I recently worked on a project I wanted to share with visitors here on MichiganStoneMason.com which was actually a stamped concrete project.  Also known as decorative concrete, stamped concrete is achieved by applying a heavy rubber like stamp with an imprint molded into the rubber.  It leaves a variety of appearances from a real wood timber look to a random stone pattern like the ones we used in this project.  This was a stamped concrete job in Clare Michgan and was just completed recently.

There are several different ways you can go about getting a stamped concrete project done and costs vary widely depending on the process you choose. I offer a low cost stamping method where we dont dye the actual redi mix concrete that is delivered.  The coloring of concrete comes close to doubling the cost of the material depending on what color you choose, but if your budget doesn’t allow for $14 per square foot concrete, there are several options that still leave a cool looking piece of concrete.

Prices for Stamped Concrete in Michigan

Prices vary mostly by the process you choose.  When you dye the material being delivered the cost goes up dramatically.  The top end process for stamping concrete in Michigan starts with dyed concrete then comes another hardener which adds a second color and more depth to the look.  Then a colored release which is another colored powder.  The concrete is stamped then the excess release agent is cleaned off and a special UV protective sealer is applied.  The colored release tends to gather in the deepest crevases in the pattern and it is sealed in place giving the concrete the most natural appearance with the depth of a real stone job.  The price for decorative stamped concrete in Michigan using this process anywhere between $8.00 and $14.oo per square foot.  Which isn’t bad if you are doing a 10’x10′ patio, but it can really add up on larger areas like driveways and such.  I have stamping methods I’ve used successfully that start at around $4.00 a square foot and go up from there.

Stamped Dog Kennel

Decorative Concrete And Stamped Concrete Uses

It seems most of the decorative concrete projects I’ve done have been patios and sidewalks.  We’ve also done a few driveways and commercial storefront entryways over the years. Over the years I’d say the most popular uses for stamped concrete is for patio’s and outside entertaining areas.  They really change the look and feel of the area and can certainly increase the value and curb appeal of any home.

Stamped Concrete Contractors In Michigan

There are several stamped concrete companies in Michigan that only do decorative type stamped concrete but a lot of contractors in Michgian who do stamped concrete also do other types of concrete work as well.  I’d recommend using a stamped concrete conctractor to do your decorative concrete job and definately would call stamped concrete a do it yourself type project.  If you are already familiar with pouring concrete then you might try stamping your own project, it’s really just a timing thing and making sure you know the process.  There is a good company over in Saginaw Michigan that handles stamped concrete supplies including stamps that you can rent.  Renting some stamps seems like a better idea to me than trying to own each different set and they have just about any type of stamp you could want.  I plan on building a barn this fall and plan to do the stamped hardwood planking look.  I’ve seen it in another barn and it’s a really neat look.

Notice the Interior Tile for Drainage

A damp crawl space wouldn’t be much of a problem is it weren’t for the smell and the possible growth of mold that often occurs with a wet or damp crawl space.  Getting a wet crawl space problem fixed really isn’t too big of a deal and it doesn’t take long at all.  Wet basements can be a different story but often times fixing a wet basement is a simple fix as well.  The first step to addressing the problem is to figure out where the water is coming from and this pretty much dictates the how extensive the repairs will be.  Many of the wet crawl space foundations I’ve fixed were more of a seasonal problem than anything and were usually only wet in the spring time here in Michigan or during periods of heavy rain.

Why is My Crawl Space Wet?

This is the first question to answer.  If there has been some building in your area in the last few years this can affect ground water and how it moves.   Many times a wet crawl space is a surface water problem and these can be some of the easiest to fix.  One of the most common ways we’ve dealt with surface water causing a wet crawl space is to simply install a perimeter tile around the interior of the footer inside the crawlspace.  We then route that into a sump crock where the water is pumped out below the grade elevatio wetn in your crawl space.  We also like to spray a water mixed with bleach solution to kill any mold that might be growing within your floor joists beneath the floor of your home.  Another reason some crawl spaces can become is a change in the water table.  This is a ground water issue and sometimes the volume of water may be more but the same technique can often times fix the problem.

Fixing a Wet Basement

I’ve worked on several wet basements in Michigan and the perimeter tile is usually at least part of the solution to fixing a damp basement.  Obviously most basements have a concrete floor and this presents a more complicated approach to repairing the problem as a strip of the floor is usually removed in order to install the tile.  Using a waterproof or damp proof coating on the inside of the basement wall can also be done quite easily especially if the basement is unfinished.  A sump crock can be installed and the perimeter tile ran into the crock.  In a basement the sump crock may be able to be connected to the exterior tile if a pumping or drainage system is already in place.

Other Ways to Fix a Wet Crawl Space or Basement

Often times installing gutters on your roof line can help to reduce the water that goes into your crawl space or basement.  This is an inexpensive way to alleviate many wet foundations.  Another common problem is the grade of the dirt or lawn around the building.  The exterior grade around your foundation should have slope away from the building, this may seem like common sense but it is often a problem.  In some instances the foundation may need to be excavated and a foundation waterproof-er applied.  Foundation waterproofing can consist of a tar like coating or an actual membrane, sometimes both.

If you have a wet crawl space or basement and want to know your options, get in touch and maybe I can help.