How to Pour Stamped Concrete

Measure the space available for the concrete surface, and sketch your backyard with the shape and size of the site.

Draw an outline of the project on the site with landscape paint, adding 3 inches to each side to allow for the wood form. Dig out the outlined area until you have an expanse 6 inches deep. Level the surface with a flat shovel. Grade the site by digging 1/4-inch deeper for every 1 foot of length away from the house. This grade will enable rainwater to drain away from the building.

Pour a 3-inch bed of gravel over the area, and spread it with the head of a shovel. Once the gravel is even, press a tamper over the surface until the rocks are packed close together. The gravel foundation improves your patio's drainage by allowing water to travel out from beneath the patio.

Place 2-inch by 4-inch wood boards along the interior borders. Drill the boards together at each end with 2-½-inch screws, and brace the form with 1-inch by 3-inch wooden stakes embedded into the ground every 2 feet along the exterior of the boards. The form will sit 1 inch above the ground, level with the concrete patio's surface.

Arrange your concrete stamps next to the site according to your pattern. Concrete stamps come in different sizes and decorative patterns, including cobblestones, snapped stone pieces and bricks. If the stamps interlock, make sure the alignment is correct. Dry-laying the stamps before you pour the concrete will enable you to press the stamps quickly.

Mix the concrete in a mixer or wheelbarrow, combining water and cement mix according to the manufacturer's directions.

Tilt the mixer over the site, and spread the concrete evenly over the gravel with a shovel. Drag a 2-inch by 4-inch board over the surface three times, and run a trowel over the top to smooth the concrete.

Apply the release agent to the surface, either by broadcasting it with your hand or brushing it on with a large paintbrush. Make sure the area you are going to stamp is completely covered.

Press the concrete stamps next to each other in the order the concrete was poured within 15 minutes of pouring it. Check that the joint lines are lined up before pressing each stamp. Once the surface is complete, remove the stamps by lifting them straight up.

Remove the release agent by sweeping it away. Use a garden hose to rinse off any agent that didn't get swept away.

Wait approximately 24 hours for the surface to completely dry. Apply concrete sealer according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Cover the patio with plastic for one week to retain moisture while the surface begins to cure.