I'm a concrete contractor and I speak to lots of people out estimating and considering work with my business. Many times people think stamped concrete is completely unique of regular concrete and it's really an entirely different product. This is somewhat true, however the basics of the two are the same and they are usually specified the same, when used in exactly the same application. For instance, if stamped concrete or regular concrete can be used for a driveway, they'll generally function as same thickness and also have the same design strength.
Regular concrete is your everyday concrete used in sidewalks, driveways, patios, roads, and anytime regular pavement is constructed. It's generally placed on some type of gravel or native soil base that's compacted. The region is then formed with lumber or manufactured forms. Reinforcement is usually installed in the bottom which is usually rebar or wire mesh. The concrete is specified to a desired thickness that is created for its application. For example, a driveway that handles car and light trucks is usually poured four inches thick. The concrete mix is also specified that is usually a 4000 psi mix here in areas which have severe winters. That is the strength the concrete reaches in 28 days. Concrete is placed, striked off, bull floated then gets a non slip finish, such as a broom. From then on, the concrete is cured with either water and burlap, or the simple way with a membrane forming curing compound.
Stamped concrete is very similarly placed to regular concrete. Generally Click here for more are the same except the finishing steps. The concrete is also colored that is usually added to the mix. It is also colored with a color hardener, but most contractors use an intrinsic color. After bull floating is when things the process changes with stamped concrete. Some contractors go one step further and trowel the concrete to find the concrete really smooth. We use air entrained concrete in our area due to the harsh winters, which isn't said to be troweled so we usually just get it smooth as you possibly can with a magnesium bull float. Following the concrete sets to a desired hardness, the concrete is imprinted with the rubber like stamps. A release agent which is an antiquing colored release, or liquid release agent can be used to help keep the stamps from sticking with the concrete. Some contractors will put curing paper on the concrete to cure it till the next day when the concrete will undoubtedly be washed and sealed with a higher gloss sealer which is also a membrane forming cure.
So to conclude stamped and regular, there is not much difference between the two other than what they appear to be on the surface. Lots of people they think stamped concrete is just not as durable as regular concrete and that's just not the case. The thing that could make it less durable may be the texture of the stamped concrete. Within an environment that gets snow, stamped concrete can get damaged by snow removal equipment like snow plows.