I'm a concrete contractor and I speak to many people out estimating and considering work with my business. Many times people think stamped concrete is totally unique of regular concrete and it's really an entirely different product. This is somewhat true, however 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 can be used for a driveway, they will generally function as same thickness and have exactly the same design strength.
Regular concrete can be your everyday concrete used in sidewalks, driveways, patios, roads, and anytime regular pavement is constructed. It's generally placed on some form of gravel or native soil base that's compacted. The region is then formed with lumber or manufactured forms. Reinforcement is usually installed in the bottom that is usually rebar or wire mesh. The concrete is specified to a desired thickness that is created for its application. For instance, 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 here in areas that 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. From then on, the concrete is cured with either water and burlap, or the simple 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 can be colored that is usually put into the mix. It is also 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 get the concrete really smooth. We use air entrained concrete inside our area as a result of harsh winters, which isn't said to be troweled so we usually just obtain it smooth as you possibly can 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 which is an antiquing colored release, or liquid release agent is used to 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 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 your two apart from what they look like on the surface. Many people they think stamped concrete is just not as durable as regular concrete and that is not the case. https://beaumontconcretetx.com/ that could make it less durable is the texture of the stamped concrete. In an environment that gets snow, stamped concrete will get damaged by snow removal equipment like snow plows.