Renting our concrete stamps: how it works, and when to hire a pro instead
Beyond installing stamped concrete ourselves, London Concrete Forming also rents out our in-house stamp collection for homeowners and smaller contractors handling their own pour. Here is how rental works and how to decide whether renting or hiring us outright is the better call for your project.
What is available to rent
Our rental inventory draws from the same library used on our own installs - 50+ patterns including cobblestone, ashlar slate, running bond and herringbone brick, flagstone, and wood plank. Mats are rented in the sets needed to cover a typical driveway or patio pour without excessive repositioning, along with texture skins and edging tools for borders. See the pattern gallery for photos of each design installed in London.
How the rental process works
You confirm your project size and preferred pattern with us in advance so we can set aside the right quantity of mats for your pour date - stamp availability is tied to demand, so booking ahead matters, especially in peak pouring season. We go over the release agent and colour hardener products that pair with your chosen pattern, since using the wrong release agent can affect how cleanly the mats separate from the concrete. Mats are picked up before your pour and returned once the job is finished; we inspect and clean returned mats as part of the rental.
What renting does not include
Stamp rental covers the mats and related tools, not the excavation, forming, pouring, or finishing labour up to the point of stamping. If any part of that earlier process is not handled correctly - base compaction, correct concrete slump, proper timing of the pour relative to weather - the stamps themselves cannot fix it. Rental works best for someone who already has a reliable concrete crew or is comfortable managing the pour but wants access to a professional pattern library rather than buying mats outright for a one-time project.
When to DIY with rented stamps
- You or your contractor have poured and finished concrete before and are comfortable reading set time by feel
- The project is a smaller patio or walkway section rather than a full driveway, giving more margin for timing
- You have help on hand, since stamping a slab before it sets typically needs two or more people working efficiently
- You are comfortable sourcing and applying the correct release agent and colour hardener for your chosen pattern
When to hire London Concrete Forming instead
- You are stamping a full driveway, where the working window across a larger surface area is tighter and mistakes are costly to fix (see stamped concrete driveway)
- This is your first time working with decorative concrete and you want the result guaranteed
- Weather conditions on your pour date are marginal - set time changes significantly with temperature and humidity, and experienced crews adjust technique accordingly
- You want multi-colour work, hand-applied accents, or a pattern combination that needs more finishing skill than a single-pattern DIY pour
Cost comparison
Renting stamps and handling the pour yourself (or through your own contractor) typically costs less upfront than a fully installed job from us, but the tradeoff is that any mistake in timing, base prep, or release agent application falls on you to fix - which can cost more than the rental savings if it goes wrong. A fully installed stamped project from London Concrete Forming runs $15-$25 per square foot and includes the correct base, reinforcement, pour, and stamping all handled by an experienced crew, with the result backed by our process rather than trial and error.
More questions
How far in advance do I need to book stamp rental?
We recommend confirming your pour date and pattern at least a couple of weeks ahead, especially during peak spring and summer pouring season when demand for popular patterns like cobblestone and ashlar slate is highest.
Do you provide the colour hardener and release agent with the rental, or do I source those separately?
We can supply the matching colour hardener and release agent for your chosen pattern as part of the rental package, or advise on the right products if you prefer to source them yourself.
What happens if a rented stamp mat gets damaged during my pour?
Normal wear from a single pour is expected and accounted for in the rental terms, but we go over care guidelines with you at pickup so mats are returned in good condition for the next renter.
Can I switch from a DIY rental to hiring your crew partway through planning?
Yes, if you decide closer to your pour date that you would rather have us handle the full installation, we can quote the complete job in place of the rental - just let us know before you commit to a pour date.