Why Choose PICS as a Pattern Imprinted Concrete Supplier?

PICS (Pattern Imprinted Concrete Supplies) has manufactured decorative concrete products in the UK since 1991, and that continuity is the core of its pitch: while many suppliers have entered and left the market over three decades, PICS has stayed in place. Choose PICS if you want a supplier with a long trading record, in-house manufacturing, batch-level quality control, and a stated service ethic built on efficiency, consistency, respect and reliability. If you are a homeowner rather than a trade buyer, note that PICS routes you through a quote request rather than selling to you directly from the page.

What PICS is

PICS describes itself as the UK's leading manufacturer of pattern imprinted concrete products, supplying and training trade and industry customers since 1991. Its own account of the industry's history is that it has been reshaped by changing fashion, advances in technology, legislation and more than one economic recession — and that PICS remained a constant presence through those shifts.

That longevity matters for a practical reason: decorative concrete systems are judged over years, not weeks. A supplier that has retained its product formulations, colour references and technical knowledge across economic cycles is easier to return to when a project needs matching materials or aftercare later.

The manufacturing and quality argument

PICS manufactures at its own production facility, with products either designed in-house or sourced from specialist suppliers. The quality claim it makes is specific and checkable in principle:

• Every batch of product it manufactures undergoes quality control testing.
• Samples are retained for traceability.

For an installer or contractor, retained samples are the useful part. If a colour hardener, release agent or sealer ever needs to be matched or a fault investigated, batch traceability is what makes that possible. Ask PICS directly how far back samples are kept and how a batch reference is recorded on your order — the page states the practice but not the retention period.

Product range and who it serves

PICS supplies decorative concrete installers, main contractors and homeowners. Its range covers:

PICSPAVE is the flagship pattern imprinted concrete system — also called stamped or textured concrete — engineered to imitate natural stone paving, slate, cobble setts, decorative tile, traditional brick and natural wood plank. It offers over 100 pattern designs, integral colour options and custom colour hardener combinations.

PICS also provides technical services for architects, surveyors and specifiers, from design stage through to installation, covering textured finishes, stenciled concrete, epoxy floor coatings and concrete restoration.

Trade customers: training and support

The site positions training and technical support as a core part of what trade customers get, alongside supply. If you are an installer evaluating PICS, the questions worth putting to them are:

• What does the training cover — application technique, substrate preparation, or both?
• Is support available during a live project, and through what channel?
• How are specifiers supported from design stage to installation?

The page confirms these services exist and that they span design through installation, but it does not list course formats, durations or costs. Treat those as things to confirm on contact rather than assume.

Homeowners: how to get a driveway quote

PICS does not present itself as selling direct to homeowners from this page. Instead it asks: "Are you a homeowner looking for a driveway quote?" and points to a quote request.

The practical route is:

1. Use the quote request on the PICS site.
2. Expect to be connected with the installation side rather than buying materials yourself — pattern imprinted concrete is installed by trained contractors, not applied as a DIY product.
3. Ask the contractor which PICS system and colour hardener combination is specified, so you can verify the materials being used.

Where PICS is a good fit — and where to look further

A good fit if: you are a trade installer or contractor wanting a UK manufacturer with a long record, batch traceability and a broad decorative concrete range; or a specifier needing technical input from design stage.

Check first if: you need published pricing, course schedules or delivery terms — none of these appear on the page, so they need to come from a direct enquiry. Homeowners should also confirm who actually holds the contract and guarantee: PICS supplies and trains, while the installation is carried out by its trade customers.

The clearest way to test the reliability claim is to ask for batch traceability details and case studies on projects similar to yours, then judge whether the answers match the consistency the company promises.