When it comes to adding a splash of colour and style to your home, your driveway is an important piece of the puzzle. A stunning driveway turns heads, and complements the design of your house. It gives your home a distinct feature that can improve the value of your property greatly.
One of the best materials to build a stand out driveway with is concrete. This is for a number of reasons. Firstly, it’s incredibly versatile and offers a huge range of styles and finishes. You can rock a Mediterranean look, go striking and contemporary, or replicate a number of different materials. Secondly, it’s highly affordable, and can be easily installed at a moment’s notice.
Most importantly, concrete driveways are the most durable and low-maintenance driveway material available. Most types will last longer than the house itself, and the only cleaning you’ll have to do is raking off the leaves in Winter or the event of a chemical spill. You get an environmentally friendly, stunning looking driveway that doesn’t need special attention. In terms of practicality, concrete ticks every box on the list.
But with great power comes great responsibility. Concrete comes in many shapes and sizes, and it can often be a challenge picking out the best combination to one-up your neighbours. With that in mind, here’s our professional guide to customising your concrete driveway to make your new slab the toast of the town.
Coloured Concrete
If a simple and sophisticated finish is what you’re after, painted concrete should be a lock. Coloured styles are popular for good reason – the colours and looks to choose from are enormous. You can use stencilling for a unique pattern, go rustic with bluestone, or add a splash of traditional Italian taste with a terracotta tile. From broom finishes, to sponges, to rock salt, there’s an option for everyone.
Coloured concrete is easily cleaned and designed to last longer than your house itself. It instantly adds a modern and stylish touch which can contribute to improving the overall value of your property.
Stamped Concrete
For extravagance and street appeal at an affordable price, stamped concrete is perfect. Stamped concrete is also known as textured or imprinted concrete. This is because it replicates other finishes, such as wood, slate, stone or brick. It also gives you the durable and easy-to-clean benefits of regular concrete.
Stamped concrete is cheap, fast to install and the styles you can achieve are practically endless. You can either create your own unique design, or take a page out of someone else’s. It’s also great for modern pool decks and backyard balconies.
Exposed Aggregate Concrete
Exposed styles of concrete add a sense of atmosphere to the area. While commonly found in modern swimming pool areas, exposed aggregate concrete has also been applied by many Australians to add a striking element to their homes. It’s perfect for all weathers and basically looks after itself.
You can also choose from a wide range of light or dark finishes and several textures to perfect your front yard’s look. What more could you ask for?
Stencil Concrete
Stencilling is achieved by placing a pre-cut stencil into fresh concrete to imprint a desired look. It’s by far the most versatile of the concrete finishes, opening the door to re-create virtually every aesthetic you can think of. Whether it’s tiles, bricks, European, Latin or an Asian inspired driveway you’re craving, concrete specialists can tailor an individual solution that looks as stunning far away as it does close up.
In a nutshell, stencils give your driveway the look of decadence and prestige, with the structural strength of heavy-duty, reinforced concrete. As a bonus, this style offers a perfect solution for matching driveways with patios, backyard entertainment areas and footpaths.
Plain Concrete Finish
Sometimes you need a concrete solution that sits in the background and allows other outdoor features or decorative elements to stand out. Plain concrete is a reliable choice for this situation. Why struggle with maintenance of slate, bricks or tiles? Opt for a smooth, affordable option that gets the job done without fuss.
Plain concrete is the workhorse of your driveway, and can be used in conjunction with any of the above finishes to give it some variety and street appeal.
If you have a concrete driveway project coming up, give us a call. Our professional concreters have over 20 years of experience building stand out driveways. Plus, we only use materials we produce ourselves in Hoppers Crossing. Contact us today to get the ball rolling.
