00:00Why are American builders so smart? They invented a clever concrete technique called
00:04stamped concrete. With just about $100 in materials, they can turn plain gray concrete
00:10into something that looks like a $10,000 stone floor. And the magic all comes from the powders
00:15they sprinkle on top. The first layer is called color hardener. The powder soaks right in and
00:21chemically bonds with the top layer, creating a much harder, denser outer shell, almost like
00:26giving the concrete a protective skin. Next comes the second layer. This is the release agent. It
00:32can be powder or liquid. It prevents the stamping mats from sticking to the surface and tearing it
00:37apart. Then workers press large flexible plastic molds onto the wet concrete. Once the concrete
00:43hardens, the molds are lifted off, and those realistic textures stay permanently pressed into
00:48the surface. But the job isn't done yet. At this point, the surface is still vulnerable. So they
00:53spray on a clear sealer. The sealer closes the microscopic pores and also gives the floor
00:59its final color depth and shine. So, do you actually like this kind of floor?
