Concrete stenciling is one of the most beautiful ways to decorate your concrete, wherever it may be. The stenciling can be applied on freshly laid concrete, or on concrete that is months old. Whatever your case, keep the following tips in mind when shopping for the perfect concrete stencil for your stenciling job.
First, it is important to decide whether your concrete stencils should be made of paper or of plastic. This decision really depends on how often you plan to use the stencils. If you are just going to use the stencils once for your project and then be done with it, a paper stencil will be more than adequate for your one-time need.
Paper concrete stencils are usually made of a thick paper that has been covered with a water-resistant plastic covering, making it less susceptible to tearing and wearing down over the course of one project. Paper stencils are much less expensive than their plastic counterparts, generally running around $200-$300 for 1,000 feet of stenciling.
A plastic concrete stencil is designed to be reused over and over. They simply need to be cleaned and saved for other projects. In addition, the plastic stencils are stiff enough to come in a sheet instead of as a roll. They are also quite expensive, selling for as low as $80 for a 4×8 plastic stencil. Prices go up from there. While they cost more upfront, they help concrete stencil and design companies save money by offering several jobs uses for each stencil.
In addition to uses and costs, there are other aspects to consider when selecting your concrete stencils. If you are stenciling onto fresh concrete, paper stencils are the product of choice because they cover more area and they are easier to get into place on a large fresh slab of concrete. On the other hand, if you are stenciling onto older concrete, the plastic stencils might be better for your project because they help reduce distortion of the design and also lay flatter on the concrete surface.
these are the basics of what you should look for in your stencils; however, there are plenty of other aspects to consider before buying. For example, you will need to know how deep you wish your designs to go. You should be aware of the composition of your stencils to ensure that they do not react with the concrete or the stain. These are the basics of ensuring that your stencil produces the highest quality of design possible.
Concrete stencils can help you create any design that you wish on your concrete slab. This design can range from templates that create a stone-walk or cobble street look to beautiful geometric designs, roses, or even custom logos for your own business. Sometimes, these cutouts are used to create “area rug” designs on the concrete, or special patterns that make the flooring look like tile. These are only a few examples of the beautiful results that your concrete stencils can give you.
