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When it comes to curb appeal, every part of the house’s exterior matters, including the driveways. The first thing that a potential buyer will drink in when visiting your property is the entrance, the landscaping, and the front yard. Therefore, using the right materials and designs can help you close the deal on your house. While people resort to painting their driveways, it is not the best possible route. For one, paintwork doesn’t last longer than a few years and requires retouches frequently. The last thing you want is a peeling entrance welcoming the buyers or guests. So, here are five finishes for concrete driveways that are better than painting.
Rock salt finish
The rock salt finish is the most basic and traditional method of adding some texture and grip to a colored or plain concrete entrance. With this finish, you will get small indentations on the surface like in weathered rock. This adds skid resistance to the driveway along with a subtle texture.
Stained driveway
Unlike painting, stained driveway finish gives a peel and fade-resistant color to the driveway, which can either mimic the natural minerals or be of your choosing. This method is economical and versatile, but above all, lasting with its resistance to flaking and permanent color. The stained finish is perfect for those needing a dash of color on their driveway.
Broom and engraved
Both broom and engraved finishes garner a lot of attention to your driveway. The former is simple, reliable, and economical, as all you need is a broom and alternating directions for the lines. Engraved driveways require special tools to carve into the existing concrete, but allow you to engrave any design you like.
Exposed aggregate and previous
An exposed aggregate finish is similar to marble or granite but with the top layer stripped away. This makes the driveway skid-resistant. With borders and bands, this finish looks great. Previous finished driveways look the same as exposed aggregate ones but allow water to flow through the underlying soil, offering better stormwater management.
Stamped and saw cut
A stamped driveway is a popular option when materials like cobblestone, slate, and flagstone are out of the budget. With coloring agents and stamps, you can get a cost-effective finish for your entrance. Yet another option is cutting in designs and decorative elements with a saw for a saw cut finish.
Conclusion
Concrete driveways are not hard to maintain. With little effort, they can add to the overall aesthetics of the house and increase your property’s appeal. While painting the entrance may seem like the cost-effective option, over time it can cost you more than concrete finishes like broom, engraving, saw cut, stamp, exposed aggregate, previous, stained, and rock salt.
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