Is decorative concrete going out of style? Not a chance! Concrete specialists report continued growth (by as much as 10%) every year among customers looking for the opportunity to customize their concrete with colors and designs.

Concrete has long been a popular choice for finishing driveways, walkways, and patios for its durability and low maintenance. Even basic concrete provides a clean finish for homes and businesses, but today, homeowners especially are not settling for the ordinary, and instead are customizing with colors and unique designs, or are creating the illusion of bricks or patio pavers without the work that comes with installation and care for these products.

Benefits of decorative concrete

Advances in concrete technology and methods mean customers can still get the durability of concrete while achieving a more realistic look (bricks, stones, pavers) at an affordable price. Meanwhile, it is easier than ever to create a finish, patterns, or border that is unique to your application. No two installations will ever look exactly the same.

Consider the following benefits:

• Maintenance is limited to simple soap and water and occasional sealant.
• Texture and designs will hide traffic and wear for years of use.
• The realism you get with stamped and stained concrete allows for the look of stone pavers, slate, and even hardwood at a fraction of the price.
• Decorative concrete is a great choice for inside and outside your home.
• Like standard concrete, decorative concrete is permeable, reducing the risk of a slip hazard.
• Your return on investment is better than upgrading with more expensive materials.

Stamped, stenciled concrete better than ever

Advanced and specialized tools have made it possible to design, shape, and texture concrete to realistically emulate stones, bricks, grout lines, and imperfections that would be inherent in these natural materials. This and other advances have fueled the resurgence of decorative concrete as the top choice for many homeowners as they remodel and improve indoor and outdoor spaces.

Among the most popular trends for decorative concrete are:

• Cooler colors, such as blues, grays, and greens.
• Modern geometric patterns that enhance modern homes.
• Finishes that shimmer and shine, many incorporating metal particles in the concrete mix.
• Options for overlaying concrete on an existing floor or surface by using thin stamping, including overlaying tiles or worn hardwood.
• Multi-colored applications that broaden the look of colored concrete with added staining.

For a multitude of options using concrete, contact Lombardi Concrete, experts in bringing your vision to life for any driveway, walkway, patio, or porch. Click here for details on all Lombardi’s concrete services, from decorative applications to foundations and retaining walls.