Stenciling Your Decorative Concrete

Stenciling Your Decorative Concrete

Stenciling is a popular method for enhancing the look of your decorative concrete. Through the use of stencils, patterns are added onto the surface without the need to start from scratch. It’s a quick, simple and cost-effective process that adequately and accurately imitates the look of genuine bricks.

Compared to stamping, which is also a process that duplicates the look of other materials, stenciling takes less time and uses simple hand-held tools.

Application of stencils

Once you have the decorative concrete slab placed, the next steps are easy! It’s simply a matter of screeding, floating and edging the concrete slab. The stencil is then placed on the surface while the concrete is still a little wet. When the stencil is properly laid, it will then be plastered on the surface with a stencil roller. Avoid being overly firm with the stencil roller to avoid excessive chipping when it’s time to remove the stencil. You want to plaster the stencil on the surface, not embed it in concrete.

Colouring the surface

Immediately after applying the stencil, it’s time to apply colour hardener and, using a bull float, to work it onto the slab. This must be done quickly while the concrete has enough moisture for the hardener to absorb.

Adding texture

A texture roller or texture skins can be used to add texture to the decorative concrete surface stenciled with brick or stone patterns. If you used a tile pattern, then no texturing is needed; instead, you should smooth over the imperfections with a trowel.

Prepare the decorative concrete surface by applying a liquid or powdered antiquing release agent on it. When the surface is firm enough to hold your weight, but yielding enough for the texture to set, go over the concrete slab with the texture roller. There are many rollers available with various textures to produce the effect you want.

Removing the stencils

Once the slab has been textured, it’s time to reveal the final result by removing the stencils! This is ideally done by two people on either side of the slab to lift off the stencil from both ends.

Looking for reliable exposed aggregate and concrete providers?

Midway Concrete is here for you! We have been in the business for over 35 years. Aside from our exposed aggregate products, we also offer gardening decoration solutions, such as landscaping pebbles, soils and sand. We are happy to help you with the concrete solutions to suit your needs.

Midway is an independent family-owned company. We pride ourselves with our responsiveness and versatility, ready to meet your requests. You can ask for a quote here or contact us for more information by calling (03) 9356 5900.