New and improved

Morici Bros. Concrete, New Berlin, Wis., had to remove an existing asphalt drive that was badly cracked and replace it with one that would improve the appearance of the property as well as providing a low-maintenance surface with better drainage.

The owner selected stamped and colored concrete,

The drive measures about 2,400 sq. ft. and includes a large apron of unstamped colored concrete with a basketball hoop. The rest of the drive was stamped in a stone pattern and colored to increase the stonework effect, using stamps and colors from L.M. Scofield.

The integral color was Scofield Sand Buff, with Scofield Stone Grey applied as a release. The driveway was formed using Poly Meta Forms from Metal Forms Corp.

To begin the finishing operations, Morici used Metal Forms' Speed Screed Solo 1000 and 2000 one-man screeds. Morici says this was important to achieving the concrete surface quality needed for the stamped finish. "The screed's vibration concentrates the large stones at the bottom and helps the 'cream' rise to the top," he says. "Then, when you stamp, you can get deeper impressions. Otherwise, if the larger stones stay near the top, it's hard to get good penetration when you stamp, and sometimes it causes hairline cracks."

To begin the stamping process, the colored release agent was first broadcast by hand across an area. Then the Scofield Canyon Stone stamping mats were placed in a random interlocking pattern, working on one section at a time. An adjacent front entrance to the home was textured with a Scofield Fractured Slate embossing skin, using a similar procedure.

Once the surface was ready, a series of stamping mats were laid on the surface and then tamped down. As one area was completed, the mats were randomly moved until an entire section was embossed. The dividing bands between the driveway sections were embossed with the Fractured Slate pattern and later were stained in a contrasting Padre Brown color.

Have a good project for a Closing Concept? Contact editor Jonathan Sweet at Jonathan.Sweet@cygnusb2b.com or (800) 547-7407, ext. 1321