Concrete has been around for what seems like eons, and it’s as functional and durable today as ever. That doesn’t mean it has become boring, though. Consider these six ways to add visual appeal to your next concrete project.
Stamped concrete: For the beauty of a paved or bricked walkway with the durability and ease of concrete, consider the idea of concrete stamping. Many designs are available, giving you the option of replicating slate, flagstone, brick and tile. Believe it or not, you can even use concrete stamps to recreate the look of a wooden boardwalk, and it honestly looks almost as good as the real thing.
Custom Concrete recently used the Royal Ashlar Slate stamp pattern to build a set of walkways and patios at this Whatcom County home that look as if they used stone pavers.
Colored concrete: Color can be used to provide contrast to large fields of concrete, such as borders along the edge of a driveway. Color also can be used to emulate other materials — consider the classic look of a slate patio, with veins of blue and grey running through the surface, or the reds and browns of travertine.
For a simple but beautiful patio, broom-finished concrete with a splash of earth-toned color (such as the “Fiesta” color we infused into the concrete at this Whatcom County home) can provide a wonderful accent to a new space.
Pervious concrete borders or stripes: Beyond its function as an excellent material for water drainage, pervious concrete can be used to lend visual appeal to concrete projects. Driveways, for example, can make use of the properties of pervious to lessen the water that might flow down toward the house, for example, while also relying on differences in the look of the surface to add visual appeal.
Textured concrete: You can get concrete texture with stamps, but there are other methods, too, including concrete rollers. These resemble paint rollers but have special patterns cut into the surface to create the look of tree bark, pitted rock, Italian slate, old brick and more.
Custom Concrete crews built a driveway for a Bellingham homeowner that combines textured and pervious concretes to create a look that’s as functional as it is visually appealing.
Exposed aggregate: A classic concrete decorative touch, aggregate concrete exposes small rocks to leave a timeless pebbled finish. One application is for a decorative driveway band, as at this Whatcom County home. Learn more about the process of creating exposed aggregate concrete in this article from Concrete Network.
Concrete patterns: Depending on how the forms are set up, concrete also can be poured in custom patterns for a special look. Consider the compass rose design Custom Concrete crews integrated into the surface for this new fountain in Bellingham’s Fountain District.
For help integrating these or any of the many other decorative concrete options into your next project, please consider giving Custom Concrete a call.
