Concrete Walkways and Sidewalks

Concrete walkways or sidewalks are more than just a way to get wherever it is you're going—they can provide much-needed curb appeal to homes and buildings, and they are fast becoming a point of artistic expression by way of a multitude of decorative concrete options.

Hire a pro: Concrete walkway contractors near me

While plain gray concrete is still the most often surface installed, as seen on most concrete sidewalks, there are numerous decorative concrete alternatives sure to dress it up, taking your sidewalk from boring to amazing.

Concrete Walkway Cost How much will a concrete walkway cost? Find out average costs and what design features contribute to the price.

Stamped Concrete Learn how patterns can be imprinted into a concrete walkway to achieve the high-end look of stone, brick and more.

Colored Concrete Discover how color can be added to new or existing concrete walkways with the use of stains and more.

Concrete Walkway Pictures Browse hundreds of walkway pictures to get ideas and inspiration for your own property.

Walkway Design Ideas Discover behind-the-scenes info on beautiful walkway designs from across the country.

Fix Concrete Walkways Learn how stains, engraving and overlays can give a walkway a face lift.

The best part is that most of the options will work just as well on an existing walkway, because the concrete industry has rapidly developed many decorative products that can be applied to existing plain concrete walkways.

Concrete has become the new material of choice for designers across the U.S. Decorative concrete in all of its stained, colored, molded and personalized glory is popping up in retail stores, trendy restaurants, offices and homes everywhere. Now you can find out why!

DECORATIVE OPTIONS FOR NEW WALKWAYS

Thanks to the versatility of concrete and the many decorative techniques available today for adding color and pattern, the options for making your concrete sidewalk unique are endless. Stamped patterns, concrete engraving, exposed aggregate finishes, colored concrete, intricately sawed or grooved patterns and concrete staining are just a few of the ways you can enhance your sidewalk design.

Stamped Concrete

Stamped concrete has become the most popular decorative surface treatment for concrete walkways. And for good reason: Your pattern options are nearly unlimited, ranging from traditional materials such as brick, slate or flagstone, to specialized patterns such as wood planking (see Wooden Plank Walkways from Concrete) and nature-inspired botanical or wildlife motifs. Colors and patterns for stamped concrete can be chosen to blend with other hardscaping elements around your home. You can also intermingle stamped concrete with other decorative concrete treatments, such as exposed aggregate finishes and chemical staining. See stamped concrete cost chart.

Stenciled Concrete

Stenciling can be a great alternative to decorative stamping while permitting similar design flexibility. Instead of rubber stamps, stenciling uses disposable paper stencils to impart brick or stone patterns in fresh concrete. Because the stencils mask off the underlying surface, they leave behind realistic "mortar joints" the color of the gray concrete base. By applying a dry-shake color hardener to the exposed concrete before stencil removal, you'll get the appearance of individual stones or bricks that have been mortared together. Stencils for concrete come in a wide array of patterns, ranging from running-bond brick to stone, slate and tile.

See Stenciled Concrete

Exposed Aggregate Finishes

Sidewalks often incorporate this colorful pebble-like finish not only for its beauty, but also for its highly slip-resistantwalking surface. Exposing the aggregate in concrete allows you to achieve spectacular decorative effects at a reasonable cost because few additional materials—other than the decorative aggregate—are required. For more dramatic results, you can enhance or complement the colors and textures of the decorative aggregate by using stones in contrasting colors or by combining areas of smooth and exposed aggregate finishes.

See Exposed Aggregate Concrete

Decorative Concrete Scoring and Sawcutting

With concrete saws or hand tools, permanent patterns can be sawed or grooved into a walkway or sidewalk surface, and then enhanced by color to create distinctive graphic effects, ranging from corporate logos to elaborate works of art.

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Decorative Concrete Scoring and Sawcutting for Special Effects

Colored Concrete

There's no need to settle for a ho-hum gray concrete walkway with the many options available today for imparting rich, permanent color. Coloring is one of the easiest ways to beautify a sidewalk and give it more distinction. Coloring usually goes hand in hand with stamped or stenciled concrete, allowing you to precisely replicate the hues of natural stone or any other material.

The most popular methods for coloring exterior concrete flatwork are chemical stains, integral color and dry-shake hardeners. Each of these methods can be used alone or in combination to create unique multi-tonal effects. Many coloring methods provide myriad shades to choose from, allowing you to pick a hue that will best complement your home and surrounding landscape. Custom color matching is also possible with many products.

See Staining Concrete

Interlocking Concrete Pavers for Walkways

Concrete pavers are available in many shapes and colors, which are often combined in the same walkway installation. Sidewalk pavers are often chosen to match or complement brick or stone veneers on the home.

Maintenance for Decorative Concrete Walkways and Concrete Sidewalks

The key to the lasting beauty of decorative concrete is continuous maintenance. Maintenance is required for the concrete to retain color and texture.

See How to Maintain Exterior Decorative Concrete