You put a lot of work into making your Oklahoma home look its best, but how is your driveway looking these days? Gray, flat, and boring? Maybe cracked and crumbling or even overgrown with weeds? You may think it’s just a driveway, but it’s an important feature of your property and there’s no reason why it can’t look good too.
Whether you want your driveway to blend in with the unique character of your house or stand out as something to be proud of, here are six ideas worth considering to make your ugly driveway look amazing!
#1: Etching
Nothing sets your driveway apart from the rest like etching. This technique uses special tools to etch a permanent pattern or design of your choice into the concrete of your driveway. Choose from stone-like patterns, favorite logos, or other graphics that appeal to you. You can even add staining to color the etching and really make it pop!
#2: Staining
Tired of plain old gray? With staining, you can give your driveway a fresh pop of color. Stain soaks into the concrete and dyes your driveway a translucent color that gives the finished look a natural variegated aesthetic. You can choose from earth-toned acid stains or a rainbow of water-based stains.
There are even special effects to create the appearance of marble, natural stone, or wood. However, staining is best suited to driveways that are not marred by cracks, oil, or previous coatings.
#3: Stamping
Similar to staining or etching, concrete stamping can also spruce up your driveway with color and a pattern. With stamping, you can give your driveway the appearance of slate, stones, bricks, or tiles without actually using those expensive materials. Like staining, stamping works best on a clean, level driveway.
#4: Weeding
If your driveway is cracked and overgrown with weeds, killing them is a simple DIY job that has a great impact. Some weeds can be pulled while others will require either a commercial or homemade weed killer. You can then fill in the cracks with any number of products sold for this very purpose at your local hardware store to deter future weeds. While you’re at it, be sure to trim back grass that’s growing over the edge of your driveway, too— it will give your driveway a tidier look all around.
#5: Pavers
Sometimes an old ugly driveway needs more than just cosmetic work. If your driveway is cracked, buckling, or crumbling, it’s probably time to get a new one. Pouring new concrete would be the obvious option at this point, but for a different approach you could also opt for pavers.
Paving stones are interlocking to form a patterned surface over a sub-base. They come in many textures and colors to give you the look you want. While more expensive than a traditional concrete driveway, pavers are very durable, and if one is damaged it’s possible to remove and replace the single paver with little effort or cost.
#6: Resin Bound
Another alternative to the usual concrete driveway is a resin bound one. Resin bound driveways are made of natural rock material and recycled glass particles that are covered in a smooth, clear resin. The finished product has a variegated, natural look that can be any combination of colors to suit your tastes. Best of all, resin bound driveways are resistant to all cracks, scuffs, or other damage. They are incredibly easy to clean and have outstanding drainage that prevents pooling.
Take it from the experts, you don’t have to have a boring, ugly driveway. Whether using a new color, pattern, or material, there’s lots of options to repair or upgrade your concrete driveway to make it more complementary to your home’s beauty.
Let the experts at R&M Concrete help you with all your concrete needs! We serve the entire Tulsa, OK metro and surrounding region. Call or fill out an online form today for a free estimate.