area. Clear out any debris and weeds from the area. Move soil until the area is mostly level.

• Set concrete forms. The steppers will be a combination of rectangles, each of which will be about 3 feet wide and either 4, 5 or 6 feet long. Cut 2x4s to the correct lengths and build rectangular forms to these dimensions. Move the forms around to determine the best arrangement for the concrete steppers, then stake into place (figure A).

  Safety Alert: Make sure to wear safety glasses and use caution when working with a power saw or any other power tool.

• Excavate and apply base rock. With the forms secured, Dig down 2 inches below the bottom of the forms and spread a 2-inch layer of 3/4" crushed base rock inside.

• Pour concrete. To get the right amount of concrete, let the concrete company know the square footage and depth desired and have them help figure out the amount of wet concrete needed. For this job, the Yard Crashers crew needed 4 inches of concrete to top off the 2 inches of base rock. Pour concrete up to the top of the forms and use a board to skreed (level) it. Also, tamp the concrete down with a concrete float to release air bubbles, and tap all of the boards to release air pockets along the sides. Smooth out the concrete surface and use an edging tool to create a clear line around the forms (figure B).

• Let the concrete dry – but not completely. Let the concrete sit for several hours to partially dry.

• Apply color hardener. Once the concrete is mostly dry, apply color hardener on top of the concrete to tint it. To apply, either toss the dry powder on by hand or dust it on with a paintbrush. Several colors can be mixed for a marbled effect (figure C).

  Safety Alert: Wear safety glasses, a dust mask and plastic gloves when spreading the color hardener.

• Stamp concrete. While the concrete is still somewhat wet, use a rubber stamp (figure D) and a tamping tool to stamp a pattern into the concrete. Make sure not to put too much pressure on the damp concrete (figure E). Once the concrete is stamped, let it dry completely overnight.

• Clean and un-mold steppers. After the concrete is completely dry, sweep off any loose color hardener and pressure-wash the concrete. Carefully remove the forms with a hammer or pry bar.

• Seal the concrete. Use a paint roller to apply a coat of high-gloss concrete sealer. Let the sealer dry completely.