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Writer's pictureBen Ritter

Planning Your Space

There are so many options and considerations in the planning stage of any outdoor concrete project. To help take the guesswork out of the planning process, we have included some of the most common questions we receive along with some considerations that should go in to the design of your personal space.

 

Step One: Design, placement and layout:

Think about what you want to use your space for, what you want it to look like and take in to consideration environmental factors along the way.

  • Time of day the patio is exposed to sun and shade

  • Proximity to the house

  • How you get to the patio (sidewalks, stairs etc)

  • Outdoor views

  • Activities to accommodate (entertaining, cooking, sun bathing, around a pool)

  • Seating and walkways

  • Drainage

Step Two: Choosing Concrete finish

There are four basic options when it comes to selecting a concrete finish:


Slick Troweled Finish (typically found in garages, basements and covered porches)

  • Benefit: Ease of cleaning – use a broom, mop or hose it down and squeegee off.

  • Consideration: As the name suggests, slick could be slippery when wet.

Brushed Finish (most common for budget-friendly projects, driveways, larger spaces)

  • Benefit: It has good traction and is visually appealing.

  • Consideration: It is a little harder to clean since it has the rough texture.

Exposed Aggregate (a multi-step process that removes the cement paste from the top layer, exposing the stone/aggregate; found in patios, sidewalks, driveways, and covered porches)

  • Benefit: It is a beautiful finish with added traction.

  • Considerations: Size of aggregate – larger aggregate can make it hard to walk on with formal footwear and harder to move furniture. Smaller aggregate leaves less space for dirt and debris to collect.

Stamped Concrete (can be finished to mimic stone, brick, wood and many other materials; great around pools, outdoor kitchens and patios, basement floors and sunrooms)

  • Benefits: Customization. (stamp, color, border etc.)

  • Considerations: More expensive due to added skill and labor involved. Additive recommended for use around a pool to increase traction. Sealer recommended to be reapplied every 2-3 years to maintain.

Step Three: Know Your Options

Think of concrete as an art – review the prior projects of the team you’re hiring to pick and choose the options you want included in your space. There are many options that can be added or manipulated to achieve the desired look you’re going for.


Stamp Selection: Stamped concrete can be broken into pattern types: Natural Stone Pattern, Brick or Cobblestone, Wood and Continuous Texture.

  • Natural Stone Pattern: the most popular types are slate, flagstone, and fieldstone.

  • Brick or Cobblestone: not sure if you want a patio done in pavers or stamped concrete? Use the brick stamp to create the look without the settlement and weed issues that typically arise with pavers.

  • Wood: this application is most often seen on indoor spaces to mimic hardwood plank flooring but can also be used outside. Popular spaces include sunrooms, basements, porches, outdoor kitchens.

  • Continuous Texture: there are also seamless stamps that provide stone-like texture, but without a pattern. Examples include Slate, Old Granite, Pebblestone, Travertine, Rock and more.

Color Choice: You will likely want to base your color selection on the type of stamp you use and the color of existing surroundings (color of house, furniture, landscaping). Some of the most popular color choices are:

  • Grey stamped concrete - can replicate light stones or be as dark as charcoal; popular when using a natural stone pattern or continuous texture stamp

  • Brown stamped concrete - ranges from light tans to deep walnut; great for using wood stamp or some of the stone selections as well

  • Red stamped concrete - think terra cotta or mahogany and is often used with brick or cobblestone stamps

To achieve subtle tonal variations, depth or “antiquing” effects, you can apply tinted release agents.


Cut: Although you may not want saw cuts, as they may take away from the natural look, they are absolutely necessary. Shifting of concrete is inevitable in parts of the country that experience four seasons. This means concrete is vulnerable to cracking. By adding saw cuts in the larger pad, we encourage the concrete to crack in predetermined locations hidden by the crisp line of a saw cut rather than a random line of a natural crack.


Border: Adding a border is a nice artistic upgrade to any project and can be a way to add flare without breaking the budget. Can’t afford the stamped concrete driveway you want? Choose a brushed concrete finish with a stamped border to add character. Are you pouring a large pad to be used functionally in two different ways? Use a border to dictate the space between the kitchen and fire pit.


Sealer: Sealing concrete provides ongoing protection from moisture and prolongs its life. To increase the traction in an area that is frequently trafficked or oftentimes wet, a slip resistant additive can but added to the sealer. It is similar in concept to sealer applied to hardwood floors and is recommended to be applied every 2-3 years to remain effective.


Add-Ons: Take advantage of the flexibility and customization available with concrete. Consider adding something like a fire pit, seating (build-in or pre-formed concrete benches) or concrete countertops in your outdoor kitchen.

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