If you want to pave a driveway or patio, you might be considering decorative concrete. Here are several benefits to this option.

Design Alternatives

Decorative concrete's textures are created by pressing moulded stamps onto the cement before it hardens. These stamps are available in many designs to mimic substances like timber planks, brick pavers, or cobblestones. So, you can generate many different looks with the paving. You'll get the most pleasing effect by harmonising the concrete with the environment. For example, if your home is red brick, you could lay a faux brick border around the patio or driveway. In the inner part, you could install look-alike grey slate pavers.

Another thing to consider besides the house is other hardscape elements. Does your home have stone pathways, for example? In that case, you can choose a complementary colour and material for the concrete. You could repeat the stone surface or create a contrast.

Patterns

While concrete is poured in a continuous slab, pavers are laid down as individual units with joints. The stamps used on the cement also replicate these join lines and the patterns they create. For example, you could choose stamps that mimic bricks set in a running bond or herringbone design. Or else, opt for a mould to replicate large square travertine pavers. Seamless stamps are also available that don't feature joins. Using these, contractors can create paving to look like one slab of slate, as you might find on a cliff face.

Colours

The process of laying stamped concreting usually involves applying colours as well as texture. Many different techniques are available to do this, and your contractors will typically combine several. They could add pigments to the cement and then pour it. They can also apply dyes and stains to the concrete once it has hardened. The benefit of blending techniques and colours is that they can replicate the subtle variances found in natural elements, such as stone. You'll have an endless choice in matching the concrete to the setting.

Durability

Decorative concrete doesn't only offer aesthetic benefits. It's also highly practical. Concrete is so durable that it can last many decades in the elements. It doesn't rot or warp like timber decking can. And it can withstand the sun and rain. The ornamental patterns will also disguise dirt. However, make sure to seal the paving as often as your contractor recommends. They may suggest a penetrating sealant that soaks in and stops the pores from staining. These sealants are invisible and don't alter the look of the concrete. Another option is a topical sealant that forms a coating on top. These are available in matte and shiny finishes.

If you need more concreting ideas, contact a contractor near you.