I'm a concrete contractor and I speak to many people out estimating and considering work with my business. Often people think stamped concrete is totally unique of regular concrete and it's an entirely different product. That is somewhat true, but the basics of the two are the same and they are usually specified exactly the same, when used in exactly the same application. For example, 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 is 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 base that is usually rebar or wire mesh. The concrete is specified to a desired thickness that is designed for its application. For instance, a driveway that handles car and light trucks is usually poured four inches thick. The concrete mix is also specified which is usually a 4000 psi mix within areas which have severe winters. That's the strength the concrete reaches in 28 days. Concrete is positioned, striked off, bull floated then gets a non slip finish, such as 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 of the steps are the same except the finishing steps. The concrete is also colored which is usually added to the mix. It is also colored with a color hardener, but most contractors use an integral color. After bull floating is when things the procedure 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 in our area due to the 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. Following the concrete sets to a desired hardness, the concrete is imprinted with the rubber like stamps. Helpful site that is an antiquing colored release, or liquid release agent is used to help keep the stamps from sticking with the concrete. Some contractors will put curing paper on the concrete to cure it till the very next day when the concrete will be washed and sealed with a high gloss sealer which is also a membrane forming cure.
So to conclude stamped and regular, there isn't much difference between the two apart from what they appear to be on the surface. Many people they think stamped concrete is just not as durable as regular concrete and that's just not the case. The thing that could ensure it is less durable is the texture of the stamped concrete. In an environment that gets snow, stamped concrete can get damaged by snow removal equipment like snow plows.