49) Formwork is removed carefully to protect edging

50) Control joints are measured and chalked where cutting will take place to help control cracking

51) Control joints are installed in the same direction of the pattern as much as possible

52) Care is taken to properly layout control joints at all pressure points in the concrete slab

53) All control joints are installed by a dry method using concrete saws with diamond blades

54) The control joints on the rock textured circular driveway will also create a grid design and complete the pattern. A 4' x 4' grid was used to simulate large slabs of stone

55) A sprinkler is set up on driveways only for water curing

56) VERTICAL STAMPING stage begins. Colour hardener is combined with polymers then hand trowelled onto vertical steps. Textured hand mats are used on the vertical surface

57) Care is taken along the bottom edge of the step

58) Colour hardener is applied to nosing of step

59) Coloured release agent is applied to prevent sticking of the mats

60) Special nosing mat is used to create a chiseled stone face

61) Care is taken along top and bottom edge of nosing

62) PRESSURE WASHING/SITE CLEAN-UP stage begins. Release agents are pressure washed away. Coloured pigments left behind by the release agents are buffed away. This buffing creates a naturally antiqued look of the surface

63) All vertical stamping is hand buffed to create the same antiqued look

64) Site clean-up is performed including the raking and washing of lawns, roadways etc.

65) Pressure washing/buffing of side driveway. All pattern joints where 'squeeze juice' occurred during the stamping process is scraped away with metal rods

66) Pressure washing of the exterior house including windows, garage doors etc. is performed

67) SEALING stage begins. VOC compliant acrylic sealer is used

68) Anti-slip agent is added to sealer

69) Manual compressed air sprayer can is used for better control when applying sealer

70) Newly constructed concrete will take 3 coats of sealer

71) Verticals are hand brushed

72) Once sealed the concrete will have the same deep colour it has when it is wet. The final sheen will eventually matt out to a more natural looking surface