Last Updated on January, 2025
Is your old driveway looking boring and plain?
Your driveway plays a crucial role in enhancing the appeal of your home. As the first feature visitors see, a well-designed driveway significantly impacts your home’s exterior charm.
A thoughtfully chosen driveway that complements your home’s style can greatly enhance its curb appeal.
Homeowners have a wide array of driveway styles to consider, from simple and classic to more unique and intricate design elements. One of the most adaptable choices is a concrete driveway, which offers both durability and design flexibility.
Yes, you read that right– concrete can be sturdy and stylish!
If you have a plain concrete driveway you want to spice up, we’re here to help. In this article, we’ll be going over the most common types of concrete driveway finishes, each with its pros and cons, that are sure to brighten up your driveway and increase curb appeal, how to make your concrete driveway look better, how to maintain your new concrete driveway, and so much more!
Let’s get into these concrete driveway finishes.
Quick Summary
- A well-chosen concrete driveway finish can significantly enhance a home’s exterior charm, with various styles available, from stamped concrete to polished, exposed aggregate, and more.
- Different concrete finishes provide varying levels of durability and require different levels of maintenance. For example, stamped concrete is durable but costly, while broom finishes are practical and slip-resistant but may require more cleaning.
- It’s crucial to hire a licensed and experienced contractor to ensure the best results for your driveway, with considerations like a portfolio of their work and warranties on both the materials and installation.
List of Concrete Driveway Finishes
There are many types of concrete driveway finishes you can choose from. Once you make your choice, you can take it up with a driveway contractor or you can lay out your new concrete driveway finish yourself if you have the special tools needed and experience.
Stamped Concrete
Stamped concrete finishes have gained popularity for their flexible decorative options. This concrete finish involves a professionally poured concrete mix followed by a stamp used to create distinctive decorative patterns that offer good traction.
A wide selection of stamp designs is available, from a brick or tile pattern to more elaborate motifs like leaves, natural stones, or flowers. You can also opt for its many colour options to harmonise with the surrounding environment of your property.
A significant advantage of stamped concrete is its ability to enhance surface friction. The texture makes it a favoured choice for outdoor concrete areas with high foot traffic.
Without its irregular pattern, smooth concrete can become slippery when wet, creating a safety risk in busy areas.
Installing a stamped concrete driveway finish typically costs about $120 per square metre, positioning it as one of the more expensive options.
Additionally, it’s generally not cost-effective to undertake it as a DIY project, given the need to purchase or rent large concrete stamps, which can also be pricey.
Exposed Aggregate Concrete
An exposed aggregate finish is an excellent choice if you’re seeking a textured surface that is sturdy and slip-resistant, offering great traction.
After the concrete mix is professionally poured, a thin layer of aggregate is spread over the top of the wet concrete and allowed to set into the surface before being covered with additional concrete.
Once the concrete has partially cured, the top layer is removed to reveal the embedded aggregate.
This technique creates a distinctive appearance, often showcasing a blend of stones, pebbles, or shells that will enhance your outdoor area and give it a truly unique look and texture.
You can also opt for a coloured exposed aggregate finish, which can further elevate your property’s aesthetic.
One of the main benefits of exposed aggregate concrete is its slip-resistant quality, making it a safe option for homes with young children or elderly family members.
However, while the exposed aggregate adds friction, it can be less comfortable to walk on it barefoot compared to smooth concrete.
Achieving a visually appealing exposed aggregate finish can be challenging, so hiring a professional concrete finishing company for the best results is advisable.
Polished Concrete
For a modern and sophisticated look, polished concrete is an ideal option. This concrete finish is achieved by grinding the concrete surface with increasingly finer grit sanding discs, resulting in a smooth, light-reflective surface.
Depending on your taste, you can further enhance polished concrete with either a high gloss coating or a matte finish.
The cost of installing polished concrete floors can vary depending on several factors, including the area size, the condition of the existing concrete surface, the desired level of polish, location, and the cost of the concrete slab itself.
One of the key benefits of polished concrete is its low maintenance and ease of cleaning. It is also highly durable and resistant to scratches, making it perfect for areas with heavy foot traffic. However, a smooth finish can get very slippery when wet.
It is also better suited for indoor flooring and driveway borders than concrete driveways.
Here’s our Driveway polishing service.
Stained Concrete
A stained concrete finish is a great choice if you want to enhance the natural colour variations in concrete. It offers an earthy and organic appearance.
The staining process involves applying a chemical stain that reacts with the concrete surface, creating a distinctive colour while preserving the texture.
While stained concrete driveways don’t offer as many colours as coloured concrete finishes, they do provide a good range.
Choices include natural shades like basic grey and brown and more unique hues like blue and green, though the colours tend to be less vibrant than those achieved with dyes.
You can also combine concrete stains with other driveway finishes for added customisation. However, it’s essential to know that the cost of stained concrete driveways can be pretty high per square metre.
Coloured Concrete
Coloured concrete driveway finishes are an ideal option for a striking and lively look. By mixing pigments into the concrete during preparation, driveway contractors can achieve a wide spectrum of colours.
Unlike stains, a coloured concrete finish relies on dyes, offering a greater variety of shades, from subdued to vibrant. This flexibility allows for creating visually impressive concrete driveway finishes in various colours, from warm earth tones to cool blues and greens.
However, to ensure the colour remains vibrant over the years, coloured concrete may need regular sealing. Sealing helps protect against UV damage, which can cause fading and increases resistance to stains and wear and tear.
Additionally, a sealed surface is easier to clean and maintain, enhancing the durability of your coloured concrete finish.
Acid Stain
Homeowners looking to add a distinctive flair to their concrete driveway or patio may like what an acid stain finish offers.
Acid stains chemically react with materials in the original concrete, creating a unique, marbled pattern in rich, dark, earthy tones. These finishes are durable and require minimal upkeep, bringing a touch of elegance to your property’s outdoor area.
It is also cost-effective because the marbled and dark nature of acid stains masks imperfections in the existing plain concrete, potentially reducing the need for concrete resurfacing.
Acid stains offer a remarkable variety of colour options from warm browns and deep reds to subtle greens and blues. Because the stain reacts with the materials in the concrete, each application results in a one-of-a-kind finish.
This means your concrete driveway will have a unique look that can’t be exactly replicated.
However, remember that acid staining is quite expensive and dangerous to do yourself. It is best to hire professional pavers to do it for you.
Broom Finish
If you value practicality and safety, and want a more budget-friendly option, a broom finish is great.
This method involves dragging a broom across the freshly poured concrete, creating a subtle texture. This sandpaper-like texture offers excellent slip resistance, making it perfect for areas that tend to get wet, such as driveways, pool decks, and pavements.
However, the textured finish can trap dirt and debris more quickly, making cleaning more complicated, but it’s nothing regular rinsing can’t take care of. Despite this, if safety is your primary concern, a broom finish is your best option.
Salt Finish
A salt concrete driveway finish resembles exposed aggregate, but instead of typical aggregate, rock salt is used and does not stay embedded in the concrete.
The process involves scattering rock salt over freshly poured concrete and letting it cure. Afterward, the concrete is sprayed with water to dissolve the salt crystals, leaving behind small pits on the surface.
This concrete driveway finish provides a unique texture that looks attractive with its decorative patterns, and adds friction, reducing the likelihood of slipping. It’s an excellent choice for adding visual interest and safety to patios and walkways.
However, because the finish creates small depressions in the concrete, water can accumulate and freeze, which may damage some concrete driveways. Therefore, salt finishes are more suitable for warm climates.
Trowelled Finish
When professional pavers apply a trowelled finish to concrete, the procedure involves several steps. Initially, they pour the concrete, smooth it out, and level it using a float. After allowing the concrete to cure partially, they manually smooth the surface with hand trowels, resulting in a lightly textured finish.
Each trowelled concrete driveway is unique due to the manual nature of the smoothing process. While the finish can sometimes be a bit more costly than other finishes, its price is generally within a similar range.
Remember that attempting to achieve a trowelled finish on your own can be challenging. Therefore, it is advisable to hire a professional paver to ensure the desired appearance.
How to Make Your Concrete Driveway Look Better?
Now that you know some excellent finishes to enhance your existing driveway during renovations, here are a few quick and easy makeover tips.
They require a few popular materials, minimal effort, and expense, making them perfect for homeowners looking for a simple update.
Stained Overlay
If your existing driveway looks dull, view it as a blank canvas for you to decorate it however you want. Instead of tearing it out in favour of a new driveway, try this instead:
First, grind the surface to achieve a good feel. Next, use a saw to cut attractive patterns on the concrete. Once you’ve formed the grout lines, add a splash of colour to make the lines stand out. The stained pattern will draw attention and transform the appearance of your driveway.
Faux Alterations
Creating faux surface changes can help your driveway harmonise with your home’s overall aesthetic. If your driveway is in fairly good shape, you won’t need to invest much effort.
Start by thoroughly cleaning the driveway to remove grime. After that, you can add patterns, etchings, or engravings. These modifications will significantly alter the appearance of your concrete driveway, enhancing the curb appeal of your home.
Makeover With Paints and Textures
For more dramatic transformations, consider using a combination of patterns and stains, especially if you have a large area of coloured concrete.
Using stencilling tools or engraving equipment can help you create intricate designs. Additionally, applying acrylic or water-based stains will introduce vibrant colours that will rejuvenate most driveways.
Faded Driveway Makeover
Over time, colours can fade due to UV exposure, foot traffic, and tyre marks. However, this doesn’t necessitate a new driveway.
Simply clean and degrease the concrete to remove grime, oil, and other materials. Then, apply new colour stains to restore your driveway’s appearance, making it look as good as new.
How to Maintain Concrete Driveways?
If you choose a concrete finish for your driveway, some regular maintenance is still necessary. This is to ensure the finish remains durable and looks good. It also helps keep the driveway clean and properly sealed.
The primary task involves thoroughly cleaning the concrete with a hose and a stiff brush to remove any accumulated dirt and dust. After cleaning, apply a concrete sealant for long-lasting protection.
It’s best to apply the sealant once a year. If your area experiences snow in winter, it is advisable to apply the sealant in the fall. This preparation helps the concrete slabs resist road salts and harsh winter weather.
Why Concrete Paint is a Bad Idea?
After reviewing various ways to improve your driveway, you might wonder: Why not just use concrete paint? It’s a popular choice because it’s easy to apply and budget-friendly.
However, there are significant disadvantages to this option that make it advisable to avoid.
- It Is Not Durable: Investing effort into your concrete should yield long-lasting results. While paint provides a quick burst of colour, it’s not a durable solution. The paint will begin to peel, fade, and wear away over time, especially in high-traffic areas, requiring frequent touch-ups.
- Weather Vulnerability: You might expect driveway paint to withstand various weather conditions, but that’s not the case. Prolonged exposure to sunlight causes the paint to fade, and it doesn’t hold up well against rain or snow. This makes it an unreliable option regardless of your local climate.
- Temporary Solution: Unlike the other methods mentioned, paint only alters the surface of the concrete, making it a temporary fix. For a more permanent solution, it’s better to consider other methods that provide benefits to concrete driveways.
How to Remove Concrete Paint if You’ve Already Applied it?
If you’ve already applied paint and want to switch to a more lasting solution for your driveway, here are the steps to remove it.
- Start by thoroughly cleaning the surface and letting it dry completely. This helps remove any loose paint.
- Next, scrape off any chipped or peeling paint to ensure the concrete is as clean as possible.
- Use a paint stripper to aid in the removal process. Apply it generously and let it sit for the time recommended on the label.
- After this, rinse off the paint stripper residues. If any paint remains, reapply the stripper to those areas, ensuring all paint is removed.
- Once the paint is fully stripped away, clean off the remaining stripper thoroughly and allow the driveway to dry.
- You’ll now have a clean, blank surface ready for a new makeover.
How to Choose the Right Concrete Service for Your Driveway Project?
Choosing the right concrete service is crucial to ensure your driveway gets the best treatment. You must hire a professional concrete service that is licensed, insured, and has extensive experience in your area. This ensures they are reliable and trustworthy.
A portfolio of their work is essential, especially if you’re aiming for a unique look for your driveway. Ask to see examples of previous projects similar to the design you have in mind for your home.
Driveway designs and techniques vary widely. For example, a contractor skilled in tinting may not be as proficient with pave cutting.
Additionally, you can look up online reviews or check the social media accounts of potential companies to gauge customer satisfaction and see their work firsthand.
While many manufacturers provide limited warranties on the concrete mix when professionally installed, you should also inquire if the installer offers any workmanship or installation warranties.
This provides additional protection in case the final result doesn’t meet your expectations.
Other useful guides:
FAQs
Conclusion
Now that you know about the various types of concrete driveway finishes, you can make an informed choice about which finish suits you and your driveway.
Be sure to consult your contractor for further advice and maintain your driveway after the makeover is done.
