I'm a concrete contractor and I speak to lots of people out estimating and looking at work for my business. Many times people think stamped concrete is totally different than regular concrete and it's an entirely different product. That is somewhat true, but the basics of both are the same and they are usually specified exactly the same, when used in the same application. For instance, if stamped concrete or regular concrete is used for a driveway, they will generally function as same thickness and also have the same design strength.
Regular concrete is your everyday concrete used in sidewalks, driveways, patios, roads, and anytime regular pavement is constructed. It's generally placed on some type of gravel or native soil base that's compacted. The area is then formed with lumber or manufactured forms. Reinforcement is normally installed in the base that is usually rebar or wire mesh. The concrete is specified to a desired thickness which is created for its application. For example, a driveway that handles car and light trucks is usually poured four inches thick. The concrete mix can be specified which is usually a 4000 psi mix within 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, just like a broom. After that, the concrete is cured with either water and burlap, or the simple way with a membrane forming curing compound.
Stamped concrete is very similarly placed to regular concrete. Generally Click to find out more are the same except the finishing steps. The concrete is also colored that is usually added to the mix. It can also be colored with a color hardener, but most contractors use an intrinsic color. After bull floating is when things the process changes with stamped concrete. Some contractors go one step further and trowel the concrete to have the concrete really smooth. We use air entrained concrete inside our area due to the harsh winters, which isn't supposed to be troweled so we usually just get it smooth as you possibly can with a magnesium bull float. Following 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 keep the stamps from sticking to the concrete. Some contractors will put curing paper on the concrete to cure it till the very next day when the concrete will undoubtedly be washed and sealed with a high gloss sealer which is also a membrane forming cure.
So to conclude stamped and regular, there is not much difference between the two other than 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 is just not the case. The only thing that could make it less durable may be the texture of the stamped concrete. In an environment that gets snow, stamped concrete will get damaged by snow removal equipment like snow plows.