Hi folks!
Last week I was super busy working on my latest DIY, laying stamped concrete tiles on Mom and Pop’s driveway. So let me start by telling you a little bit about it. This is a brand new decorative concrete system to get the look of stamped concrete. I’m talking’ ain’t no other product on the market like it. So let me back up a minute and tell you what’s what.
When I was in Las Vegas back in December learning how to make these drop-dead gorgeous marbleized concrete counters…
…(Yep, I worked on that counter!), I had the honor of meeting Gerry Sadleir, the inventor of 1/4″ stamped concrete and Decorative Concrete Hall Of Famer. Gerry is seriously famous in the concrete biz, and now he’s taken his innovative genius a step further and invented a system of laying stamped concrete that any novice can do. And not only can a novice do it, but it’s a fraction of the cost of traditional stamped concrete. Plus, traditional stamped concrete tends to eventually crack. That’s simply the nature of the beast. Whereas this stamped concrete tile system will not crack. I’m talkin’ ever.
Basically, what all this means is that this new stamped concrete tile system is going to revolutionize the stamped concrete industry.
And, no, I’m not exaggerating.
Now, I haven’t yet put together the tutorial. That will be coming later this year. But I simply couldn’t wait to start sharing this.
[UPDATE: Tutorial is now posted HERE.]
So I thought I’d give you a sneak peek of some before, during, and after shots, starting with the sad looking before pic…
That’s not a happy driveway, is it.
Now, I have to admit that this wasn’t a solo job.
Gerry was out here in Florida for business and he worked with me, teaching me everything along the way.
And Scott Rogers, owner of Stonecrete USA, was also on site. Scott has been in the concrete biz for over 20 years and makes AMAZING decorative concrete including outdoor kitchens, countertops, fire pits, and now stamped concrete tiles. You definitely have to check out some of his work HERE.
And Scott is the only one in the Tampa Bay area (besides me) who uses the marbling technique that I learned in Vegas…. okay, well, I haven’t used it yet outside of my class, but I promise you that it’s coming.
That’s Scott hangin’ with me. I’m teaching him a thing or two about laying concrete…um, not really.
Right about now, you’re probably wondering what stamped concrete tiling would cost you. Well, first lemme tell ya that if you were to have traditional stamped concrete done, it would cost about $10 per square foot.
For a driveway like my parents’, that would run you about $7,000! Are you sweating yet? Don’t worry, I’m not done…
To DIY stamped concrete tiles, the cost is about $3 per square foot. Now we’re talking about $2,100! …Dudes, I just saved you almost FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS!!! …Happy dance!
Imagine how many pairs of shoes you could buy with that!!
I know, I know…Now you’re saying, ‘how the heck do I get this?’
This tiling system is so new that Gerry’s website is still in the works, but it should be live soon.
What? You can’t wait???
Alright, alright… don’t get your panties all in a bunch. You can call Gerry direct at StoneCrete Systems at 619-820-9894 to order the materials to do it yourself.
If you’re in Florida, you can call Scott at 813-857-8402.
And if you prefer not to go the DIY route, Scott can install it for ya.
Oh, did I tell you that you can make your new stamped concrete tiles most any color (although I’m not promising purple).
Anywho, stay tuned for the upcoming tutorial and subscribe to the blog so you don’t miss it. As I mentioned, I’ll be sharing each step in video which will make it super easy to follow along. Gerry should also have his website up by then and will be offering a course on the system for those folks who prefer a hands-on learning experience.
Cheers my friends!
This post linked to some of these totally fabulous blogs and Remodelaholic.
You are definitely cornering this concrete movement. I love this look and the cost as well! It turned out fantabulous!
Thank you so much Hope!!! I’m just loving the versatility of the things I can make with concrete. And I still can’t believe the difference in the before and after pics!
Why do I always get you have won crap when I click your site. You have cool stuff but I can’t read it due to this issue.
Michelle,
Thanks for letting me know. I haven’t seen that myself. Are you getting a pop-up? My advertising partner has been instructed not to use cheesy ads like that, but sometimes they get through. If you get a moment, would you mind sending me a screenshot (to [email protected]) so I can forward it to the ad network so they can make the appropriate adjustments? I would really appreciate your help!
Can this be done over asphalt or only concrete?
Hi Kathy! I just checked in with Gerry and he said that so far he’s done one asphalt driveway and it turned out great. He’s still testing on asphalt and will be doing another one in April, but he’s confident that it will continue to work fine. I’ll make sure that when I post the tutorials in April that I make note of the results of the asphalt driveways.
Love the look of this stamped drive. I am interested in this process for our poured pea-gravel concrete patio. Current concrete has several long running cracks in it. Hoping you can advise if the stamped process will work for our patio.
Hi Pat! Thanks for your question. The concrete tile system will work over most solid surfaces. As long as the pea gravel concrete is thick enough and strong enough to support whatever weight it will be subjected to, the tiles will bond to it and should hold up fine. Hope that helps. Let me know if there’s anything else I can answer!
wow, this is amazing. truly a new look, well done!
b
Thank you so much!!
Wow, what a difference. I love it!! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Thank you so much Jann! We are totally loving it too! And thank you for hosting!! :-)
Popping over from Treasure Box Tuesday =) That looks beautiful! I need a new driveway… Be sure to share your recipes, crafts, upcycles & DIYs at Two Uses Tuesday (Mon 8pm EST to Fri 11pm EST) over at Sarah Celebrates if you don’t already!
I would like to know more about this and if it will hold up in Colorado.
Hi Sam! Yes, the tile system will hold up in Colorado. Starting last year, I believe Gerry has tested it in several areas that have extreme hot/cold cycles and no issues have arisen. My tutorial will be coming in early April (along with the product website), but if you’d like more info before then, you can contact Gerry Sadlier direct at [email protected]. He would be happy to answer any specific questions.
I’m putting this on hubby’s honey do list. Can’t wait till April.
Yay Nina! Can’t wait to share all the details! (Gotta love the honey do list!!!)
I live in michigan, and I was wondering how it would hold up to the extreme temperature changes that we can have in a single day. And if plowing snow would damage it?
Hi Bree! Thanks for your question.
Snow plowing is okay as long as a snow shovel with a plastic edge is used, or snow blowers with some type of rubber over the blades. The tiles (and all coatings) are designed for foot traffic and rubber tire traffic. If you use a snow plow with a metal edge it can scratch the surface.
There are some homes in Utah that installed the concrete tiles last year and after a harsh Utah winter they still look great after being covered with snow and ice multiple times. The homeowners used either a plastic snow shovel or snow blower.
The tiles hold up great in all climate conditions including extreme hot and cold temperature changes in one day. They’ve been exposed to temperatures below -20 degrees F up to 120 degrees (although not in one day) with no problems.
Please let me know, Bree, if there are any other questions I can answer!
Wow! That looks so good! Can’t wait to see the tutorial!
Thanks so much J! It’ll be coming soon!
What a huge job, and it turned out gorgeous. I am sure that this greatly adds to the value of the home, and the curb appeal is out of this world! Awesome job. No wonder you didn’t want to wait!
Thanks Nikki! Yes, it was a bit of work, but totally worth it. I’m completely in love with the new driveway and it’s now motivated me to get my mom’s garden looking a little more presentable. And that’s saying a lot for someone who does not have a green thumb. :-)
I would like to know where to get this stamp concrete tile I live in Sacramento ca
Hello Cesar, My apologies for the delayed response. Sometimes I don’t get the auto notification that there’s a new comment on the blog. To find out where to get the stamped concrete tiles in Sacramento, you can contact Gerry Sadlier at Stonecrete Solutions directly. His contact info is: Office Phone 801-224-1347 — Email: [email protected]
A gorgeous finished project Jenise and thanks for sharing it at the Say G’day party! Please feel free to return if you have’t already and Say G’day and perhaps meet a new friend along the way! Pinned!
Thank you Joanne! And thank you for taking over the Say G’day party. I’ll be sure to continue stopping by!
This looks like a great solution to my flaking, ugly kool deck & patio coating. So the question is, is it too slippery/slick to use around the pool? I’m in sunny AZ, so another question is: Are there any guarantees against color fading?
Can’t wait to hear back…..
Hi Esther,
To answer your questions, first, all concrete products can slightly fade over time especially in hot climates such as Arizona. The Roll-Top Cement topcoat that is used to color the tiles is more resistant to fading than regular concrete but some fading can occur. Generally, applying a new coat of sealer will bring the color back to look like new. The StoneSeal sealer that we use is easy to apply using a pump up sprayer and it can be applied every one to two years to keep the surface looking like new. Second, the surface is not slippery at all. There’s a very light coat of sand that is laid down on the surface just prior to sealing. So there it is absolutely a no slip surface. I should have the full tutorial up soon and it will explain everything. Thanks!
Even though the temperatures get higher in Arizona than in the deep south of Louisiana, we have such a horrible humidity that it feels hotter here. If the guys or yourself ever want to test this new product in South Louisiana where the food is fantabulous and best in the world, come down to my house and Ill make it worth your time by my cooking for you all. Hurry though cuz it getting hot already here. My home is about 35 to 45 minutes from New Orleans and smack in the middle of Baton Rouge and New Orleans. We are about 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours from the Louisiana coast depending on where you choose to go fishing. Thanks, Lori
Awe, thank you so much Lori for the invitation! I’ll pass it on to the boys! Never been to New Orleans! I’m down in Florida, so I know what you mean about humidity. Although, I think it’s probably worse where you are.
That is gorgeous! We have a spot that is packed clay type dirt where we were going to pour a concrete pad but this looks soooo much better! Would it work directly on the leveled dirt?
Hi Monica,
No, unfortunately it won’t work over the leveled dirt. You need a solid surface to adhere the tiles to. You can however install them over the poured concrete.
How long did this process take to do this driveway?
Hi LC, There were 3-4 of us working about 4 or 5 afternoons to get it all done. :-)
This is gorgeous but sucks that is doesn’t go over dirt. There goes the savings if you have to pour concrete first. I need to do something with my graveled driveway at a low S.S. budget. That can be done over time.
I wish I had a better answer for you, Renata. :-( Have you thought about using pavers?
How even does the surface underneath need to be? If I have to patch holes below do those concrete patches need to cure for a minimum time frame before applying the tiles?
Hi Thomas, The surface doesn’t need to be completely even, but you also don’t want a three inch discrepancy. What size holes are you patching? If you’re just filling cracks, you can use an epoxy to fill the cracks and then give it 24 hours to cure.
There are sections where corners of the concrete slabs have cracked and aren’t attached to the slab any longer. Triangular shaped with each side about 6-12 inches in length. Also between slabs the difference in height is as much as 2-2.5″ in places. I had thought about simply resurfacing the existing concrete even before seeing your site, but was wondering I could simply resurface the concrete with a material meant to bond to the existing concrete then wait a year before putting something like this over the top of the newly evened surface.
Hi Thomas,
I sent your question on to Gerry Sadlier, who developed this system, and here is his answer: “For the corner pieces that are separated by a crack, the crack can be filled with the MB Primer mixed with 1 1/2 – 2 parts silica sand #30 to bond the pieces back together. After the epoxy repair is completed he can patch the areas that are low or the holes with a polymer concrete patching mix. It’s best to patch over the epoxy repair within several hours while the epoxy is still tacky and not completely hard. A good fast drying patching product is Cement All by Rapid Set you can get at Home Depot. This will fix the bad areas until he’s ready to cover the whole surface later on.”
Please let me know if you have more questions that I can help with. :-)
I would love to do something like that with ours. It would be a good time to do it, we’ve had the same plain grey concrete driveway for years and it’s starting to fall apart. Replacing it with beautiful driveway like that would be so nice! Thanks for sharing!
You’re so welcome Mary. I know I’ve been promising the tutorial, and it should be coming soon. I’m just waiting for the developers of the system to have their new webpage up.
I love this, where can I get more information? Thank you
Hi Jessica,
Sorry for the delayed response. I am almost finished writing up the tutorial and will have all the info ready for you in the next week or so. Thanks for your patience!
Where can I buy the stamps????
Hi Trudy, You can contact Gerry Sadlier at [email protected] to purchase the molds. He’s the genius behind this system. Please let me know if you have any more questions!
This looks fabulous. I have a project lined up, any word on the release of the tutorial. Also has this been tested on extremes of temperature? I’m at the other end of the spectrum in Colorado
Hi Joan,
Sorry for the delayed response. I’m almost done with the tutorial (and feeling really guilty that it’s taken me so long to write up). I promise it’s coming in the next week or so.
This is wonderful!! I am interested in doing this in our basement. Where do I purchase the molds and get instructions on application.
Hi Ronotta! So glad you like it! For more info and to purchase the system, you can contact Gerry at StoneCrete Systems at 619-258-1967. He’ll give you all the details. :-)
Do these tiles go over the existing concrete, or does it need to be removed before installing the concrete tiles? Is your full tutorial available yet? The driveway looks great!! And my patio needs refreshing. Thanks!!
Hi Robert, My apologies for the delayed response. As of about 2 minutes ago, the concrete tile tutorial is up! Yes, the tile must go over existing concrete or any other solid surface. Here’s the link to the tutorial: http://diyfunideas.com/diy-stamped-concrete-tile-tutorial/
Thank you for sharing your newly learned technique. It seems very interesting, and worth looking into. I would like to know if the tiles come in a variety of styles. I prefer a cobblestone look. Do you know if this design is available in the tiles? Thank You.
Hi Shelly, Right now there are only the two styles of tile that I showed in the post. But I bet Gerry could rig up a cobblestone mold if you asked.
Did you ever post the tutorial for this stamped concrete drive way. I cannot find it. Also, I’m assuming the cracks need to be mended first. We are in NC and this might be a good solution opposed to re-pointing/re-surfacing. Thanks!
Hi Megan,
Sorry for the delayed response. I’ve just posted the concrete tile tutorial. Here is the link: http://diyfunideas.com/diy-stamped-concrete-tile-tutorial/
And yes, you must mend the cracks first, but the crack filler comes with the tile kit.
Hi, I’m very interested in learning more about this process…. Is the tutorial finished? What about web site to get more info?
Hi John, The tutorial is finally up, whew! Here’s the link: http://diyfunideas.com/diy-stamped-concrete-tile-tutorial/. Their website should be up shortly, but I’ve included info to contact the manufacturer if you’re interested in the tiling system.
I never knew how big this company was and how much of an impact they are having and going to have in the concrete industry. I know I am going to be building a how pretty soon and I will be planning on doing something like this at my new house.
I was amazed by the result. Good job! So good to see someone with some authentic ideas. BTW, It is hard to locate knowledgeable individuals on this, but you sound like you know what you are writing about! Thanks for sharing.
Joel
Beautiful work! As professional concrete contractors I have to say you did a really amazing job.
You guys did amazing! As a professional in the concrete business, the stamped concrete look is my favorite! It makes any space look like $$$$!!! The before and afters are WOW! Thanks for sharing : )