I'm a concrete contractor and I speak to lots of people out estimating and looking at work for my business. Often people think stamped concrete is totally unique of regular concrete and it's a completely different product. That is somewhat true, however the basics of both are the same plus they are usually specified the same, when used in exactly the same application. For example, if stamped concrete or regular concrete is used for a driveway, they will generally be the same thickness and have 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 positioned on some form of gravel or native soil base that's compacted. The area 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 which is created for its application. For example, a driveway that handles car and light trucks is normally poured four inches thick. The concrete mix can be specified that is usually a 4000 psi mix within 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 easy 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 can be colored which 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 have the concrete really smooth. We use air entrained concrete in our area as a result of harsh winters, which isn't supposed to be troweled so we usually just get it smooth as possible with a magnesium bull float. After the concrete sets to a desired hardness, the concrete is imprinted with the rubber like stamps. Get more info that is an antiquing colored release, or liquid release agent is used to keep the stamps from sticking to the concrete. Some contractors will put curing paper on the concrete to cure it till the very next day when the concrete will undoubtedly be washed and sealed with a higher 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 look like 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 may be the texture of the stamped concrete. In an environment that gets snow, stamped concrete will get damaged by snow removal equipment like snow plows.