“Natural Beauty” – A Stamped Concrete Walkway in Dallas, TX
Even though Texas’ unofficial motto is “everything’s bigger in Texas,” sometimes bigger isn’t better. This Dallas, TX, project proves that great things really do come in small packages.
These homeowners had a nicely landscaped backyard full of mature plants, and they wanted to add a small walkway and patio so they could enjoy their natural surroundings.
Not wanting to detract from the beautiful green foliage, they wanted a stamped concrete walkway and patio that would blend in. We chose an organic green color that would tie the yard together.
For this project, our goal was for Mother Nature to be the star, and our concrete creations to take on a supporting role.
In addition to the natural green hue that we tinted the concrete; we also chose a texture that mimicked the appearance of natural granite.
Instead of scoring the concrete to create the look of individual stones, which is a popular decorative concrete technique, in this case we used an old granite stamp pattern to create what we call a “seamless” stamped concrete walkway and patio.
This technique adds only texture to the concrete, rather than individual stone shapes.
While we call the final result “seamless,” that’s not entirely the case. Concrete, especially when it is outside and exposed to the elements, is prone to cracking.
In Dallas, hundred-degree temperatures aren’t unusual in the summer and freezing temperatures aren’t unusual in the winter. Heat causes concrete to expand, and cold causes it to contract. Over time, the expansion and contraction can cause cracks.
While we can’t prevent cracks, we can make sure that if they happen, they will be as unobtrusive as possible. We do this by cutting out thin seams called control joints.
These are horizontal lines that we cut every 3 to 4 feet in the stamped concrete walkway and patio to help control crack propagation. Most driveways, sidewalks, and walkways have control joints though for driveways and patios they are normally spread out a little more, about every 10 to 12 feet.
If the concrete is going to crack, it typically does so where the concrete is thinnest – which is at the control joints. These joints weaken the concrete in that straight line, so that’s where cracks will occur, instead of in the main parts of the walkway and patio.
After we applied the stamp pattern and added the control joints, we applied a natural-looking green tint and then sealed the stamped concrete walkway and patio to protect it against moisture and staining.
Both the homeowners and their four-legged friend gave the stamped concrete walkway and patio their own stamp of approval.
Now they have a pleasing path and patio where they can relax and enjoy their garden and the birds and squirrels it attracts. It’s a small space, but it’s one in which every inch has been made to count.
