Comparisons
Stamped Concrete vs Paving Flags for Footpaths
Technical comparison covering performance, manufacturing, durability, installation and other relevant criteria for stamped concrete vs paving flags for footpaths.
| Criteria | STAMPED CONCRETE | VACUUM WET PRESS PAVING FLAGS |
|---|---|---|
| Usage | Relatively new product, not popular. | Widely used in European countries for 20 years |
| Quality Standards | No local quality standards | European standard EN 1339:2003 is well established and widely accepted standard for Concrete Paving Flags |
| Mfg. Process | Cast and cured at site leading to poor quality control of the concrete. | Machine made in Vacuum Wet Press, robust, finished product, fully cured in factory, resulting in superior strength and consistent product quality. |
| Aesthetics | Many designs and colours possible. | Many colours and finishes available. |
| Application | Limited application for low traffic areas such as swimming pool decks, pathways, private driveways, etc. Not suitable for high wear and tear public footpaths. | Suitable for large variety of applications, from low traffic pathways to public footpaths, parking lots and heavy-duty usage. |
| Site Curing | Improper curing after laying at site leads to defects which cannot be rectified (such as footprints of pedestrians/ animals walking on wet concrete before it is cured). | Footpath can be opened for use immediately after laying without holding up for curing; any product or defects can be easily rectified immediately after laying or later. |
| Site Laying | Requires skilled workmanship. | Done by widely available, semi-skilled labour. |
| Quality Testing | Difficult to check quality of stamped concrete after it is cast at site. | Paving Flags can be tested easily at any time, after production at factory or at work site. |
| Abrasion | Top colour layer thickness is 2mm which wears off in high traffic applications, such as public footpaths. | Very high abrasion resistance with Top colour layer thickness of 6-8 mm resulting in a long life even in heavy traffic footpaths. |
| Underground Utilities | Cannot be accessed after laying without replacing the surface. | Can be accessed by removing only required flags and then reusing or replacing them. |
| Durability | Prone to cracks which cannot be repaired without replacing the surface. | Very high breaking load resulting in high durability and long life exceeding 10 years. |
| Repairs & Maintenance | Repairs if done in patches, result in shoddy finish with mismatch of colours and design patterns. Or else, entire surface would have to be replaced or redone. | Flags if cracked, dented or damaged, can be replaced individually at any time. |
| Monsoon Laying | Cannot be carried out during monsoon; surface gets damaged even if it rains within 8-10 hours of stamping | Can be laid even during the monsoon season |
| Rain Effect | No ground water percolation; leads to water runoff into drains. | Percolation to base and subbase through joints. |
| Availability | Not widely available, limited suppliers. | Several producers available throughout India. |
