I'm a concrete contractor and I speak to many people out estimating and looking at work with my business. Often people think stamped concrete is completely unique of regular concrete and it's really a completely different product. That is somewhat true, but the basics of both are the same plus they are usually specified the same, when used in exactly the same application. For example, if stamped concrete or regular concrete is used for a driveway, they will generally function as same thickness and have exactly the same design strength.
Regular concrete is your everyday concrete found in sidewalks, driveways, patios, roads, and anytime regular pavement is constructed. concrete patio 's generally positioned on some type of gravel or native soil base that's compacted. The region is then formed with lumber or manufactured forms. Reinforcement is normally installed in the bottom that is usually rebar or wire mesh. The concrete is specified to a desired thickness which is designed for its application. For instance, a driveway that handles car and light trucks is usually poured four inches thick. The concrete mix is also specified that is usually a 4000 psi mix here in areas which have severe winters. That's the strength the concrete reaches in 28 days. Concrete is placed, striked off, bull floated then gets a non slip finish, such as a broom. From then on, the concrete is cured with either water and burlap, or the easy way with a membrane forming curing compound.
Stamped concrete is quite similarly placed to regular concrete. Generally all the steps will be the same except the finishing steps. The concrete is also colored that is usually put into the mix. It can also be colored with a color hardener, but most contractors use an integral color. After bull floating is when things the process changes with stamped concrete. Some contractors go one step further and trowel the concrete to obtain the concrete really smooth. We use air entrained concrete in our area as a result of harsh winters, which isn't said to be troweled so we usually just get it smooth as possible with a magnesium bull float. After the concrete sets to a desired hardness, the concrete is imprinted with the rubber like stamps. A release agent that is an antiquing colored release, or liquid release agent is used to help keep the stamps from sticking with the concrete. Some contractors will put curing paper on the concrete to cure it till the next day when the concrete will undoubtedly be washed and sealed with a higher gloss sealer which is also a membrane forming cure.
So in summary stamped and regular, there isn't much difference between the two apart from what they appear to be on the surface. Lots of people they think stamped concrete is just not as durable as regular concrete and that's not the case. The only thing that could ensure it is less durable is the texture of the stamped concrete. In an environment that gets snow, stamped concrete can get damaged by snow removal equipment like snow plows.