Ornamental concrete came into home fashion in the 1950s in California. At that time, contractor Brad Bowman invented a round device he rolled over wet concrete to create a decorative imprint. He also experimented with color additives for even more design and style diversity. Since that time, decorative concrete has been a popular upgrade for property value-minded homeowners. Other contractors have improved upon Bowman’s original methods and fine-tuned the modern decorative craft.
Contrary to what many people think, you do not have to own a commercial empire like Walt Disney’s Epcot Center or a Beverly Hills mansion to have decorative concrete. In fact, this upgrade for your concrete surfaces is quite cost-effective when you consider the benefits to your property value.
Reasons to Consider Decorative Concrete
As a homeowner, there are many ways decorative concrete benefits your property and its value. Reasons to consider this option for your home’s interior or exterior décor include:
- Eco-friendliness
- Safe for your pets
- Easily maintained
- Water resistance
- Relative slip-proofing
- Crack-resistant, unlike ordinary concrete or asphalt surfaces
- Beautiful appearance
- Enhanced curb appeal
- Increased property value
Decorative Concrete Curb Appeal
People pulling up to the front of your home make their first judgment about it as they first arrive. Whether you decide to sell your home or just want to provide a welcoming appearance for guests, decorative concrete adds curb appeal. Of course, you still must have a well-maintained home exterior and lawn, for your home’s best valuation. But beautifully-constructed concrete design certainly looks better than a standard gray surface. It enhances your home even more in comparison to a driveway with oil stains, cracks or other issues.
Recent real estate market studies show that a house with decorative concrete has a property value of up to 10 percent more than the same house with a standard slab driveway. This means that for a home valued at about $300,000, having a decorative driveway can add another $15,000 to $30,000 or more to your bottom line.
Special Attributes of Decorative Concrete
You have unlimited options for your driveway’s overall look when applying patterns, textures, and colors to concrete. These attributes come from the type of stone aggregate used, its staining elements, and your pattern choices.
Your choices include exposed aggregate concrete and polished exposed concrete. On a traditional driveway, your contractor smooths the concrete and allows it to harden. But for exposed aggregate concrete commonly used in decorative driveways, the surface layer of the poured concrete is removed. This exposes the stone aggregate typically hidden beneath a smooth surface. This removal takes place up to 24 hours after pouring.
Polished exposed concrete is made up of a finer aggregate. This aggregate goes through several grinding processes more than for exposed aggregate driveways. The driveway made using polished exposed concrete has a bright sheen.
Adding Texture, Patterns and Color Enhances Your Home’s Property Value
Aggregate concrete is prime for enhancement through staining, coloring, and shading. You have an unlimited palette of colors available to you, either to match your home exterior, compliment its colors or stylishly contrast. Besides color, you can also add texture and patterns.
Some of the most popular shades for decorative concrete include:
- Black and gray
- Crystal white
- Midnight blue
- Brown and black
- Soft white
- Amber white
- Amber gray
- Coral
- White ash
Because you have access to custom decorative concrete colors, you can really make your driveway and home exterior your own. This custom appeal only enhances your property value and upgrades the overall appearance of your home. In fact, color alone can create beautiful visual patterns without decorative stamping. For example, you can choose two contrasting colors to create a tiled effect or geometric patterns.
Decorative concrete is not just for driveways, either. You can use textures, colors, and patterns to create beautiful sidewalks, footpaths, swimming pools, patios, and interior flooring, too. Many people create the ultimate garage for their home using this creative and visually appealing upgrade to a flat, traditional gray concrete floor.
Polished Concrete Floors Inside Your Home
When you compare options for your new home or renovation flooring, consider the benefits of concrete. Most people do not think of using this type of surface inside their homes as a finished floor. But when concrete can look so gorgeous and provides other benefits, why cover it up with carpeting or other materials?
Polished decorative concrete floors make a lot of sense. Here is why:
- Costs much less than wood, both to install and maintain
- Very low maintenance in comparison to other surfaces
- Does not expose you and your loved ones to harmful chemicals, unlike carpeting
- Does not trap allergens, unlike most other types of interior flooring (especially carpet)
- Resists surface stains
Decorative Concrete In North Carolina and Southern Virginia
Used inside or outside, decorative concrete offers many options for upgrading your home’s look and increasing its property value. We Do Concrete Cheap is a custom concrete contractor serving North Carolina and Southern Virginia. Call us at 919-454-3927 for more information and scheduling.
